The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-24
MAY FIND THEMSELVES CUT OFF
FROM POSSIBLE REEREAT
BY THE BRITISH
In GREAT FORCE At WEPEHER
APPEAR TO HAVE GUNS, AND BIG
ONES, WHEREVER THEY
MOST NEED THEM
HAVE DELAYED LORD ROBERTS
This Much Accomplished, 1t Is Be-
Heved the Beers VIII Soon
Seek Safety In SYSTEM
attic Retreat.

MASERU, Monday, April 2S.-Fighting
began early this morning at Bushman's
Kop. The colonial division, under Gen.
Brabant, advanced cautiously, followed
and supported by Gen. Hart's infantry
brigade. 1t was found the Beers had
evacuated their position on Bushmans
Kop during the night
A running fight has been proceeding
throughout the day, the British gradu-
ally advancing and the Beers losing
ground.
Gen. Brabant is moving in a northeast
erly direction, keeping Basutoland close
on his right flank Thousands of Basutos
are watching the operations. Our casu-
alties so far are twenty-five wounded.
The British are bivouacking tonight, ac-
cording to the latest report, eight miles
from Wepener, and the Beers who are
besieging Col. Dalgety appear to be pre-
pairing to retire. A stubborn fight is be-
neved to have occurred in the direction
of Dewetsdorp, where the Beers are in
strong force with lot of guns, and
where also there is relief column, ap-
parently Gen. Rundle's. Wepener, how
ever, is already practically relieved by
the withdrawal of a large portion Of the
besiegers.
BOERS ARE IN DANGER.
LONDON, April 24.--The strong body
of reinforeements which Lord Roberts
sent to the relief of Wepener and to en-
deavor to envelope and cut off the Beers
from a retreat northward furnishes fur
ther evidence that the Beers are assem-
bled in much larger forces around Wepe-
ner than had hitherto been supposed
and as the Times, in an editorial this
morning remarks, whatever may be the
difficulties Of roads and rain, the Beers
always appear to have guns, and some
times big ones, where they want them.
A Boer dispatch, dated Thaba N'Chu,
April 20, says that fresh supply of can
non and ammunition has reached Gen.
Dewet at Jammersburg Drift. 1t also
asserts that one Of Col. Dalgety's guns
has been smashed.
Kariefontein, mentioned in Lord Rob
erts' dispatch to the war office, is fifteen
miles southwest from Bloemfontein;
Leeuw Kop is two miles further south.
Apparently the British captured Paarde
Kraal Saturday night. The Beers evac-
moving the gun, and the British occu-
pied the kop the next morning.
Although the Beers appear to be offer
ing stout resistance to the British ad-
vance their position is dangerous They
can scarcely delay further their retreat
northward without mourning the risk OF
being cut off. Usually they have been
we'll informed regarding the British plans
and they are not likely to run such a
risk, especially as they have partially
accomplished their object of drawing
large forces from Bloemfontein on long
marches, and have therefore detained
the advance on Pretoria.
RELIEF FORCE IN BATTLE.
LONDON, April 23-The war office, late
this evening" issued the following dis
patch from Lord Roberts, dated Bloem-
fontein, Monday, April %, 2:5o p. M:
Yesterday I dispatched hte Eleventh
division, under Gen. Pole-Carew, and twl
brigades of cavalry, under Gen. French
from this point to assist Gen. Rumble
The force reached Kariefontein without
much opposition. : Casualties reported
Welsh regiment, private killed, Capt Pro
thero mortally wounded, and seven men
Yorkshires, eight wounded; Eighth hus
sars, one killed, one wounded; Fourteenth
Hussars, one wounded; Royal artillery
two wounded; Seventh dragons, Lieut.
jenkins and ten men missing; Capt Rot
ton, Royal artillery broke an arm by :
fall
'Gen. Pole-Carew's mounted infantr,
seized Learw Kop, high hill a few mile.
north of their last nights position. The
enemy evacuated hurriedly, leaving som,
rifles and ammunition
Gen. Rumble reports that twenty-fiv,
Of hn Eirct
ing. Fffty-three were sent with Wood T,
an outpost after dark and only eighteel
returned. Their numbers and names will
be reported today, as well as four wound
ed yesterday
LEEUW KOP ENGAGEMENT.
The Bloemfontein correspondent OF th
STANDARD, describing the operation a
Leeuw kop, says:
AT an early stage the cavalry cam,
under heavy fire from pompom on ;
ridge adjoining Leeuw Kop Unable t,
continue its march to the southeast Gen
Dickson's brigade fell back to the nortI
to await the infantry attack. The flank
ing movement had failed Cen Pole
Carew. with Gen. Stephenson's brigade
advanced in crescent form from the soutl
and west, with the object of envelopins
the kopjes. The Welsh, WarwdcI<shir,
and Sixth Yorkshire regiments advance,
In extended line, covering the west. Will,
the guards brigade took up position q
the south, with two field batteries an(
naval guns. Sheltered by the rocks. tht
enemy opened heavy fire from rife,
and pompom. Our men advanced Owe
the open ground in splendid stvle nv
succession of short rushes, falling nront
while pouring in their volleys. The an
proach of darkness threatened to leav,
the Beers in possession, but, just befor,
sunset, the Essex regiment gallant,
pressed forward and drove the last mar
of the enemy from Paarde Kraal, q bold
spur of Leeuw I<op"
BOERS EASILY BEATEN.
The Bloemfontein correspondent of III
Daily Telegraph says:
'"rhe resistance Of the Beers at Ieeuu
Kop was contemplate, considering tn,
strength of their position. They escane,
in an easterly direction, the guards fail
ing to get quite around them"
The Bloemfontein correspondent of th
Times says:
1.-The British cavalry were checked
< Col Alderon worked partially round tn
flank of Leeuw Kop. but he was not sup
ported. The move checked the enemy