Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-06
England Objects But War
Office is Obduratc
Beers ARE %ENTRENCHED
And Waiting For Butler to Move But
There is Unacc0untable DELAY
Both In Bloemfontein and Also in
Natal.

London, April 6, S a. 1.-The war office
issued no news yesterday and little was
allowed to come through from the cores
pondents at Bloemfontein According to
the Standards representative there is no
sign that the Beers intend taking the Of
fensive. General Clements is SO disposing
ing his forces as to guard against any
surprise attack which, although improba-
BILE, is not regarded as impossible. judg-
ing from the preparations to Lord Rob-
ertS.
AS usual when there is any check in
the progress in the Boer campaign, the
war Office is being severely censured for
failing to supply the necessary supplies
for re-mounts for the army. 1t is posi-
BILE Lord Roberts has difficulties other
than re-mounts with which to contend.
UGH anxiety is felt as to the water
supply, despite the statements cabled
home that there is no fear of a water
famine. Whatever the reasons may be
considerable dissatisfaction is beginning
to be expressed here at the unacOuntable
delay, both at Bloemfontein and in Natal,
which enables the Beers to recover from
the Generalization caused by Lord Rob-
erts' former rapid movement.
The enemy now evidently hope to re-
tard the advance by threatening the rail-
way behind Lord Roberts. So far as the
Natal railways are concerned, repairs are
being made beyond Elandslaagte and the
idea, so often repeated. is that an a
is imminent.
A dispatch to the Daily Telegraph from
Ladysmith says that the Boer investing
positions reveal immense strength, ingen-
ius construction and immunity from the
British shrapnel and lyddite fire.
A dispatch from Ladysmith to the Daily
Chronicle gives serious news of the out
break of a deadly lung sickness among
the oxen which. if it spreads, is likely to
cripple General Buffers operations.
From Lorenzo Marques comes the re-
port hat Mr.. Steyn has been appointed
commandant of the Free State forces.
Although Colonel Plumer is reported to
have gotten within six miles of Mafeking,
it is evident hat the siege had not been
raised on April l. Toward the end of this
month Colonel Plumer will be reinforced
by the troops now going by way of Beira,
so hat relief annot be far distant.
London April 5.-Further details were
received from Lornza Marquis in regard
to the escape of Captain Haldane of the
Gordon. H~ighlanders and Lieutenant LIE
Mesuerier of the Dublin fusileers. who
recently arrived there after escaping
from Pretoria. ~encountering perilous ad-
ventures on the way, show that their ex-
p~erlenceS ere similar to those of Win
stOn Churchill, the wal correspondent
who also escaped from Pretoria in De-
cember last. Hiding in swamps during
the day time, having narrow escapes
from BOer patrols and ~traverSing many
miles OF country. Captain Haldane and
Lieutenant LIE Mesuerier at length reach
ed Watervalcover, in the South African
republic, where they hid in an open rail-
road truck covered with tarpaulins.
Continuing the narrative of thaiv Nv
periences, the two officers said: AT day
break, to our delight, the train moved off,
After eight hours we arrived at komatie-
port, but We're ~diSmayed by the switch
Ing of our truck to a siding, while the re-
mainder of the train moved on into the
promised land. only a mile distant. At
ter half an hour, to our great consterna-
ton, we heard them unfasten the tarpau-
lin of the truck. the darkness was chang
ed to bright daylight and a Dutchman
looked over the trucks. For hours we
did not move and were cramped and
stifled by the heat. The following morn
Ing. to our intense delight, the truck was
coupled to a goods train and we soon
crossed the line into Portuguese territory
London, April a.--The Bloemfontein
correspondent of the Times Telegraph
Wednesday says: 1.-THE Beers showed in
some force yesterday with three guns to-
ward Bushmans Kop. Detached groups
sklrmlshed up to our utpOsts but this
morning shows that the enemy desire ia
sweep further around to the right of
Bloemfontein.
Early today artillery fire in the south
was audible.