Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-26
BOERS ARE.
RETIRING.
Are Falling Back in North
easterly Direction From
Dewets Dorp.
! RUNDEL IS \ Ss,URsUIT.
Serious Accident to Arsen eretoria
= Bsden-Powell Sends ews
Up to April lO-Other
esting News of the Wa

n
Up to April lO-Other
esting News of the Wa
London, April 26.-(By Associated
Press.)-A special from Dewets Dorp,
dated yesterday, says: Sowing to the
approach of French and Rundles and
the persistent shelling the Beers relin-
quished their positions last night, re-
tiring with their guns in a northeast
erly direction. French and Rumble
joined hands east of Dewets Dorp this
morning. Rumble is pursuing the
Beers in forced marches"
Dewets Dorp, April 25, evening.-(B
Associated Press )-French entered the
town today with two cavalry brigades.
He left the camp at Daylight and
found the Beers holding the hills.
These were shelled ard the Beers re-
treated. The cavalry pushed around
the position of the Beers above the
town, where they are holding Runtle
in check. 1t is reported that 5000 pass
ed thru the town last night in order
to avoid French's attack in the rear.
London, April s6.-(By Associated
Press 1.-The war Office has received
the following from Roberts: 'Bloem-
fonteih, April 25.-I have good news
from Baden-Powell up to April 10.
Aiaclaren is much better. All the
wounded are doing better. The Beers
captured several native women who
We're trying to escape from Mafeking,
but these were turned back after be-
ing stripped and sjamboked."
81.
Pretoria, April 25.-.(By Associated
Press "A serious explosion occurred
at the Begbie works, used by the gov
ernment as an arsenal, last night. The
walls of the building were destroyed
and the structures in the neighborhood
are mass of ruins. Zen workmen were
killed and thirty-two injured. The
most important of the machinery was
saved. The cause of the explosion is
unknown. The works employed 200 per-
sons, mostly French and Italians.
Further particulars show the explo-
sion occurred in a magazine containing
smokeless powder on the opposite side
of the street from the Begbie works,
used by the government as an arsenal.
Thirteen of the occupants of the lat
ter building were blown to pieces, and
fifty injured. Another batch of Brit
ish subjects, consisting of ten men, 1868
women and 429 children were pun over
the border and are going to Delagoa
bay.
Changes In Situation.
London, April 26.-General Roberts
extended movement for the clearance
of his eastern flank has been directed
from Bloemfontein over a front sew
enty miles long, from Karee Siding
to Wepener. The principal changes
effected yesterday were the release Of
Wepener and the occupation of De-
vets Dorp by Chermside's division
without opposition.
General French made close ap-
proach to the Thaban Chu road, but
was not in time to close it.
Beers Escape Trap.
General Rumble has been playing
with the Boer force in the hope Of
holding it until it's line of retreat
northward could be cut off by GEN
eral French and General Hamilton,
but the Boer commander, alarmed by
the advance Of French and by the oc-
cupation of Sanna's Post, has with
drawn his force in time to escape being
surrounded.
The road to Thaban Chu was still
open, and it was the natural line of
retreat to either Winburg or Lady
brand.
The Boer forces occupying the hills
near Sanna's Post covered the direct
approach to Thaban Chu from Bloem-
fontein, and if they could succeed in
holding back Hamilton and the ninth
brigade the retreat of all the COM
mandoes northward or eastward would
be assured. The mounted infantry
cleared the hills before the ninth di-
vision came up.
Results In Doubt.
The results are still in doubt, but
there are no signs that the Beers have
been entrapped as Cronje was at Paar-
deburg.
Thaban Chu will probably be evac-
AooSS 90 1|C aoCVS Ids Uccn, ana
the Boer forces will retire to Lady
brand, where they can be Joined by
the commanders retreating from
Wepener. The. roads from Ladybrand
I will be open to Winbuhg and Sene-
kal.
General Roberts has succeeded in ac-
complishing the primary object of
clearing his flank from the presence of
the raiders who have menaced his line
of communications. Dalgety's relief
by Brabant has been accomplished, and
the raiding operations from Thaban
Chu southwark are at. an end. The
enemy fed on Tuesday night from
Wepener.
British Move North.
Roberts army is now in readiness 10