The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-04-17
B0ERS RETIRING
FROM WEPENER
Commands Said to Be
Trekking Under Pres
sure of British
Advances.

ing:
Bloemfontein. April 16. A heavy
rain storm continues, which must
delay the movements Of Roberts
army two days.
The Beers have abandoned their
attack on Wepener and have track.
ed from the vicinity, being evident.
ly afraid Of our pending move
ments. At Rouxville, also, the
enemy, though in a majority, have
undoubtedly retired north, except
a body of about 5000, who are still
reported as going toward Bethulie.
London, Tuesday, April 1.-THE
Times this morning prints the fol.
lowing:
Bloemfontein, April 16.--The
Boer force investing Wepener is re-
ported as moving in southerly d.
rection, but the object Of the move
ment is uncertain.
London, April 16.-From Lady
smith dispatch dated at 9.45 a.
M, to-day says:
Information tends to confirm the
report that the Beers have succeed
ed in blowing up three important
collieries near Vessels Mex, COM
plately destroying the engine house
and plants.
London, Tuesday, April 1.-THE
Daily Mail has the following from
Lady Sarah Wilson, dated Mafek.
ing, April S:
THE pinch of hunger is begin
ing to be felt, and relief seems more
distant than ever.
"Since March 81 there had been
no Smelling until to-day, Command
ant Snyman having taken his
burghers to bar Colonel Plummer's
road. Yesterday, however, he re-
turned, and the bombardment was
renewed to-day with splendid high
velocity guns, firing A. pound shells
such as had not been used since
the first days of the siege"
THE military authorities say
the British artillery has nothing to
compare with these guns.
A despatch to the Times from
Mafeliing, dated April 6, confirm.
ing earlier reports, says:
AFTER Colonel Plumer's repulse
Commandant Sny man sent mes
sage inviting Colonel Baden-Powell
to send out to collect the dead and
wounded, but, when the ambulance
appeared the Boer commander de-
clined to allow them to be taken.
1t was discovered, however, that
the Boer reports Of the extent of
the British casualties have been
greatly exaggerated
From Cape Town comes re-
newal of the rumor that General
Brabant has defeated the Beers at
Wepener and captured their arms,
but this is not confirmed and is not
reliable.
Belated Boer dispatches from
Brandtort tell of the continuation of
fighting around Wepener. The
dispatches also say that Command
ant Petrus de Wet is reported to
have engaged the troops sent from
Bloemfontein to Brabant's assist
ance.
There was also brush with a
British column advancing towards
without decisive re-
suit.
An official bulletin issued at Pc
toria April 10 reports that the
captured 500 slaughter
oxen at Wepener and that General
Froneman that day defeated the
British, causing them to fly in the
of Wolverport, apparently
over the Orange River.
A Cape Town dispatch says
nearly 1000 horses have been land
ed there since Apr! IS, which in
dicates that every effort is being |
put forth to remedy the great defect
in the British organization.
FREDERICK Villiers, the veteran
war correspondent, who arrived at
southampton to-day from the front,
said he believed the worst of the
war was over, but that guerrilla
warfare would continue for some
line.
London, Tuesday, April H.
The Lourenzo Marquee correspond
.dt of the Daily Mail, telegraphing
Sunday, April Is, says:
1.-THE tons of the Standard and
0iggers' News shows that the
fransvaal government is relying
strongly upon American interven-
ion. Great results are expected
rom the campaign OF Webster
Davis and from the presidential
on test.