The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-20
FORCES ADVANCING TO ITS
RELIEF.
DIVISION AMONG THE Beers
On the Question OF Continuing the In
vestment-Fear OF Their Retreat Re-
ing Cut OLA Determined Attack by
the Beers About Ready to
Begin His Advance on Pretoria
Dispatch from General Roberts Cen
surfing Generals Warren and Butler.

MaSeru. B~asutoland, Monday April
l16.-The Beers, for the two days past,
have been displaying great activity
along the Reddersburg n Rockville
road. Their scouts report that the
British are advancing on these places
to the relief of Wepener. and the
lburghers consequently, are divided.
whether to remain or retire. A ma
Ijority of them desire TO abandon the
investment of Wepener, fearing to be
cut off. while the minority, led by
lCommandent Olivier, are reluctant TO
move as long as there is a nance TO
Scouts have Just reported rifle firing
in the direction Of Thabanchu.
lWEPENER STILL SURROUNDED.
London, April Il, 11:10 p. m.-The
war office has received the following
dispatch from Lord Roberts. dated
Bloemfontein, Tuesday, April 18th:
Our force at Wepener is still sur
rounded, but it is still reported that
the enemy are attacking In a very half
hearted ann and are anxious about
their communications, hearing that
forces are approaching Wepener from
two directionS-one under General Run
die via Reddersburg, and another un-
Ider Genera Brabant, with General
Harris brigade in support, via o
willie.
On the re-occupation of Rockville,
April 18th, the few Beers there retired
land General Brabant made some i'm
Iportant arrests.
violent storms of rain have some
what interfered with the march of
these columns, but it is hoped they will
Isoon be able to make their presence
more decidedly felt.
General Settle reports from Ken
lhardt, April 14th, that 200 T~ransvaalers
made a determined attack the previous
day or Dopaspoort, held by a party of
lOrpon's Horse. Our losses were two
killed and one wounded. The enemy's
losses must have been heavy as they
Iapplied to us for doctors and an am
Ibulance."
ROBERTS TO BEGIN HIS ADVANCE
London, April 17.-At last Lord Rob-
lerts seems to be on the eve of making
his main advance towards Pretoria.
UNLESS all the unusually reliable sour
Ices of Information and all the in
IdicatiOnS struggled past the denSor are
lat fault, the British army within a
few days will be marching northward.
S1llCI llloiS oAiS
ed reports that have purported to tell
Iof this move, there is naturally, even
in the best Informed quarters, consider
able heSitancy in definitely settling up
on the day Lord Roberts is likely to
leave Bloemfontein, but there is a set
tiled impression hat it will occur
either at the end of this week or the
beginning of next.
The long weary wait in the Free
iState capital has, apparently, effected
a much needed rehabilitation, though
lit is probable Lord Roberts would still
further nave delayed his advance had
mot the Boer activity forced him to
to-day, unless they quickly proceed
Inorthward, the strategic advantage
will be lost.
ORDER OF THE ADVANCE.
The critics agree in the supposition
that the advance will be made in par
lallel columns, with a broad front, west
Iof the railroad, the third and eighth
divisions sweeping northward to the
IeXtreme northeast, the entire force
amounting to Il 5000 men.
Exactly what part General Butler
will take is still a secret which no one
is able to probe. From the seat Of wal
there is significant silence.
From The Hague comes the new
THAT the Boer delegates refuse to make
public the object of their mission
They hoped to be received by Queer
lWilhelmina, but nothing in this direc.
Ition has yet been decided upon.
IBULLER'S SPION KOP CAMPAIGN
The war office tonight publishes il
THE Gazette a dispatch from LORD
Roberts, dated February 18th, submit
ting General Buffers dispatches de.
lscribing the Spion Kop and other oper-
lations from January 18th to January
Path.
SEVERE CRITICISMS BY ROBERTS
Lord Rober deals severely with
General Warren and some others. Ever
General Butler does not escape.