BRITON V.BOER.

Lake County Press, Issue 905, 5 April 1900, Page 5

BRITON V.BOER.

London, March 29. Genera) Joubert died of an internal complaint. Kruger personally takes command. The Knight Templar troops have lauded at East London. They lost 10 horses. March 30. The Boers who were at Olocolau have returned to Laclybrand, and are strongly posted at Plaatsburg, a little to the south, and in the direction of Maseru, fully expecting that they will be attacked from that post. The English farmers at Ficksburg (north of Ladybrand) have been ruthlessly commandeered and imprisoned in those cases where they have refused to take up arms against their country. The restoration of the railway to Norval’s Pont is completed. President Kruger boasts that he will recapture Bloemfontein within a week.

General Tucker with a portion of General French’s cavalry, is at Glen, some 15 miles to the north of Bloemfontein.

The Boers are concentrating at Brandfort, where fighting is expected. Loudon, March 31.

Lord Roberts reports that on Friday owing to the enemy’s activity on his immediate front and (.he hostility towards the Free Staters who had surrendered, lie instructed Generals Tucker, French, and Legallis’s Horse to operate. They were successful in expelling the enemy occupying the kopjes at Karee Siding, 14 miles south of Brandfort. One officer was killed, and seven wounded. The total casualties were about 100. The enemy retreated to Brandfort. Several of the Australian contingents participated in the lighting, and showed great coolness. In the tight at Karee Siding the kopjes afforded the enemy a good vantage. A severe tire was encountered. The infantry pushed to the front, while the cavalry executed a splendid turning movement and compelled the enemy to tinally yield. Major Knight’s New South Wales Mounted Rifles, with Legallis’s Horse, attacked the right flank on a long chain of kopjes. The firing was very heavy. The steepness of the kopjes prevented the mounted men advancing till the infantry’s frontal attack developed. The First Australian Horse and Captain Oox’s Hew South Wales Lancers assisted General French in the flanking movement under a heavy shell Are, displaying great coolness. Many horsas were killed.

London, April 1, The enemy are leaving Brandfort, and trekking northwards. London, March 30. Lord Roberts has recalled Lord Methuen’s force to Kimberley. Colonel Drummond, with 3000 mounted men, three batteries of artillery, and pontoons, traversed Barkly West on Monday. Their destination is a secret. London, March 31. The apparent deadlock oa the Vaal River is interpreted as a feint to persuade the Boars that they are preventing the relief of Mafeking. Generals Methuen and Chesham were at Likatalong when recalled. The other forces in the vicinity suffice for the actual necessities of the position General Buller is concentrating his forces at Elandslaagte. The body of General Joubert lies in state at Pretoria. Before his death he desired that his funeral should be a private one, and destitute of all military honors. The interment will take place at Rustfontein. The Queen has cabled to Lord Roberts to convey her condolences to Mrs Joubert, and to assure her that she regarded her husband as a gallant soldier and an honorable foeman.

The British prisoners at Pretoria have sent a wreath to be placed upon the body of the Boer general, London, April 1.

The British, in the battle of Karrie Siding, numbered ten thou sand (10,000), with forty guns ; and the Boers, three thousand (3,000), with several guns and maxims. The British had 19 rank and file killed and 151 wrunded.

Free State refugees, at Maseru, report that President Steyn has ordered the English burghers refusing to fight, to be shot.

There aro indications that Colonel Plumer has been reinforced.

It is anticipated that the next battle will be at Kroonstad.

President Kruger has warned women and children to leave Bloemfontein within five days, as he intends to bombard the town and shoot rebel burghers. Fresh arrivals from Brandforc, moving southwards and operating on the British outer flanks, enabled the vanquished Boers at Karrie to retreat,

The Boers at Ladybrand cu; tnred three of Lieut.-Colonel Pilcher’s men. One, using his sword, fought a duel with a Boer armed with a rifle. 4he soldier was shot in the hand and the Boer’s body traversed. There arc many complaints in the Home and Cape papers of undue leniency being shown to rebels. London, April 2.

A Reuter’s correspondent states that, owing to the approach of a large commando, Major-general Broad wood, with the 10th Hussars, Household Cavalry, (wo batteries of Horse Artillery, and Colonel Pilcher’s force, garrisoning Thabanchu, retreated on Friday night, encamping at 4 in the morning at Bloemfontein waterworks, south of the Modder River.

At dawn the camp was shelled from the rear. General Broadwood despatched a convoy of six guns, retaining the remainder of the force as a rearguard. Official reports state that the Boers to the number of 8000 wore in ambush and opened fire when the waggons and guns itr charge of Colonel Broadwood entered a drift. The drivers and horses were shot at short range. Seven guns and the baggage were lost. The casualties totalled 350, including 200 missing. Generals French and Colville shortly after arrived on the scene.

The Boers at Ladybrand captured three of Leiutenant-colonel Pilcher’s men. One of these, using his sword, fought a duel with a Boer who was armed with a rifle. The soldier was shot in the hand, while the Boer’s body was cut clean through. There are many complaints both in the Home and Capo papers of the undue leniency that is being shown to the rebels. Colonel Pilcher and the Now Zealanders brought away the landdrost from Ladybrand.