The St. Louis Republic., 1900-05-04
BOERs' LINES INTACT.
BY THOMAS f. MILLARD.

r
SPECIAL. BY CABLE
. Brandfort Wednesday. Nav o-,Conv
right. 1870. by the New York Herald Com
pany. y.l-To-day was full of fighting. with
an occasional lively skirmish. The Boe- do
fensirs line remains intact and the British
attempt 10 cut eff DE Wett and scatter the
Boer force. which is threatening Roberts's
Hank ard rear. has been a complete failure
50 far.
There was heavy fighting yesterday along
the Thaba N'Chu-Sanna's Post road. the
British being slowly beaten back. De Wet
coming from the SOUTH and Grobler and
Lsmner from the north. on Monday. caught
British re-enforcements for Thaba N'Chu in
the apex OF an angle. forcing their with
drdwaL
In yesterdays fighting the Beers had the
better positions. but the British were ST.
perior In numbers.
The Beers attack was begun on SUNDAY
Under De Wet. Grobler Lernmer and Bo,ba
they attacked large British column near
Thaba NChu, which was trying TO inter
cePt De Vets retirement from Wepener
The battle ragged all day Sunday for several
miles along the Bloemfontein road
The general result was indecisive, but the
British were apparently retiring In the djrec-
t!on Of Bloemfontein. The Beers capture5
a number Of prisoners
Skirmishing along the Moider River indi-
Gates that Lord Roberts's main army Is ad-
vancing northward.
ROBERTS's GREAT ARMY
London. May 4.-General Broadwood.s
cavalry brigade has reached Isabelfoutein.
twon;y-eisht miles north Of Thaba N,Cbu
General Ian Hamilton Is bivouacking a,
Jscobsruhle. fifteen miles north of Thab.
NChu. General fuckers division is NOV
ing eastward from Karee Siding. The d.
visions of General French and General
fIundie are in and near Thaha N'Chu.
Thus. Lord Roberts has 5O0c9 men orerat-
ing clear OF the railway along a from, os
forty miles.
He is advancing slowly with some svc
cess. but nothing decisive. Yet. at all
points of concentration, the Beers appear
in force sufficient 10 compel the British to
proceed with caution. Their wide front. in
i rugged country makes turning move
mcnts off-hand difficult.
The Beers. Mr.. Winston Churchill saws
| have enormous herds Of cattle and fiocks
of sheep gathered In the Southwest. These
they are driving northward.
Observers at headquarters in RIoeufon-
!
pairing To evacuate BranJfort and Lady
brand. The Beers still holding Thaba N'Chu
djstric; are IS ima'ed at 4,O50 They have
among their guns a FOUNDER.
one correspondent. wiring from Rloem-
icntein. Wednesday, at II 55 p. nn., said the
British hoped to cut off the whole COM
mando.
The correspondents at Kimberley have
been forbidden to communicate for several
days. the deduction being hat a forward
movement is under way there.
The Beers in Natal are restless. Two hun
drei crossed Sundays River Wednesday
and tried to engage the British outposts
MOVEMENT OUTLINED.
London. May i.-The Bioemfontein CORE.
spondent Of the Standard. teIegra phing
May .. says:
Il have just ridden hither from Thsba
N'Chu. along the line Of our advance east
Of Bloemfontein- The distance is fully for
" miles, ana yet almost every point of
coHcentrat ton Is contested by the enemy
General Rumble. with the Eighth Divis-
ion. Is posted on our right flank with orders
10 guard a strong and boldly outlined 'front.'
al position in a. country of a decidedly DIFF
hCult nature. There the Beers have posted
a number Of guns o; superior weight ami
range TO our own. However, they show no
disposition TO do more than keep In touch
with us and to harass our advance.
Further on the west General Ian HAM
nton, with his division Of mounted infantry,