The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-03-06
LADYSNITH RELIEVED.
The Beers Raised the Siege and Re-
tired to Winberg.
Lord Roberts Reports the Enemy In
Force at NOrvaIs Point Bridge
British Enter the Free State
The Latest Wa- News.

Natal carbineers and composite regl- |
ments, entered Ladysmith last night"
THE country between me and Lady
smith is reported clear of the enemy.
am now moving on NelthOrpe."
London, March 3.-Lord Roberts, at
Osfontein, six or eight miles east of
Paardeberg, faces the reformed BOer
army, from 5000 to 5000 strong. This
may be merely a corps Of observation,
ready to retire on prepared positions.
Doubtless it is receiving accreticns
from the late besiegers of Ladysmith
and from other points. Whatever the
force may be, Lord Roberts has ample
troops to cope with it.
As a heavy rain is falling on the
veldt, and the grass is improving. this
Will be a good thing temporarily for
the Beers.
Lord Roberts has surprised Observ-
ers by the excellence of his transport
during the first advance, and he is
likely to do so again, although mir
tary men here think he must wait for
some days before going much farther.
No adequate explanation is yet made
of the $4,000 reinfOrcements that are
preparing for Lord Roberts.
London, March president Kruger
is said to have left Pretoria with the
| intention of meeting President Steyn.
The place where they will meet is not
mentioned, but it is believed 10 be
somewhere in the Orange Free State.
| Those in South Africa who are CONVEX
SAINT with the effect the recent re-
verses have had on the Beers express
the opinion that the meeting of the
two presidents is preliminary to a
| suggestion for peace. But if this is
the case, it must be due to the pres
| sure brought to bear upon the preSi-
dents by the burghers and Afrikan-
/ ders in the British colonies rather
| than in the personal inclinatiOns of
| the presidents, as AL the available
| information depicts them as being as
| determined rs ever TO persist in the
war until resources of the republics
are much more enfeebled than they
| seem to be ut present, although some
! significance is attached to the consul
| tatiOn in view of the reported visit to
/ England of Chief Justice Devilliers,
| Mr. Hofmeyer and DR.. TewaJer, Osten-
! sibly on private business and for
their health. But the closest Observ-
eTs do not anticipate any sudden ces-
sation of hCstilities, and. certainly,
/ the reports from the theater of war
60 not tend to encourage the advO-
cate of immediate peace. The Beers
are apparently rallying with their ac-
customed ability TO repair temper
| airy reverse. and Great Britain has yet
TO test their force as Il defensive pow
er Under the new conditions of war
| fare.
Dordrecht, Cape Colony, March A.
Evening Frabant's colonial di-
vision after a nights march. attacked
the Beers in a strong position at La
| Buschagnes Mex, on the road from
/ DOrdrecht to Jamestown. The en-
/ gagement proceeded with great vigOr
the Beers generally retiring before
the British shell fire from three posi-
tons. A heavy rifle fire was exchanged
where the British engaged the Beers
on the right flank.
/ - Z
was most satisfactory, having reached
the strong entrenched positions which
they occupied and now hold, the Beers
being on the opposite hill.
] The British viii remain tonight in
the captured positions, although the
Beers brought two guns into action
and made determined efforts 20 re-
/ take them
The British losses are six killed and
IS wounded.
! London, March 5.-The war office
has received the following dispatch
from Lord Roberts, dated Osfontein,
Sunday, March 4:
Gen. Cronje, on behalf of his party,
and Commandant WOlmarans, on be-
half of 1000 other prisoners who
have all now left Modder river, asked
the British officers to thank me for
the consideration and kindness with
which they have been treated.
Gen. Clements reports that his adj
vanced troops hold Achtertang and
that every communication would be
opened to Joubert's siding to-day.
The enemy is still in force at NOrvaIs
Pont bridge.
Gen. Gatacre telegraphs that the
number of Beers at Stormberg is daily
diminishing.
Col. Baden-Powen reports that all
was we'll at MafelCing on February i
and that the enemy's activity was be-
ing met everywhere by equal activity
on the part of the defenders.
THE position is unchanged at Os-
fontein. except that frequent heavy
showers have materially improved
grazing to the benefit of the horses
and transport animals"
Big Increase in Capacity.