Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 June 1901 — WAS A BEAL HOT FIGHT [ARTICLE]

WAS A BEAL HOT FIGHT

Affair of Valkfonteln It Entitled To Bo Called a Battle. London, June s.—An official dispatch from General Kitchener gives details of the tight near Vlakfontein. d'he Boers, under cover of a grass fire, attacked the rear guard of a British force of 1,450 men and seven gun**, two of which were with the rear guard. In the fight the Boers killed six officers and fifty-one men and wounded six officers and 115 men. They were driven off and their posl-. tion captured, and they left forty-one dead on the field. Tiie fight was one of tlie most desperate engagements of tlie war. General Dixon’s column was traversing tlie district and establishing posts when it was attacked by 1,200 Boers, under Commandant Kemp. The Boers were so dose that fifty British fell at the first volley. The yeomanry held the position, protecting the guns until they were nearly decimated, and then, finding it impossible to save the guns, the artillerymen shot the gun horses to prevent the Boers moving the guns. Tlie column quickly recovered from the shock of tiie unexpected attack. The Derbyshires charged with the bayonet, and after a short, desperate tight drove off the Boers and recovered the guns. The Derbyshires and yeomanry both lost very heavily. It is asserted that while tlie Boers had temporary possession of the guns they shot two artillerymen in cold blood for refusing to work them against their own comrades. The war office publishes the following dispatch from Lord Kitchener, dated I’retoria, June 4: '‘Jamestown (Cupe Colony) surrendered to Kritzinger’s commando on the morning of June 2, after four hours' fighting. Our casualties were three killed and two wounded. The Boer loss is said to have been greater. Tiie stores were looted, but the garrison* was released. Have placed General French in charge of the operations in Cape Colony.”