The age-herald., 1900-06-13
BRITISH RECEIVE ENCOURAGING NEWS Broken Communications in Fair
 Way to be Mended. BOER COMMANDO DEFEATED The Boers Are Also Issuing Encourag- News to Their Sympathizsrs.
 Another Account of Brit
 ish Disaster.
BOER COMMANDO DEFEATED

London, June 13.-3:30 a. m.-Two pieces of news encouraging to the British~in the official dispatches are that the broken com munication of Lord Roberts Is in fair way to be mended by the forces moving north ward and southward and driving off the rowing commandos, and this Sir Redvers Butler is at last master of Laings Nek.
 Photographic communication with Lord Roberts is expected to be restored today, as dispatch from Bloemfontein dated yes- terday says that the railway is in British possession again. and that the work of re- pairing the line is going on rapidly with the abundant material warehouses at Bloemfontein.
 From the subjoined telegram it would appear that General Hunter was in com mand of the troops referred to by General Kelly Kenny in his dispatch from Bloem- fontein:
 "Bloemfontein June 12.-General Hunter Is coming up rapidly from the northwest having severely defeated a large commando of Boers who had destroyed two miles of railway north of Kroonstad."
 The Boer government is also issuing news cheering to its sympathizers The follow ing bulletin, the Boer version of the dis aster to the Derbyshires, was posted by President Kruger Sunday at Machado Dorp:
 On June four divisions of burghers, commanded by Steenkamp, Froneman, Du- ploy, Fourie and Nel attacked the British at Roodeval, killed 200, took 700 prisoners and captured immense stores of food and ammunition, a Maxim gun and l,0OO lyddlte shells. Some food was taken by the Boer farmers and the rest. was burned The English mall was taken. The Burghers at f,Ar and a pN l. dence of unprecedented bravery"
 General Dewet was also fighting on June 9 whether at Roodeval or elsewhere is not clear, but the Boer war office gives it out that he captured 5000 suits of clothing. blankets, gloves, boots, etc. Being unable to carry them with him in his rapid sweep through the country, according to the Transvaal war office, he burned the whole mass.
 Dewet Captured Clothing
 General Dewet has also reported that he put 1000 British out of action and de- stroyed property valued at 100000 As Lord Methuen is officially described as fighting on June ', it is possible that he was engaging General Dewet.
 According to a dispatch to the Daily Express from Machado Dorp, dated June 10 via Lourenzo Marques those around President Kruger say that Louis Botha and Detry have been offered indirectly $10,0Ot a year to lay down their arms and Presi- dent Kruger expects the same offer to be made to himself, President Steyn and Gen. eral Dewet. President Kruger believes that the British make these offers to close the war on the principle that it would cost less than to fight it out.
 A dispatch from Lourenzo MarqueZ say that ,000 Boers are reported to be retir ing on Mddlesburg from various quarter and that after wedding out the faint hearted 10000 steadfast men are still left
 General Butler was unable on Monday t follow up the Boers from lack of cavalr, as well as water. The dispatches describ him as fighting a spirited advance over ; rugged field under prolonged rifle fire Th' Boers had two guns, which they got away Few dead wounded Boers were found It seems probable that the major portion of the Boers had withdrawn before the ad vance began.
 Lord Methuen, General Bundle and Gen eral Brabant are reported to have 5000 mer and fifty guns engaged in closing the Boer. in the eastern part of the Orange Rivel Colony.
 The war office casualty returns up tC June 9th aggregate 2366i, besides 792 off