The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-24
Gen. Rumble Finds a Bigger
Force Than He Expected.
Intercepting His March to the
Relief of Wepener.
is FORCED TO HALT.
Can Go No Further Until Re-
Inducements Arrive.
Beers Have Established a Cannon
Factory at Pretoria.

London, April 24-Gen. Rundle, it
would seem, has found the Beers con-
fronting him at De Vets Dorp III
stronger force than he cares to engage
and so he is marking time pending lAe
arrival of supporters. While Gen Kun
die is. preparing to strike De Vets Dorp, |
Generals Brabant and Hart are push
ing along the frontier of Fasutoland |
where they will be able to frustrate any |
attack on Cen. Rundle's right ard Cen |
erals French and Pole-Carew are has
tening from BloemfOntein to bar tha |
Boer line Of retreat northwards-
In the meanwhile the burgher forces !
occupying Thaba NChu are in po-
sition to fight a delaying action giving !
the BOer forces at De Vets DOrp and
Wepener time to retire in case OF de-
feat and it seems as though General
French must dispose Of this Thaba
NChu force before he can reach the
rear of the BOer forces opposing Gen
Rumble and Brabant. otherwise, his
flank viii be open to assault. The Beers |
driven out of Leeuw Kop Will probably
rally at Thaba N'Chu. where a stiff
fight may be expected. Should the
British fail in this attempt to bring
q about another Paardeburg it must in-
mensely affect the larger issues of the
War as it will undoubtedly lead to a
persistent repetition of the guerilla
tactics which have been iargely respon-
sible Tor the pennlng OF Lord Roberts at
BlOemfOntein for so many weeks.
During the course of. Gen. AldersOn's
sdvance on Leeuw KOp the Canadians
found themselves n a tight corner Sun
Gay near DOnkerpOCrt The Canadian
mounted infantry sent to reconnoitre
the BOer position approached within 300
yards of a farm flying the hospital flag
under cover of which the Beers opened
such hot fire on the Canadians that
thew 1Iea to n fo
until another force Of Canadians COW
cred their retreat by threatening the
rear of the Boer position.
BOERS LEFT IN A HURRY.
Leeuw Kop, Monday, April 23-The
Beers retired from their positions here
SO hurriedly that they left a quantity
OF ammunition and many rifles behind
them When the Warwickshire regf-
ment took the farm house at the fo1+
OF the ridge, the Beers pompoms in
hicting no damage, the Welsh regiment
advanced along the Warwickshire's left
and approached the ridge experiencing
a cross fire. When the Beers fed they
were obliged to move for some distance
along the skyline and the artillery
planted shell with great accuracy, it
bursting Just above the Beers reeling
over three horses.
1t appears that Gen. Dickinson met
with opposition the Beers firing their
rltles at long. raEge. Their position was
one of great natural strength
Gen. Pole-Carew's admirable disposi-
tiOn of his force thoroughly Duzzle5 +ba
Beers, who We're unable to see the Dire
uon OF the attack owing to &. deep
spruit
The British artillery was unable TO
join the right in time to reply to the
boer gun which was shelling the
mounted infantry vigorously. The
shells, however, burst 300 yards nigh
ana did no damage. 1t is stated thar
General DeWet holds the water1gorks
sdiI MlLI d sIrohg force. The Beers who
held Leeuw Kop treklzed to the east
ward General French sent out a body
of cavalry to the south and a few Shots
We're heard, but apparently the Beers
az 40 di no. nolo strong positions anywhere
III close proximity to Leeuw Kop
SMELLING RESUMED.
Renton' Monday, April 23.-SheIling
was resumed this morning, the fire h..
ing directed at the British river re-
uoubts, which are steadily being r1shad
Forward The Beers appear to h. iT
stronger force down the river. and the
yeomanry patrols are frequently snined
Is confidently believed that impor.
taht developments are not far off
CLOSING IN ON BOSHOE
London, April 24-The Daily Te1e.
graph has the following from Rosbof
dated Monday, April %:
Inc Boers are closing in on Boshof
Their nearest laager is five miles a.
tant. Communication with KimberIe,
is still open" -
Ihe Lorenzo Marques corresponden
of the Times says:
The foreign ordnance experts in +h
Boer war department have succea9e,
IN equipping a big gun foundry at Pre-
loFla- The first gun has been sent +
the Free State. Nothing is known her
regarding its caliber'
BOEHS CAPTURE RRABANT'S
HORSES.
Fretoria, Monday, April 23.-An cf6
cial bulletin issued here today s1,.S.
The federals continue their feIffn
az Wepener and have captured q bar
OF General Brabant's cattle and borSes
General De Vets losses at ne W.
Dorp We're one man killed ana 81
men wounded. Twenty British W..
captured besides the killed and ,ro'n1
eu. Ihe British appear to be refirin
beyond De Vets Dorp. ~
"Cron5e reports that with q st-,,,
commando he attacked the TSr;tis
northeast of Boshof. A heavy enesgs
ment followed and the Fngiisb 80 -
driven from kopje to l1opie. The 80
erals displayed great courage an5 -
olution and spiritedly chased the enem
IN the direction of Boshof Onlv ~,
burghers were wounded. The Prifis
lost fifteen men killed and left 49,
wounded and eight prisoners in ~
hands of the burghers"
me Cronje referred to is undo,,b+a71
Commandant CrOnje, the second sC1
the famous BOer general now a r-iS
OneT on the island Of A-s