Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-04-17
ROBERTS, NET
All Ready to Be Drawn Tightly
Around the Beers.
Seeing the Point They Are Retreating
In All Directions.
Growing Impression That The Strength Of The
Beers Is Waning.

London, April 16.-415 A. M.-LOrd
Roberts has spread his net far and
wide To catch the adventurous com
mandos that have been making mis-
chief in the southeastern part of the
state. The net has not yet been
drawn in but at the headquarters of
Lord Roberts, the impression exists
that the power Of the Beers is decreas-
ing. \ Daily News correspondent has
seen them fleeing to the southeast;
Standard correspondent reports them
fleeing nOrthWaTd: a Daily Telegraph
correspondent says that some are GO
ing north and others south. while a
Morning Post report says it is not
known what the Beers are doing.
Evidently the feeling ut Bloemfon-
t"in is that the dispositions of Lord
Roberts are such as to enable him to
concentrate a large force rapidly at
any point The Beers. being aware Of
this. are presumed to be thinking now
chiefly Of retreating.
The investment Of Wepener accord
ing To q special dispatch from Bloem-
fontein has absolutely been abandoned
According to 2 Bethany dispatch the
Beers are unable to retreat northWard
because the British strongly hold all
roads
diverse reports come from Natal, one
asserting that the Beers have retired
beyond the Biggarsburg range and an
other raging that some Of them are
close to Ladysmith
London waits confidently for almost
in, I'll TO ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS g
0rahle to the British
Distrust exists. however, as to any
rapid. continuous advance toward Pre-
tolia. chiefly on account Of the lack
Of horses. many of which die in the
case Of long voyages. Letters from the
Cape say that the three days journey
by rail is made in open trucks. that the
arrangements for feeding and watering
are inadequate and that the unfortu-
nate animals break down rapidly in
consequence Of these hardships.
Despite the energy Of the buyers
abroad the war office forsees much
difficulty IN supplying the enormous
number Of horses required.
The Daily Mail has the following
from Lady Sarah Wilson. dated Nafe-
king. April .: The pinch Of hunger
Is beginning to be felt ana relief seems
~ ~ move distant than ever Since
March 81. there had been no shelling
until today. Commandant Snyman
having taken his burghers to bar Col.
Plumcrs road. Yesterday. however.
III returned ana the bOmbardment was
renewed. today, with splendid high We
locity guns. firing 14-pound shells.
such rs had not been used since the
first days Of the siege. The military
authorities say the British artillery has
II ching t" compare with these guns"
The LouIenzo Marquee correspond
'nt "f the Daily Mail telegraphing.
Sunday. April l., says: The tone of
tn" Standard and Diggers News shows
That tho Transvaal government is
strongly relying upon American inter-
Vcnt."n. Great results are expected
from the campaign Of Webster Davis
ana from the Presidential contest
While the ,mi-hlockadc Of Delagoa
Fay has not done the slightest harm
y thn Transvaal. it has enriched for
eirn firms I'd The expense Of ruined
Eritishers."
Tho Blocmfnntcin correspondent Of
thn Morning Post. tclegraphing. Mon
day. SAYS: small bodies III Beers are
prnWlinE around ana are even coming
within y ur l1 miles of BIormfontein
ThI'c actually entered the town. one
night. ana escaped without being dis
RIA. Thr BaCr dcmonstI alton. yes
trrdly. MT Karro Siding was designed
tp cover the withdrawal Of an immense
convoy NJ provisions. There is no
doubt that thu Boer incursion into the
southeastern part If the Free State
was largely due to the need of replen-
ishing Victuals in the most fertile part
fn tho country. This explains why the
enemy marched south with empty
wagons. Various important move
ments are occurring which naturally is
not desirable t. specify"
The Hlo"mfontein correspondent of
the Standard, telcgraphing. Monday.
says: The Beers are in full retreat
from Wcpener, huSging the Basuto-
land border. The Basutos are march
ing parallel with them along the
frontier, eagerly watching for the
slightest encroachment."
from E"dlersburg dated, Friday:
The Daily News has the following
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