Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-01
PERSISTENT ATTACKS
Lord Roberts Reports Beers Active
Around Thabanehu.
LARGE BRITISH FORCE OPPOSED
A Convoy Barely Extricated From
impending Capture.
THE WARS ENORMOUS COST

LONDON, May 1.-The following dis
patch has been sent by Lord Roberts to the
war office:
''BLOEMFONTEIN, April 3O.-The Beers
made very persistent attacks round Tha-
hanchu Saturday and Sunday. But the
position which the sth (Rundle's) Division
holds is very strong, and he had the assist
ance of Gordons and Dickson's brigades,
the cavalry under French, and Smith-Dor-
riens Infantry Brigade, and a body of
mounted infantry under Ian Hamilton.
Pole Carew's division returned from De-
wetsdorp yesterday"
Lord Roberts also reports additional cas-
ualties sustained during the fighting of
April % around Thabanchu, consisting of
Lieut.. Geary and two enlisted men killed
and officer and three enlisted men
wounded
Neither the commander-in-chiers nor the
correspondents dispatches throw any light
on the plans being adopted to Gust the
Beers from the neighborhood of ThabaEe
and how long a determined effort will be
made to reassert British superiority is only
a matter of surmise.
Beers Remarkably Aggressive.
In the meantime the Beers are remark
ably aggressive. especially in view of the
large forces opposing them. special dis
patch from Thabanchu, dated yesterday,
a British convoy which got into broken
ground between Thabanchu and Dewets
dcrp, opening fire frCm the adjacent hills.
In the nick of time Gen. BrabazOn, with a
strong force of yeOmanry. returning from
Nepener, arrived on the scene and eXtri-
Gated the convoy.
The same special correspondence de-
scribes the dispositions of the forces at
Thabanchu, as follows:
Gen. Rumble is covering the advanced
camp facing the Beers position to the
east, where they are strongly entrenched.
Gen. Ian Hamilton and Gen. Smith-Dor-
rien occupy strong positions on the road
TO the north"
Artillery Frequently in Action.
Another dispatch says a column under
Gen. Hamilton located the Beers to the
northwest and an artillery duel ensued
without result
All accounts tell of much artillery firing
with scarcely any casualties. 1t is hardly
likely that twO-such forces can much lon
ger patiently face each other without more
stirring occurrences. Gen. Brabant's COL
umn is expected to Join Gen French short
ly- A number of Beers are reported to
have been seen retiring north, but this is
scarcely authoritative.
Stringent measures are being adopted to
prevent the BOer guerrillas from securing
supplies from other centers.
Queen yictOria's Anger.
sorbing all interest.
The Cape parliament has been summoned
for June d
At the conclusion of Gen Sir George
Whites visit TO Windsor today Queen Vic
toria decorated the defender of Ladysmith
with the cross and star of the Royal Vic
tOridn Order. Her majesty and the SOL
der had a lengthy conference 1t is
learned that the queen was more angry
than for years over the publication of the
SpiOn kOp dispatches.
Tremendous Expense of the War.
LONDON, May lin the house of COM
mons today the parliamentary secretary of
Office. Mr. Wyndham, announced that
under the exceptional circumstances of the
case he proposed to lay on the table of
the house the telegraphic correspondence
between the secretary of state for war, the
Marquis of LansdOwne, and the COM
mander of the British troops in South AZ
rica. Lord Roberts, with reference to the
publication of the Spion Kop dispatches
Replying to question. the financial sec
retary to the treasury. Mr.. Hanbury. said
the cost Of the war up to March 81 was
f23 30, 900
All Must Shoulder Mausers.
A special dispatch received here from
Cape Town. under today's date, says that
Secretary of State Reitz of the South AZ
rican republic declared to a recent visitor
a Pretoria that not only would every En-
glishman be cleared out of the state, but
also every American, German or any man
OF other nationality who was not prepared
to shoulder u Mauser and fight for the
country
Beers Blowing Up Railway.
LONDON, May 1. 4:25 p.m.-A dispatch
from Mafeking, dated April 80, says:
THE Beers have been busy for several
days blowing up the railway southwark.
There was little firing during the past
week.
THE town will respond cheerfully to
Lord Roberts request to hold out for an
other month.
Fever is rife. but otherwise the health
of the garrison is good and all are we'll"
BOERS WEST OF BLOEMFOyTEIN.
Showing Great Activity and Threaten