Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-08
NEW BURGHER ARMY GATHERING
BEFORE ROBERTS.
JOUBERT REORGANIZlNG 1T
Region About Ladysmith Deserted
Guns Taken Away but Large Stores
Left Behind-Lord Roberts Has Men
Enough to Meet Any Opposition
Congratulations Exchanged.

ready 10 retire on prepared positions.
Doubtless it is receiving accretions
from late besiegers of LadySmith and
from other points. Whatever the force
may be, Lord Roberts has ample
troops to cope with it. A heavy rain is
falling on the veldt and this will be a
good thing temporarily for the beers.
Lord Roberts has surprised all by the
excellence Of his transport service dur
ing his first advance and he is likely to
do so again, although military men
here think he must wait some days be-
fore going much farther. The beers,
presumably, will use this delay for all
it is worth, pulling their resources to-
gether. Dr.. Leyds gives out that Com
mandants Dewet and Delarey have
been instructed to retard the advance
of Lord Roberts only until concentra-
ton under Gen. Joubert has been &C
complished
Mafeking Siege Raised.
New York, March "a boer report
published from Brussels, says that the
siege of Mafeking has been raised. The
news is unconfrmed but probably true
Beers But Four Miles Off.
Osfontein, March 3.-The beers have
been definitely located four miles from
the British front, their left resting on
high kopje, their right on the river
The burgher force is estimated to
number between 5000 and 5000.
Ladysmith Region Clear of Beers.
London, March 3.-The war office
has received the following dispatch
| from Gen. Butler at Ladysmith: q
find the defeat of the beers more com
plete than I had dared to anticipate
This whole distance is clear of them
and, except at the top Of Van Reen-
ans pass, where wagons are visible
I can find no trace of them. Their
| last train left MOdder spruit station
yesterday and they blew up the
bridge. They packed their wagons
| six days ago moving them to the
north of I.adysmith so we had nc
chance of intercepting them; but they
| have left vast quantities Of ammuni-
ton Of all sorts, herds, grass, camp
and individual necessaries. They got
away with all their guns except two.
Dreadful BOmbardment Met
Colenzo, Camp, Feb. 2S.-The beers
lost heavily during yesterdays fighting
| Lyddite wrought fearful havoc III Cht
| trenches Many Of the wounded were
quite yellow from the effects of fumes
Over 100 prisoners were taken Many
| of them were Hollanders and a few
were genuine beers. Considerable am
munition for rifles fell into the hand
of the British, as we'll as many dam
aged maxim guns. The prisoners haG
not heard of the surrender of Genera
Cronje and discredited it. The major
ity seemed to be glad to be captured
They admit they have suffered heavy
losses recently. Armed women were
with the beers in the trenches until
three hours before the British charged
Two women were found, one dead, the
other fatally wounded. Before she
died, the latter SAID her husband would
not let her go, as she was such a good
shot. The woman was only 10 years
OF age. Some idea Of the intensity OF
the shell-fire can be gathered from the
fact that of 50 guns in action the 18th
battery alone discharged 794 rounds
firing every ten seconds. The British
casualties were about 200 men.
Congratulations Exchanged.
London, March 3.-The court circu-
lar issued last evening says: EARLY
yesterday morning the queen received
with joy the thankful news of the re-
lief Of Ladymisth, accomplished by
troops under command of Sir Redvers
Butler. Her majesty telegraphed her
congratulations to him and Sir George
White. This was accidentally omitted
from yesterdays court circular" Fol-
lowing is the text Of her majesty's
dispatch 70 Gen. Butler: Il thank
God for the news you have telegraphed
ME, and congratulate you and all I'M
er you with all my heart" The dis
patch TO Sir George White read thus:
4 thank God that you and all
those with you are safe after your long.
trying siege, borne with such heroism
| congratulate you and all under you
from the bottom of my heart. l trust
you are all not very much exhausted
Gen White sent the following reply:
Your majesty's gracious message has
been received by me with deepest graft
tude and with enthusiasm by the
troops. Any hardships and privations
are hundred times compensated for
by the sympathy and appreciation Of
our queen; your majesty's message Will
do more to restore both officers and
men than anything else
Amenities Of War.
London, March 3.-Lord Roberts
wires the war office from Osfontein
under date of March ,: Have just
returned from paying Kimberley
hurried visit. Was much gratified at
finding enthusiasm among the Kim
berlfy people regarding the care of
the sick and wounded. All houses
have been converted into hospitals.
The men have been made most com
Portable. l was struck with the friend
ly manner in which the beers and our
men chatted together upon eYperien-
ces Of the campaign. It delighted me
to see our soldiers sharing their ra-
tons and biscuits with boer prisoners
before they commenced TO march for
the MOddpr river Some Door fellows
were very hungry, after having been
half starved in the lager
Butler and White Meet.
Ladysmith, March 3.-Gen. Butler,