Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-02-14
D|EN[ NARRNlY / ] ESCAPES / 5 Bah
Attempted Capture Of the Fighting
Boer Leader Most Spectacular
Affair.
The Dauntless Bravely and Dashing
Charges Of the Burghers Too
Much for Kitchener.
The Scene Of All-Night Fighting
Illuminated BY Powerful Search
lights. .ssis


Illuminated BY Powerful Search
lights.
London, Feb. Il. The detailed ac-
counts which have just reached here
of Lord Kitchener's combined move
ment to drive out the Beers from the
enclosure of blockhouse lines show
that the conflict was very picturesque
and the most exciting incident Of the
whole campaign. Although apparent
" surrounded by an impenetrable ring
of fire and steel the Beers dauntless
bravery and dashing charges ultimate
" resulted in the majority's S escape
from the meshes of Lord Kitchener's
close drawn net.
Ne The British commanders scheme
was the most extensive ever carried
out during the present war. It con-
sisted Of a continuous line over SO
miles in length. Lord Kitchener, who
personally directed the operations.
was in close touch day and night with
every detail of the movements. The
Beers, though hard pressed, shrank
from attempting to cross the railroad,
which was patrolled through the
night. by armored trains, equipped
with powerful searchli ghts. The train
lights were upplemented by TEN
porary searchlights and the spectac-
ular effect, as witnessed from the
trains, was most striking. BY the side
OF the railroad were the dark forms Of
men lying in trenches, or standing, do
ing sentry duty: The gloom of the
moonless night was internationally re-
ieyed BY the sweep Of the search
lights.
The battle at Heilbron ragged. from
g O'clock Friday night until until o'clock
Saturday morning rolrghout the
1 five hours a fearful ring Of fire from
rifles, cannons and pom-poms swept
along the British 81 lines in holding
General Dewet's Beers, who made re,
8peated attempts to break out of the
circle of troops. From various posi-
tions, behind rocks and dongas, the
Beers kept up q vigorous fusillade,
hoping to find a weak spot in the line.
simultaneously others charged, but
again and again were the Beers re.
pulsed, leaving dead, wounded and
prisoners in the hands Of the British.
peWet Pc \ & Holds i '!eI 4 Z Conference.
At the outset of the preparations
the Beers realized that the operations
were not merely an ordinary drive
but movement threatening them
with total annihi1ation, and General
l$DeWet assembled his whole force and
/ discussed the situation with the com.
mand ders, with the result that the
Beers were split up into three forces.
On Thursday tight 500 Beers, headed
/ by Vance elIers, rushed a force OF the
Imperial light horse. About 100 burgh,
erst got through, but the remainder,
ncountering q tremendous fire, were
turned back.
Friday nights conflict ebbed and
swelled over an area Of 40 to SO miles
In which the long hunted, harassed
and desperate men endeavored to
ind outlets The Beers at one spot
| got within 80 yards of the British fir.
ing line, but the barbed wire baked
them and forced them to retreat.
Aided by the electric searchlights,
the British narrowed the ling
territory with shrapnel, shells and
+ Maxim bullets. In the northern sec.
/ tion the Beers made a desperate effort
to break through. Collecting a mum.
I ber of cattle the Beers drove them
down on the British lines. Bending
| low In their saddles they rode among
the cattle, making it impossible to dis
| tinguish them in the darkness. The
,.St Sc1 So1y
and the Beers were everywhere met
with q relentless hail of bullets.
long line Of flame ran up and down
the firing line, nearly 30 miles II
/ length, as the armored trains flashed
I their searchlights over miles Of coun
4 try. The reports Of the quick firing
/ guns along the entrenched line an6
the booming OF the field guns and
& pom-poms sounded amid the sharI
cracking of musketry. while HeilbroI
| fort contributed to the universal dir
with the deep roar of its naval gun.
| This lasted for some 20 minutes
when, gradually, the rattle died dow1
until only the crack Of single shots
was heard, then all was again quiet.
The Boer attempt to break the Brit
ishs circle had failed. IA few Of then
/ succeeded in crossing the line anl
among them was General Dewet.
MILLIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS
Canadian Pacific Will Issue $4,000,
600 Of New Stock.
Ottawa, Feb. IA Sir Thomas G
4 Shaughnessy, president Of the Cana
4 dian Pacific railway. has announces
that the company will issue SIS, ,00o,00l
/ OF new stock and that the proceed
Twill be applied to the purchase of ney
equipment and the general improve
4 ment Of the road. 3s
About $40. .000, ,080 lis to be expende,
for large locomotives and new cars
i $6.50o, 600 for double le-tracking par
Of the line. reducing grades and elm