Evening star., 1902-02-13
THE FIGHT At HE|LBR0N
Beers Finally Broke Through
the British Gordon.
FIERCE NIGHT ATTACK
THE BUTCHERS CHARGED RECK-
LESSLY AND DESPERATELY.
They Were Continually Subjected to a
Murderous Fire From the
English Trenches.

LONDON, February 13.-The detailed ac-
counts which have just reached here OF
Lord kitcheners combined movement to
drive out the Beers from the enclosure OF
block house lines show that the conflict
was very picturesque and the most eXcltlne
incident of the whole campaign. Although
apparently surrounded by an impenetrable
ring of fire and steel the Beers dauntess
bravery and dashing charges ultimately re-
suited in the majority's escape from the
meshes of Lord Kitcheners close-draWn
net. The British commanders scheme was
the most extensive ever carried out during
the present war. 1t consisted of continu-
Gus line over fifty miles in length. Lord
Kitchener, who personally directed the
operations. was in close touch, day and
night, with every detail of the movements.
Beers Avoided the Railways.
The Beers, though hard pressed. shrank
from attempting to cross the railroad.
which was patrolled throughout the night
by armored trains, equipped with powerful
searchlights. The train lights We're sup
plemented by stationary search lights and
the specta cuar 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 search lights
The battle at Heilbron ragged from
o'clock Friday night until o'clock Satur
day morning. Throughout the five hours
fearful ring of fire from rifles. cannon and
pom-poms swept along the British lines. in
holding De Vets Beers. who made repeated
attempts to break out of the circle of
troops. From various positions, behind
rocks and dongas. the Beers kept up Wig
orous fusillade hoping to find weak spot
In the line. simultaneously others charged,
but again and again We're the Beers re-
pulsed. leaving dead. wounded and prison
ers in the hands of the British.
Beers Understood the Plan.
At the outset of the preparations the
Beers realized that the operations were not
merely an ordinary drive but a move
ment threatening them with total annihla-
ton, and General De Wet assembled 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 800 Beers, headed by
Van Golfers, rushed a force of the imperial
Light Horse. yelling Storm, burghers.''
About 100 Beers got through, but the re-
mainder encountering tremendous fire.
We're turned back.
Friday nights conflict ebbed and swelled
over an area of forty to fifty miles, in which
the long hunted harassed and desperate
men endeavored to find outlets. The Beers,
at one spot. got within thirty yards Of the
British firing line. but the barbed wire
balked the burghers and forced them to re-
treat
The firing never ceased Aided by the
electric searchlights, the British narrowed
the surrounding territory with shrapnel,
shells and Maxim bullets. In the northern
section the Beers made desperate effort
to break through. Collecting q number Of
cattle. tie Beers drove them down on the
British lines. Bending low in their saddles,
the Beers rode among the cattle, making it
impossible to distinguish them In the dark
ness.
Pickets Opened Fire.
The British pickets opened terrible fire,
and the Beers were everywhere met with
relentless hail of bullets. A long line Of
flame ran up and down the firing line, near
ly thirty miles in length, as the armored
trains flashed their searchlights over miles
Of country. The reports Of the quick-firng
guns along the intrenched line and the
booming of the field guns and pom-poms
sounded very deep amid the sharp crack
ling Of the musketry, while Heilbrun Fort
contributed to the universal din with the
deep roar of it's naval gun.
This lasted for some twenty minutes,
when gre dually the rattle died down, until
only the crack of single shots was heard.
Then all was again quiet.
The Beers attempt to break the British
circle had failed. A few Of them succeed
ed in crossing the line, and among them
was Gen. De Wet.