New-York tribune., 1902-02-14
THE FIGHT NEAR HEILBRON.
DESPERATE BoER EFFORTS TO BREAK
THE GORDON.

London Feb 1a-The detailed accounts which
have reached here of Lord Kitcheners combined
movement to drive the Beers from the inclosure OF
blockhouse lines show that the conflict was one
of the exciting incidents of the whole cam
paign. Although apparently surrounded by an i'm
penetrable ring of fire and steel. the Beers daunt-
less bravery and dashing charges ultimately re-
suited in the majortys escape from the meshes or
Lord Ktchener's close drawn net.
The British commanders scheme was the most
extensive ever carried out in the present war 1t
consisted of a continuous line over fifty miles
long Lord Kitchener. who personally directed the
operation was in close touch day and night. with
every detail of the movements. The Beers. though
hard pressed, shrank from attempting 70 cross the
railroad. where armOred trains. equipped with
powerful chlghs patroled the line through the
night. The train lights supplemented by sta
uonary searchlights, 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. standing. doing sentry
duty. The gloom OF the night was internationally
relieved by the sweep of the searchlights.
BATTLE FOR FIVE HOURS.
The battle at Hebron Orange River Colony.
ragged from o'clock Friday night until o'clock
Saturday morning Through the five hours 4 fear
full ring OF fire. from rifles. cannon and pompOms.
swept along the British lines (from Louwspruit to
Hebron. southwest away to Lindley and KroOn-
stad) In holding De Vets Beers. who made
peaed attempts break out OF the circle OF troops
From various positions, behind rocks and dongas,
the Beers kept up vigorous fusilade. hoping TO
find weak SPOT in the line. simultaneously
others charged but again and again were the
Beers repuIsed, leaving dead. wounded and prisoners
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 threa atening
them with total annihilation. and General De Wet
assembled his whole force and discussed the stu
alton with the commanders, with the result that
the Beers split into three forces On
Thursday night five hundred Beers, headed by
Van Golfers. rushed force Of the Imperial Light
dred Beers got through. but the remainder,
DESPERATE ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE
Friday nights conflict ebbed and swelIed over
an area of forty miles, in which the long hunted,
harassed and desperate men endeavored to find
outlets. The Beers at spot got within thirty
yards Of the British firing line. but the barbed
wire baked them and forced them TO retreat
The firing never ceased. Aided by the electric
searchlights, the British narrowed the surround
ing territory with shrapnel shells and Maxim bull
lets. In the northern section the Beers made a
most desperate effort TO break through Collecting
a number of cattle the Beers drove them down
the British lines. Bending low in THEN saddles
the Beers rode among the cattle, making it i'm
possible to distinguish them in the darkness The
British plckets opened a terrible fire. and the
Beers were everywhere met with a relentless hail
OF bullets. a long line of flame. cracking like
nearly thirty miles in length. as the aTmored trains aims
flashed their searchltghts over miles of country.
trenched line and the Booming OF the eld G guns ms
and pompoms sounded deep amid the sharp crack
tributed to the universal din with the Of its
This lasted for some twenty minutes when
gradually the rattle died down. until only the crack
quiet
tn The Beers ATTEMPT to break the British circle
the linc and among them was General De Wet.