Evening journal., 1900-04-21
BIC BOER LOSSES
NEAR WEPENER
Relief Forces of Chermside and
RundIs Are Moving Over
SOdden Roads
THE BOERs LOSE MANY HORSES
SERVANTS WHO ESCAPED FROM
BOER LAAGER NEAR WEPENER
TELL OF WAGON LOADS OF
BOERs KILLED AND WOUNDED.

TELL OF WAGON LOADS OF
BoERs KILLED AND WOUNDED.
I.ondon, April 21-General Cherm-
side and General Rumble are moving
over the sodden roads. Rain was still
falling when they went into camp
Thursday afternoon, Is miles west of
De Vets Dorp They hold the rail-
way and the southern frontier of the
Free State with 10000. How many are
going with the generals who will en-
gage the Doors at, Wepener is not mem
toned in the latest dispatch from
Oorlogspoort, where the British biv-
ouacked Wednesday night. The field
telegraph ends there. On Thursday
the Beers still had Colonel Dalgety
closely peRned.
A dispatch from Aliwal North, dated
yesterday, says: Capt. Little, Of Bra
bant's Horse, Lieut.. Holbeck and Mr..
Milne, a Reuter- correspondent. fell
into the hands of the enemy while they
we're trying to reach Wepener a week
ago Everything was taken from the
prisoners, who were sent TO Pretoria.
Their native servants, who escaped
from the Boer laager near Wepener,
say that there were fous guns disabled
and that the Beers had lost 100 in
killed alone. 1t is also aseertained
that the Beers made a night attack
on April II, but we're discovered while
creeping along a deep ditch, by cape
mounted rifles, with Maxims, who fired
into them at a distance of 200 yards,
with the result that the Beers lost five
wagon loads of killed and wounded
A simultaneous attack in other quar-
ters was repulsed by the British, who
used their bayonets. The Beers still
surround Wepener, but there has been
little firing lately.
An Elandslaagte dispatch Of Thurs
day SAYS: Native deserters confirm
previous statements with respect t..
the fortifcations and strength of the
Beers along the Biggarsberg range.
The enemy have recently established
a large hospital, which is already fill
e6. and similar hospitals are being
established by them at various railway
towns. The Beers are losing many
horses. The rank and file are not
allowed to forage for supplies. Their
sugar is exhausted and only bush tea
Is available.
The Beers who lately surrendered in
the Wepener district have been forced
again with violence to fight. Ten OF
their leaders have been arrested
President Steyn has issued orders
70 the Boer forces to hold tight to the
grain districts of Wepener, Ladybrand
and Ficksburg. from which they can
draw their food supplies. and also tC
prevent the British forces from get
ting the rich supplies now IN those dis.
tricts.
The Ladysmith correspondent OF The
Daily News says: The Beers in Nata
are already commencing a guerrilla
warfare. Both the Transvaalers ant
the Free Staters are compelling the
natives to bear arms. Gen. Butler has
ordered all the farmers between Lady
smith and the Drakensberg range t
retire to Estcourt.
The Ladysmith correspondent e
The Standard says: There is goot
reason to believe that the four rald
are intended to cover the enemy
withdrawal from Natal in order t.
help the Beers in opposing the ad
vance of Lord Roberts.
The Bloemfontein correspondent o
The Daily Times, telegraphing yester
day. says Major Gen. Prettyman ha
been appointed military governor o
the whole territory which hithert'
belonged 10 the Free State. This ex
tension of our authority has becom
necessary to preserve law and order
The arrests of suspected Free Slater
continues.
The Times publishes the followin
dispatch from Jammersberg, date
Thursday: The investment of tn
British position on the east and sout
has relaxed. A majority of the enem
are supposed to have left for the pur
pose Of intercepting the relief column
leaving one gun and about 1000 me
on the west to prevent our co-opera
tion. Our casualties are about $50. n
sound of the relief column has yC
been heard.
A Pretoria dispatch SAYS: Majc
Gen. Schalk-Burger has been gazette
vice president lin succession to tn
late Gen. Joubert and Gen. Lou
Botha has been gazetted acting con
nlandant-generaI (succeeding Gel
JOubert) in command of the Transvai
forces.
The governments reason for publisl
ing Lord Roberts Spion Kop dispatcl
eS WAS tAlldllltu idSl evening at Hu
by Walter Hume Long, president
the board of agriculture. who said thi
the country was entitled to receive a
the information the government cou
give.
"The governments is told" continu,
Mr. Long. that. having published Il
N dispatches. It is bound to deal immed
ately with the generals affected, bl
IN following such a course the go
ernment might have to dismiss evei
general the moment he made a mi
take Had guch a policy been pu
sued in the past many most gloriol
deeds would not have been performe
The government used its discretion
publishing the dispatches. From Il
beginning of the campaign her m
jesty's ministers have not swerv'
from the rule of leaving the condu
OF the operations to the discretion al
N judgment OF the commander-in-chiei
Gen. White il not required in Sou
Africa. win go as governor OF Gibrf
tar toward the end Of May.