Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-17
LIKE DEMONS
ARE Beers
IN FIGHT
SURROUNDED BY CIRCLE OF FIRE
THESE VALiENT HEROES FIGHT
DESPERATELY FOR THEIR
LIBERTY.

LONDON. Feb. 14-The detailed ac-
counts which have, just reached here OF
Lord Kitchener's combined movement 10
drive out the Beers from the enclosure
OF blockhouse lines show that the conflict
was very picturesque and the most eXcit-
ing incident of the whole campaign.
Although apparently surrounded by an
impenetrable ring of fire and steel, the
Boer charges ultimately resulted in the
maiority's escape.
The British commanders scneme was
the most extensive ever. carried out dur
ing the present war. 1t consisted Of con-
tinuous line over 80 miles long. 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 throughout the night
by armored trains equipped with search
lights. The train lights were supplement-
ed by stationary search lights, and the
spectacular 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 doing sentry
duty. The gloom of the moonless night
was internationally relieved by the sweep
of the searchlights.
The battle at Hebron ragged from p.
m. Friday until Sunday morning
Throughout five hours fearful fire from
rifles. cannon and pompoms swept along
the British lines in holding DeWet's
Beers, who made repeated attempts to
break out of the circle of troops.
From various positions, behind rocks
and dongas, the Beers kept up vigorous
fusilade, 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 pris-
oners in the hands of the British.
At the outset of the preparations the
Beers realized that the operations were
not merely an ordinary drive" but a
movement threatening them with total
humiliation, and General Dewet as
sembled his whole force and discussed the
situation with the commanders, with the
result that the Beers were split up into
three forces On Thursday night 500
Beers. headed by VanCollers. rushed the
Imperial Light Horse, yelling:
storm, burghers!
About 100 burghers got through, but
the remainder, encountertng a 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 find outlets.
The Beers at one spot got within 80
yards of the British firing line, but the
barbed wire baked the burghers and
IOrceQ lnefl TO retreat
The firing ceased. AS shown by the
electric search lights the British har-
raised the forces by night and by day,
Smelling them almost continuously. The
Beers made desperate effort to break
through again.
Collecting a number of cattle the Boz
ers drove them down on the British
lines. Bending low in their saddles the
Beers rode among the cattle, making 1t
impossible TO distinguish them in the
darkness. The British pickets opened a
terrible fire and the Beers were every
where met with a relentless hail of bull
let's. long line Of flames ran up. and
down the firing line nearly thirty miles
in length, as the armored trains turned
their searchlights over miles of the coun-
try.
sThe report of the quick firing guns
along the entrenched lines and the boom
ing of the field guns and pompoms sound
ed very deep among the sharp cracking
Of the musketry, while Heilburn fort con-
tinued to the universal din with the deep
roar of its naval gun.
This lasted for some twenty minutes,
when gradually the rattle died down, I'M
til only the crack Of single shots were
heard. Then all was again quiet The
Beers attempt TO break the British cir
Gle had failed.
A few of them succeeded in crossing
the line andSamong them was General
DeWet.