The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-07

before Pretoria Is reached, and is reviving
premature ideas with respect 70 the time
when the war will be over No one be-
leves now that 1T will have ended by the
beginning OF June.
Hard to Guard the Railroad.
The latest disaster more particularly IL
illustrates the heavy task involved in hold
Ing the railway. This body Of some 800
British troops, without guns, which dis
appeared so completely within thirty-hve
miles OF the great British army. had for its
business to guard a section Of nearly
ninety miles Of railway between Bloem-
fontein. II It could thus be spirited away,
how In Lord Roberts 10 ensure his con-
tinually extending communications? other
pertinent questions are being asked OF
the successive "unfortunate occurrences,
The foremost is, why do not the British
troops entrench2 II Is argued that II this
had been done, even 500 men might have
held out until reinforcements arrived. II
cannot be concealed that the utmost alarm
Is beginning 10 be felt. II is said that the
Beers who captured the British at Red
dersburg belonged 20 DIVERS commando.
II so, he has not retired north. and hopes
are expressed that he may still be cut on.
II is asserted that 100 rebels surrendered
during Gen. Clements northward march
The Beers viii do their utmost TO hold
Ladybrand and Thaba Menu, both being
rich grain producing districts.
PatroIIing the Railroad.
A correspondent of the Morning Post, at
Springfontein. telegraphing Thursday, says
he f. glad to be able TO report that In
creased precautions are being taken In pa
trolling tie railway.
II Is said that most Of the prisoners cap
tufed at Boshof are foreigners.
The report that Mr. Steyn had been APP
ro,nted to the command Of the Free Stat
ers and the further report that the Free
state has arranged n loan from the Trans
yaal for war purposes are both confirmed.
Remounts Are Due.
Ten thousand renounts from South Amer
lea are due to arrive during the coming
week At ports OF Natal and Cape Colony.
Fighting with PIumer.
Another Boer version OF the fishtinS with
Gen. plumers force says that four officers
and thirty men were taken prisoners at
amathiabama. II appears that the names
OF Cecil and Granville, which were orig
fnafly supposed TO indicate two Of the Off
GERS captured at the time, should have been
read together as the name OF one officer.
WIN Not Exchange.
As numerous prisoners are now held on
both sides and the numbers are about
equal the question Of exchange WAS ,,ootei
I'm the house OF commons last evening. This
ELECTED reply that the government had
ITO intention OF proposing an exchange
WIN Attack Bloemfontein.
The Bloemfontein correspondent Of the
Morning Post. telegraphng Thursday, says;
.The Beers are apparently making All at
tempt to redeem their promise to retakc
BloemfonteIn. A considerable force has
moved south through Thaba N'Chu. Gen.
Ticker'H isolation at Karee IL more appar-
ent than real since the open ground north
Of BloemfonteIn offers small opportunity
for Boer tactics. They may possibly en-
gage him TO distract attention from opera
tons elsewhere. Remounts are anxiously
awaited"
Hoep Forces Are Active.
The Bloemfontein correspondent Of the
Daily Telegraph. telegraphing Thursday,
says:
"A seditious meeting summoned by
Transvaal emissaries for today at Loouw-
berg, but nobody attended
"Boer patrols from Bradfort have cut the
telegraph wires between here and Boshof.
''The British scouts reported yesterday
that q force Of from 100 10 1890 Beers
had been seen beyond Bosmans kop moving
from Thaba N'Chu To- the south. The
enemy by appeals and menaces are vnily
enemy by appeals and menaces are vainly
field again. The farmers are more afraid
OF tho Transvaalers than of the British"
Methuen's Little Fight.
The Daily Telegraph has the following
from posbof dated Thursday.
~ ord Methuen's relief force wa. con.
contracted here TODAY Tho Boers arr In
,oree n few miles distant. on the Yasl
,,,,er This town fs practically deserted.
all the mon being with the commando I'M
Al, rommnrdant DuplessIs who controls
,na atx,ytct
Lord Methnen COMMANDED IN spirited
htue acuoh nine mics 10 VI" southwest
where ne SURROUNDED seventy boefs on
kop1e. MOI man escaped we TOOK M
ty-tour prisoners. sixty horses ana guam
tity OF baggage Gen De Nllieoois was
KILLED during the action
"A Bocr hoiSted a white nag ana then
hred tmtneuiateif Mter' kA'ihg BrtiSh
"u,v', ' ,, As ~ |tis , SUI
ans n solo,on a. ~ the nttorpey en-
s,ai ~ tha colony are renortes ,,or, Ga
Trv,n % N, engaged In a ssrtou. contra-
,,ars,, ,,,,h M o,hsr h,,rd ,eaS.rs "a
~, rr,r,ts,,s rasisna,,on q. tncSas 80
w. .s1A,1,,, NV"