The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-13

Inc Baitimo Sun summarizes the
cablesrarns fro.l South Africa. receiv-
ed up ID Monday morning as fellows:
Beers are th-eatening Lord Roberts
communicate : in the Orange Free
State SD ~seriOL-.y that Lord Kitchener
has taken in hand the work of protect
ing the railroad to Cape Town. They
are active all around Lord Roberts
and have advanced to within eight
miles ~ Bloemfontein on the east. The
waterworks are still held by them, and
the great British army in Bloemfon-
tein. estimated at from SO, 900 to loo. OJO
me-. - forced to depend for drinking
water ON Z limited supply in the wells.
Some ofNthe reasons for Lord Rob
erts' comparative inactivity are be
ginning u appear. The lack vi horses
has previously been stated as a reason.
1t is now said that a deficiency of
warm clothing is another important
cause and that there has been an out
break of pneumonia among the troops.
The South African winter is coming
en-.
Beers are threatening the railway at
q number Of places. They have gotten
o. ELA Jul o0 III AAo AA'NAr III
northern border of Cape Colony. Ii
is suspected that they plan 10 seize
the railroad bridge over that river.
which might force Lord Roberts 10 re-
treat from BlOemfontein. Women
have left the Free State capital in
compliance with a general RIDER.
There are uncOnfirmed rumOrs from
Cape Town that the telegraph wires
behind Lord Roberts were cut on Sun
day and that a body of hussars who
were sent to the relief of the Royal
Irish Rifles at Rockville are missing.
The Rifles were forced to retreat across
the range river to Alival North.
General Gatacre, who was sent out
to recapture the British prisoners TAX
en- at De Vets near RedderSburg, has
returned to Bethany without na,llE
found any trace of the captured col
unit. The Beers have occupied Red
deTSburg. Lord Roberts reports that
of The British column 10 We're killed
So wounded and $40 captured.
Mafeking was still holding out on
April |.
Thirty Beers escaped from the prison
camp at SimOnstOwn, Cape Colony,
but uine were recaptured-
(By Associated Prss.)
AMAZING ACTIVITY OF Beers.
London. April 9.-The amazing &C
tivity Of the Beers southeast and
southwest of BlOemfOntein
the Boer commands seemingly coming
and going throughout a wide region as
they please. but taking good care not
to throw themselves against strong
bodies Of the British. The retirement
of the Irish Rifles from Rockville to
AiiWai leaves General Braba without
communication with the other British
forces. He has 1000 or 5000 c~OlOnials
holding a fine defensive country. but
he il apparently invested, So far as
London knows.
y. ALL NEWS SUPPRESSED.
Telegraph and railroad communica-
ton with BIoemfontein are kept up as
usual. but nothing comes through for
public consumption. Lord Roberts
last message was dated April 9th and
the last unofficial message bore date
of April 7th.
The absence of news, as usual, dis
heartens the people and produces an
altogether d~iscouraging effect. n
last unofficial message notes that good
spirits at Bloemfontein are continuing
and tells of the arrival of animals and
two fresh cavalry regiments. Lord
Roberts has now $1,000 mounted men
altogether.
In the Orange Free State the situa-
ton u complex. with scanty material
for forming a correct estimate OF the
situation
FORTIFYTNG BLOEMFONTEIN.
London, April U--Ine bIoeliILoh
tein correspondent of The Daily Tele-
graph t~elegraphing Sunday says: The
railway and telegraph are Orkin
we'll Works and trenches nave
been prepared in suitable positions
around Bloemfontein. The greatest
vigilance is exercised. Some of the
troops sleep in the trenches. COnfir-
nation has been received of the report
that the Beers are in lager. in cOnSid-
cradle force. with guns, at Donkers-
poOrt. eighteen miles southeast. The
British scouts report another body
still closer. The BOer patrols have
grown very daring, VenturlnS much
neaTer our tents.