Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-09
WIRES REPORTED CUT AGAIN
GEN. ROBERTS SILENCE ATTRIBUT-
ED TO THAT CAUSE.
Free State Beers Renew HOstiIities-
Pretoria Account of British
Reverses.

LONDON, April 9.-When it is borne in
mind that all the dispatches from the front
are severely censored, there is little in the
news to bring satisfaction to England. As
SuranceS that nothing need be feared, even
if the railways and telegraphs are cut and
Bioemfontein isolated, together with the
news that the ladies and other civilians are
being ordered away, do not augur well.
There are rumors from Cape Town that
the telegraph wires were already cut yes
terday Sunday, ana also that the IIus-
Sars, who were sent to the relief of the
Royal Irish Rifles, are also missing al
though probably these are the outcome of
the Boer eXaggerations, designed to en-
courage the burghers.
The attempt of Gen Colville to catch the
Boer leaders in conference at Reitfontein
failed, probably, as usual because of the
lack of cavalry.
The results of these serious checks to the
British arms are that the whole Free State
is up again and that the Beers are full of
activity over the entire field.
belated Boer dispatch says that bayo-
nets We're being made for the foreign legion
under the late Gen. de Villebois Mareuil.
The Beers are boasting that the Coles
berg and Stormberg commands, nunbs ring
5000, with ten cannon and $50 wagons. have
gotten safely through, thus performing
The American scout Burnham testifes to
the terrific pace with which the Boer COM
mandos cover the ground, and the ease with
which they move their guns
The Beers are displa wing increased actiy-
ity in Natal, but there is no sign that Gen.
Butler is moving.
Mafeking was still besieged on April 1.
The garrison was suffering severely from
lack of bread, and a mixture of oats bran
and mealies was doing duty for that article
which is described coarse in substance
of the color of gingerbread. and of the con-
sistency of Norwegian pine
Boer Account of BrOndwOOd's Defeat.
A dispatch from Pretoria, dated April 4.
says: 1t is officially announced here that
at the Bloemfontein water works the re-
publican forces captured eleven officers and
362 men, with eleven guns, two ammuni-
ton wagons, other wagons and mules
A Boer account of the Bloemfontein wa
ter works affair says: Col. Broadwood
evacuated Thaba Nchu owing to the adj
vance of Commandant Olivier from the
south. The federal troops found the Brit
ish camp in peaceful slumber, without a
sentinel or outpost to give the alarm. Gen.
de Wet Immediately placed guns and the
commands in such positions as to sur
round the British. who did not have time
to recover from their surprise
1t is reported that Gen. de Wet attacked
and defeated large force of British cav
airy at Dewetsdorp. southeast of Boem-
fontein. capturing 400 prisoners and large
quantity of ammunition and camp stores,
and infiicting heavy loss. The federal loss
was two killed and four wounded. All is
quiet with the other commandos
British Retreat From ROCKVILLE.
A dispatch from Aliwal North, Cape Col
ony, Saturday, says: The Royal Irish Ri
fes, which have been falling back from
Rockville, arrived here safely last night
Their retirement was covered by a detach-
mcnt sent by Gen. Brabant, frustrating the
Beers. and interrupting the movement of
the enemy from Rockville
Lieut.. Bonsey and two men of Brabant's
of the Border Horse are miss
ing. Two Beers were killed in the rear
guard action.
A strong Boer commando is reported to
be- at Walsekop, fourteen miles west of
RouXvile