Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-21
LORD METHUEN'S
NARROW ESCAPE.
RetIres Just in Tine to Keep Out Of
a Boer Trap,
BATTLE AT DEwETSDORP.
Boer Prisoners at Capetown Forced
TO strip are Found to be Wo-
men In Mems clothes

men In Mems Ciothe.
Boshof. Orange Free State, April 2l--
AT midday yesterday Gen. Methuen
Aeld force az swartzkopfontein was
ordered to return 20 Boshof It's con-
yoy extended over six miles. The es-
cort took up a position on hill COM
manding the road, just In the nick OF
time. us force OF 1000 Beers with
TWO guns and a pompom suddenly app
peared IN the vicinity and opened
very heavy fire.
HELD THE BOERs BACK.
The British, however held them IN
check until the column reached a point
OF safety when they retired. The BRIT
ish had several casualties.
The Beers fought determlnedly ana
must have suffered considerably as
they once advanced 10 within BOZ yards
OF the HILL whence concealed detach-
ment OF the British opened heavy
fusllade on them
ADVANCE or WEPENER
London. April 2i,-Gen. Chermside's
and Cen Rundles' divisions were only
twenty miles from Wepener yesterday
so. unless Unforeseen difficulties arise,
they should be- getting In touch win
the little colonial force which Is be-
sieged and by tomorrow have accom-
pIished its relief. the two divisions be-
ing overwhelmingly superior 10 the
Boer forces.
As governor OF the Free state, Maj.
Gen. Prettymau is organizing a corps
OF mounted police and dividing the
country into sections 90 be administer
cd by commissions probably army Of
iicers.
BUSINESS PROSPECT
A dispatch from Bloemf0ntein dated
Friday. April 20, commenting on the
Improvement OF Industrial prospects
which the system Is likely 10 bring
about says:
AN instance OF the business acumen
OF the colonials Is the case OF q CANA
dian private who had O lurRe interest
In "a soap business. During the present
halt he has been pushing his wares
with the same energy be and his com
l"Htn "'"'H wv t'N''N'''' ~
berg
Lieut.. Glrouord. director Of rail-
roads. IS forming a railroad corps with
prospects Of permanent employment
Many OF the colonlals have Joined US
PORTUGUESE TROOPS ARRIVE.
The transport Portugal with 700
troops from Lisbon, has arrived az
Lourenzo Marques. The presence OF
these reinforcements win make Portu-
gal feel easier regarding the Beers
protest against the British use Of Beira
From Ladysmith. under date OF April
a. comes the news that firing was
heard during this morning IN the d.
reCtion OF Sundays river. 10 was main
tanned for about an hour
Shipping and Boer activity are re-
ported at Klpdam.
ROBERTS REPORTS SUCCESS.
G,ls p. m.-The war office has re-
coiyed the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts:
"Boemfontein, April 21.-Rundle's
force came IN contact with the enemy
yesterday four miles southwest OF
DcwetsdOrp They occupied strong
positions. covering the town. The yeo-
many and mounted infantry seized am
other position which enabled Rumble
10 drive the enemy of ana occupy the
high ground the enemy had been hold
ing,
BATTLE NOW ON
"Rundle advanced this morning early
and Is now again engaging with the
enemy our casualties yesterday were
L f..rH
OConnor and seven men slightly
wounded
FORCED WOMEN TO STRIP.
a letter from a nurse IN a hospital
at Capctown cou0borates an uupleas-
ant feature OF the war The writer
says the medical officers. for sanitary
reasons forced a number of Boer pris-
ouers 90 battle 90 the river behind the
hospital Two OF them absolutely re-
fused 20 strip. ana when forced 10 DO
so, 10 was found they were women in
mems clothes The writer adds.
quite a number of dead un the bat
tlehelds have been found 90 be women
similarly disguised and worse than an.
80 has often been these women who
have been guilty NJ atrocities such as
killing the wounded
LATEST BoER BULLETIN.
Pretoria, Friday. April 2l.-Prest.
Kruger has received. through Prest.
Steyn, an official report sent by Gen.
Dewet under date ~ April 20. 90 the
effect that the latter still surrounds
Gen Brabants col0nials at Wcpcner.
and that De has captured eleven prison.
ers. including the chief artillery OF.
hccr
The report adds that the British COM
ing from AliWal North are destroying
farm houses ON the way
The Irish brigade paraded this morn
Ing On front OF PRIEST Krurcrs house
The president made q speech 90 them
and the force was afterwards photo.
graphcd.
BOERs REINFORCED.
Mozeru. Basut0land, April 2i-The
Beers around Wepener have been rein-
forced. and are now stronced than ever
The firing Of cannon and rifles was
was heard today in the direction of
DeUetsdorp. which was looked upon cas-
meaning that relief was approaching.
Heavy lighting is hourly expected.
Two large B1cr forces let the vicinity