Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-04-12

London. April Oil he BOer army is
laying siege to Bloemfonrein. where
the greater part of the British forces
in South Africa is now masseti. accord
ing to the latest adyices from that city.
The dispatches say that the burghers
are closing in on all sides. with the
intention of surrounding the town.
Repel Two Attacks.
London. April Ga special dispatch
from Lorenzo Marques says sharp
fighting occurred April in the neigh
borhood of Mafelling. The garrison
made a sortie, while Gen Plume"s
cavalry attacked the Beers at Klamath
labama. Both attacks were repulsetl
Twenty of Col. Plumer's men were
found dead on the field and six 9th
ers We're made prisoners. The federal
losses were small.
British Captured.
London, April THE following is
the text of Lord Roberts dispatch to
the war office announcing the capture
of five companies of his troops:
"Bloemfontetn. Thursday. April 5.-An-
other unfortunate occurrence has occurred
L a
of infantry. consisting of three companies
of the Royal Irish fusilers and TWO COM
panies Of the Ninth regiment of mounted
Infantry, near ReGderSburS, a little east
ward OF Bethany railway station, within
few miles of this place. They We're sur
rounded BY stronger force OF the enemy
with four or five guns.
The detachment HELD out from noon.
April 8, until April 4 nine m, and then.
apparently. surrendered, for it is reported
that the firing ceased III that time. Inn
mediately after l heard tho news during
the afternoon of April D. ordered Gatacre
TO proceed from Springfonten. his present
Headquarters, to Reddersburg. with all
possible speed, and dispatched the Cam
eron highlanders hence To Bethany. He
arrived at Reddersburg at 1870 yesterday
morning without opposition, but could get
no news OF the missing detachment
There can be no doubt the whole party
has been made prisoners.
Severe Loss to Beers.
The war office has received the fol-
lowing dispatch from Lord Roo
erts dated Bloemfontein Thursday,
April 5:
"Methuen telegraphs from Boshof lin
the Orange Free State. a little northeast of
Kimberley follows:
Surrounded Gen. Nillebos Mareuil and
a body OF Beers to-day None escaped.
Nillebois and seven Bocrs killed, eight
wounded Fifty prisoners. Our losses
We're:
'KILLED-Capts Boyle and Williams,
both of the yeomanry, and TWO men OF the
yeomanry.
NORTHUMBERLAND seven men.
The attack lasted four hours. The
corps behaved Very we'll. Our force Was
composed of yeomanry, the Kimberley
mounted corps and the Fourth battery of
artillery
British Losses Heavy.
1t is officially announced that the
British casualties in the Boer ambush
near Sannas Post total up $50, includ
ing 173 missing.
To Redeem Their Promise.
London. April THE Bloemfontein
correspondent of the Morning Post,
telegraphing Thursday, says: The
Beers are apparently making an at
tempt to redeem their promise to re-
take Bloemfonteiu. \ considerable
force has moved south through Thaba
N'Chu. Gen. Ticker's isolation al
karee. is more apparent than real.
since the open ground north of Bloom
fcntcin offers small opportunity for
Boer tactics. They may possibly en-
gage him to distract attention from
operations elsewhere. kemounts are