The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1900-03-16
NEAR BLOEMFONTE|N.
The British, Under Lord Roberts,
Only a Few Miles Away.
A DiE Rattle II Expected 60 10
Fought. a. the Beers Have Eigh-
teen Guns in PoSition-Intest
News From the Front.

lNNNN Wv
London. March i3.-rhc war office
has received dispatch from Lord
Roberts. at Neters Welt. announcing
that, after fight with the Beers,
Gen. French reached station on the
| railway six miles south OF Blocmton-
tein. There were 32l men wounded
and so or 90 killed or are missing.
Col Umphery has died of his
wounds. Lieut.. Pratt. of the Essex
! regiment. is wounded severely The
wounds are. as rule. OF q most seri-
GUS and unusual character owing 20
expansive bullets. which are freely
used by the Beers.
London. March is.-Lord Roberts
telegraphs from Nentcrs Wei at $500
o'clock this morning as follows:
IL directed Gen. French. IL there
were time. to seize the railway sta
tion at Bloemfontein. and thus secure
the rolling stock. " midnight I re-
ceiycd report from him that. after
considerable OPPOSITION. he had been
able TO occupy two hills close 20 the
runway ntHAi'A NhtNh NtihAiAitAl'A
Bloemfontein.
~ brother of President Steyn has
been made a prisoner
"The telegraph line leading north
ward has been cut and the railway
broken up.
II am now starting with the 3d cav-
airy brigade. which l called up from
the seventh division near Petrusberg
yesterday. and the mounted infantry
to reinforce the cavalry division. The
rest Of the force will follow a. quickly
as possible
Nenters Wei, Orange Free State
March ie-Eyening. THE British
forces. which since the fghting at
Dreifontein have been marching rap
idly hither, have turned the Boer POI
sition. Our cavalry are ahead. The
Beers were reported this morning
about 10000 strong. with Is gums in
position. on a range OF kopies COM
manding the direct road TO Bloemfon-
TEN, which Is distant IS miles
London. March l3.-In the house OF
commons Mr.. Balfour. the first lord
of the treasury and government lead
er, replying 20 question as 10
whether. consistently with public in-
terests. he could state the essential
conditions on which alone the goy-
ernment would entertain peace pro-
posals from the South african rcpub-
lies. promised that papers in this con.
nection would shortly be presented TO
the house.
Being asked II there was any fouu-
dation for the report that President
Kruger hal addressed communica-
tion TO the government. Mr.. Halfour
reiterated his promise that papers
bearing on this subject would be pre-
scented TO the house within a short
time.
II is learned that the papers prom
Used by Mr.. Balfour will confirm in
every respect the news cabled Friday
last, that the peace rumors were
founded on the fact that President
Kruger had appealed to Lord Sails
bury for a cessation OF hostilities,
setting forth at length by cable the
terms whHh he was willing 10 ac-
cept, and also that the cabled dis
patch TO the premier was signed by
President Steyn as well as by Presi-
dent Kruger.
The advances met with an emphatic
rejection at the hands of Lord Sails
bury. who said that no attempt TO re-
tain the independence OF the Trans
vaal could be considered for mo-
ment by the British government.
Paris. March 13.-The Gaulois pub
fishes the following from its london
correspondent:
According Ia good authority. Pres
ident Kruger and President Steyn
have not made formal proposition
of peace, but have asked the British
government through the United
States the conditions il would accept
for the opening OF negotiations on
the basis of the independence OF the
republics. President Kruger is all
legged 10 have said that he would ac-
cept mediation. but the United States
government, in transmitting this
tary of the interior has decided that
communication took care TO declare
that il did not assume the RESPONSE
bility for the initiative in mediation"
The London correspondent. of the
Matin says: IL learn that United
States Ambassador Choate has re-
ceived a long end important cable
from the United States government
relative to South Africa, which he
will communicate 10 Lord Salisbury"
Alleged Indian Prince Arrested.