Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1900-06-14
LINE AGAIN OPEN.
BRITISH DERIVE ENCOURAGEMENT
FROM LATEST WAR NEWS.

FROM LATEST WAR NEWS.
Dewet Confirms Story of Heavy British
Loss ut Observation-Disclosures and His
Force Have Not Been Heard From Sinca
June I, When He Was In Battle.
LONDON, June 1.-TWO pieces of
news encouraging to the British in the
official dispatches are that the broken
communications of Lord Roberts are in
a fair way to be mended by the forces
moving northward and southwark and
driving off the rowing commanders and
that Sir Redvers Butler is at last master
of Laing's nez. Telegraphic communi-
cation with Lord Roberts is expected to
be restored today, as dispatch from
Bloemfontein says that the railway is
in British possession again, and that
the work Of repairing the line is going
on rapidly with the abundant material
warehoused at Bloemfontein.
From the subjoined telegram it would
appear that General Hunter was in COM
mand of the troops referred to by Gen
eral Kelly Kenny in his dispatch from
Bloemfontein: General Hunter is
coming up rapidly from the northwest,
having severely defeated a large com.
mando of Beers who had destroyed two
miles of railway north Of Kroonstadt.
The Boer government is also issuing
news cheering to its sympathizers. The
following bulletin, the Boer version of
the disaster to the Derbyshires, was
posted by President Kruger at Macha-
dodorp: "On June 7 four divisions of
burghers commanded by Steenlzamp
Froneman, Duploy, Fourie and Hell,
attacked the British at Roodeval, killed
200, took 700 prisoners and captured
immense stores Of food and ammuni.
tion-a Maxim gun and 1000 lyddite
shells. Some food was taken by the
Boer farmers and the rest was burned.
The English mail was taken. The
burghers attacked from the open veldt
and gave evidence of unprecedented
bravery"
General Dewet was also fighting on
June 2, whether at Roodeval or else
where is not clear, but the Boer war
office gives it out that he captured 5000
suits of clothing, blankets, gloves, boots,
etc. Being unable to carry them with
him in his rapid sweep through the
country, according to the Transvaal
war Office, he burned the whole mass
General Dewet has also reported that
he put 1000 British out of action and
destroyed property valued at 100000.
AS Lord Methuen is officially described
as fighting on June Z, it is possible that
he was engaging General Dewet.
According to a dispatch to the Daily
Express from Machadodorp, those around
President Kruger say that Louis Botha
and Delarey have been offered indirectly
100000 a year to lay down their arms,
and President Kruger expects the same
offer to be made to himself. President
Kruger believes that the British make
these offers to close the war on the
principle that it would cost less than to
fight it out.
A dispatch from Lourenzo Marquee
says that 1850 Beers are reported to be
advancing on Middleburg from various
centers, and that after wedding out the
faint-hearted, 10000 are still left.
General Butler was unable on Mon
day to follow up the Beers from lack of
cavalry, as well as water. The dis
patches describe him as fighting a spir-
lted advance, over rugged field, under
prolonged rifle fire. The Beers had two
guns, which they got away. Few dead
or wounded Beers were found. 1t seems
probable that the major portion of the
Beers had withdrawn before the ad-
vance began. Lord Methuen, General
Rumble and General Brabant are re.
ported to have 5000 men and so guns
engaged in enclosing the Beers in the
eastern part of Orange River Colony.
The war Office casualty returns up to
June 9 aggregate 1864, besides 792 Of
ficers and 1885 men sent home as in
yalids, but not including the sick in
South African hOSDitals