Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-04-24
STEP BY STEP
The British Forces Go Forward
to Relief of Wepener.
Po'e-Carew SEXES Leeuwa Kop, kd-
vance Of a Few Miles.
British within Eight Miles Ci Wepener and
Beers Are Retreaiing.

London, Ap.1l Z3.-Ihe war office,
late this evening, issued the following
dispatch from Lord Roberts, dated
| Hlucmfontein. Monday, April %. $50
p. NJ: yesterday, ] dispatched the
1.-The Division under Gen. Pole Carew
and t.yo brigades of cavalry under
Gen. French from this point to assist
cen. Rumble The force reached Kar-
! ricfpntein without much opposition.
Casualties reported: Welsh Regi-
mcnt, private killed, Capt. Prothero
mprtaily wounded and seven men;
Yorkshires, eight wounded Sth Hus-
sars, one killed, one wounded; Royal
Artillery, two wounded; 7th Dragons,
Lieut. jenkins ana 10 men missing.
Capt. Cotton, Royal Artillery, broke
an arm by a fail.
I'm. pOle-CarrW's mounted infantry
seized Lecuwa kop. high hill, a few
miles north Of their last nights posi-
ton. The enemy hurriedly evacuated,
leaving some rifles and ammunition"
Gen. Rumble reports that % men of
the lst Worcesters are missing Fifty
three We're sent out with wood to an
outpost after dark, and only IS re-
turned. Their numbers and names
will be reported today, as well as four
wounded, yesterday. The war office
has given no explanation of the appar-
ent discrepancy in the figures as to
the men from the Worcester regiment.
London, April 24.-5 a. M.-The
strong body Of reinforcements which
Lord Roberts sent to assist the relief
of Wepencr and to endeavor to envelop
and cut off the Beers from a retreat
northward furnishes further evidence
that the Beers are assembled in much
larger forces around Wepener than has
hitherto been supposed
A Boer dispatch dated Thaba N'Chu.
April 90 says that a fresh supply of
cannon and ammunition has reached
Gen. Dewet at Johannesburg drift. 1t
also asserts that one of Col. Dalgety's
guns has been smashed.
Apparently the British captured
Paarde Kraal. Sunday night. The
Beers evacuated Leeuwa kop. during
the night. removing the gun, and the
British occupied the kop the next
morning.
Although the Beers appear to be Of
fcring stout resistance to the British
advance, their position is dangerous.
They can scarcely delay farther their
retreat northWard without mourning
the risk Of being cut off.
The report that a Boer commando
was at Frankfort proved to be without
foundation: but evidently there is n
large force opposing Lord Methuen.
The BloemfOntein correspondent Of
the Standard describing the operations
at Leeuwa Kop says: TAT an early
stage the cavalry came under a heavy
fire from a 'pompom' on a range adj
joining Lceuwa KOp. Unable to con-
tinuc its march to the south Gen. Dick
sons brigade fell back to the north to
await the infantry attack
The thanking movement having fail
ca Gen. Pole-Carew, with Gen.
Sterhcnson's brigade. advanced in
crescent form from the west and south,
with the object of enveloping the
lopies. The Welch. Warwickshires.
Essex and Yorkshire Regiments ad-
Vancad in extended line. covering the
west. while the Guards brigade took
up 4 position to the south with two
fold batteries ana naval guns. Shell
tered by the rocks. the enemy opened
q heavy fire from rifles and a POM
pom
"Our men advanced over the open
ground i'm splendid style. by a success
sion Of short rushes, falling prone
while pouring in their volleys. The
approach IF darkness threatened to
leave the Beers in possession, but. just
before sunset. the Essex Regiment gal
lantly pressed forward ana drove the
last Of the enemy from Paarde kraal.
Il bold spur Of Leeuwa kop.'
The Cape Town correspondent OF the
Daily Mail says that Gen. Carrington's
force Is the only one going to the re-
lief 0f Mafeking ana that no force Of
any kind is operating from the south.
The Bloemfontein correspondent of
the Daily Telegraph says: THE resist
ance of the Beers at Laeuwa kop was
contemplate, considering the strength
Of their position. They escaped in an
oasterly direction. the guards failing to
get quite around them"
The Bloemfontein correspondent Of
the Times says: THE British cavalry
were checked. Col. Anderson worked
partially round the flank at Leeuwa
Continued on page 81