An " unfortunate occurrence " was reported by Lord Roberts
in a despatch dated Bloemfontein, April 5th, 9 p.m. A. small British force, consisting of three companies of the Royal Irish Rifles and two of the 9th Regiment Mounted Infantry, in all five hundred and ninety-one men, without guns, presumably sent out on a reconnaissance from General Gatacre's headquarters at Springfontein, was overtaken and engaged by a strong force of Boers under General De Wet at Reddersburg, about forty miles due south of Bloemfontein, and eleven miles south-east of Bethany Station, at noon on the 3rd. After expending all their ammunition, the British troops, who had been without food or water for twenty-four hours, surrendered at 9 am. on the following morning. Meantime Lord Roberts, who had heard of the action on the afternoon of the 3rd, ordered General Gatacre to proceed from Springfontein with all possible speed, and despatched the Cameron Highlanders from Bloemfontein to Bethany. General Gatacre arrived on the scene at 11.30 next morning with fifteen hundred men and a brigade division of artillery, but could find no trace of the missing detachment, and in view of the superior force of the Boers—estimated at five thousand with five guns—then holding Reddersburg, retired to Bethany. The British casualties are given at ten killed (including two officers) and thirty-six wounded, the entire remainder of the force being captured. This "unfortunate occurrence" will not, of course, affect the final result of the campaign; but we cannot deny that these petty and un- necessary disasters are very humiliating. We know nothing as to how the disaster occurred, and, therefore, withhold criticism. We may add that it was announced on Wednesday that General Gatacre is returning to England.
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