Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-04-13
Burghers Claim a Sweeping
Victory for De Wet.
CAPTURED 800 BRITONS.
They Say 600 English Were
Killed and Wounded.
THE BATTLE AT WEPENER.
The Result Of the Bocr Attack on GEN.
Brabant's Army Is In Doubt-The
Transvnalers Smuggle 80 Big Guns
Through Portuguese Territory.

Transvnalers Smuggle 80 big Guns
Through Portuguese Territory.
London, April 1.-THE Daily News
has the following from Pretoria, da-
ted Monday, by way of Delagoa bay:
1T is officially announced that n
battle has been fought south of
Brandfort, in which 600 British troops
en- prisoners"
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from
Brandfort, dlted Sunday, says: "Yes-
terday Gen. De Wet inflicted the third
defeat of the British within week
at Meerkatsfontein, killing and
wounding 600. He captured 900, with
IL wagons, losing five Beers killed
and nine wounded"
The Bloemfontein correspondent Of
the Morning Post says: The water
supply continues satisfactory. En-
trenching is proceeding vigorously on
the hills commanding Bloemfontein.
Civilian labor is to be utilized. Sick
ness among the troops is somewhat
diminishing.
The Boer attack on Gen. Brabant,s
force at Wepener was resumed again
at dawn Tuesday. The enemy's attack
on two or three sides on Monday
lasted until 2:30 in the afternoon,
when the firing ceased and it was be-
lieved that the enemy had been beat
en- off; but it was announced Tuesday
morning from Aliwal North that the
fighting had again begun. Brabant's
force, numbering from 1000 to 5000,
hold positions in rough country. 1t
is not known what the numerical
strength of the Beers is, but whatever
it may be, it is being rapidly aug
mented.
The correspondent of the Times at
Lorenzo Marquee says: Trustworthy
refugees assert that the Beers recent
ly obtained at least so pieces of artil-
lery, some of large caliber, which
were brought overland as machinery
from n West African port. Eight of
these guns were sent to the Free
State week ago. The Boer officials
openly boast that they have succeed
ed in smuggling ammunition through
Portuguese territory.
"In the course of the Dempsey trial,
State Engineer Munnik admitted that,
acting under instructions from State
Secretary Reitz, of the Transvaal, he
had bored holes in 25 mines"
The Daily Mail has the following
from Lady Sarah Wilson, dated Mafe-
| king, March 80:
"Col. Plumer's column is now with
| in 20 miles of us, but it's advent is un-
desirable unless accompanied by food
supplies. The opinion prevails here
that young Cronje has returned to
the ranks of the investing Beers. and
Is trying to avenge Paardeburg."
Lord Methuen is advancing from
Boshof toward Hoopstad. 1t is bold
and apparently n dangerous move,
since, although it turns the right
flank of the Boer position at Brand
fort, it puts Lord Methuen's force be-
tween whatever garrison there may
be at Bloemhof, in the Transvaal, and
| the Brandfort force.
The Boer peace commissioners at
Naples do not conceal the fact that
they have no hope of obtaining peace
with independence for the republics,
but they will endeavor to secure \
| truce for further negotiations. Mr..
Fischer says the present Beer
strength at the front is $4,000.