The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-30


Boer positions were extremely well chosen.
consisting Of long range of very precipi-
tous hills. with narrow ports (passes) be-
tween. commanding a vast extent Of coun-
try. The mounted infantry made a wide
turning movement. while the foot infantry
advanced within two thousand yards under
good shelter
During the afternoon the battle became
general and extended over a frontage of
ten miles. The rifle, Maxim and artillery
firing was deafening. AT o'clock the
Canadians advanced in open order. but
meeting with a terrific fire. they took shell
ter in a donga. When they finally cap
tured the kopje. the Beers were seen re-
tirins north and east with wagons and
subsequently, when the infantry made
dash, the rest OF the enemy fired few
shots and cleared off.
ION occupying Thaba N'Chu we found the
stores and hotels all looted by the Beers.
The natives complained of having their
horses and cattle stolen aud of cruel treat
ment The English residents were sub
jected to taunts and insults.
'T learn that yesterday Boer reinforce
ments from Brandfort came too late TO as
sist their comrades. We found a hello
graphic message from President Steyn to
General Botha saying it was unadvisable
to send more troops TO Fourteen Streams
as the Federals were already too weak be-
tween Bloemfonten and Kroonstad and
because there were $4,000 British at Bloem-
fontein. The farmers around here have all
been forced to rejoin the enemy. Most of
them have taken their sheep and cattle
along"
The Standards special correspondent at
Bloemfontein, telegraphing Sunday even
ing. says: Reports have just been re-
ceived that the Beers are retiring to the
north of Ladybrand. Their horses are ex-
hausted and they themselves disappointed
over their failure to capture Colonel Dali
gety's position. The British cavalry who
were pursuing the fugitive commanders are
returning to Bloemfontein."
XXX
Another correspondent at Bloemfontein
says: ''The recent operations have tended
to clear the military situation. General
Pole-Carew's progress through the country
has brought home 10 the Free Staters the
fact that the policy Of leniency has been
abandoned. Besides seizing the stock of
farmers who. after having given
their submission, were found fight
ing. he commandered all the avail
able forage, giving receipts for the
same. and this will prevent the Beers using
the resources of the country. The Beers
are now evidently returning in order to
concentrate for opposing the British ad-
vance. Now that Thaba NChu. as well as
the approaches. is strongly held, Lady
brand, with the unfriendly Basutos lining
the border. is rendered a position of ex-
treme danger for the Beers, the gravity of
which will be accentuated from the moment
the British advance begins
XXX
The Bloomfontein correspondent of the
Standard, telegraphing Sunday, says: 1.-THE
Beers have taken every advantage of the
mountainous nature of the country which
marks the line of their retreat to Lady
brand. The task Of driving them is diff
ficult and 1t is doubtful whether they can
be reduced to submission in a district so
favorable to their tactics. / have visited
a British post, the one nearest Brandfort.
The Beers show the deepest anxiety to
learn the probable line of our advance and
they declare they will not fire shot from
Brandfort, as they wish to save the town
form bombardment. The enemy are en-
trenched on the hills southeast of Brand
fort, but they are not likely to make any
serious stand until we reach Kroonstad."
The Bloomfontein correspondent of the
Daily Chronicle. telegraphing Saturday.
says: "A cavalry reconnaissance 25
miles northeast encountered 400 Beers. The
British drove them out of a kopje north
of Karee. Our outposts are still harrassed
by moving commanders In an outpost
affair Thursday several Beers were killed.
The enemy will certainly make stand at
Kroonstad. where they have constructed
miles of trenches
XXX
The Bloomfontein correspondent of the
Times, under Saturday date, describing
Gen. Botha's good generalship. which en-
abled the Beers to evade the intended cor
don, says: General Botha arrived at De-
wetsdorp Monday and Immediately sent
a commando TO oppose General French's
cavalry. We appear to have been fore
stalled by Botha by just twenty-four
hours. According to the latest reports
from Thaba NChu the enemy are still
Withdrawing their guns and wagons"
XXX
The Morning Posts Bloemfontein corre-
spondent, in a dispatch, dated Saturday,
protests against Mr.. Wyndhanls reply in
the House of Commons, which undertook
to disconnect the delay in Lord Roberts's
advance from the lack of horses. He says:
ION the contrary, the necessary forage and
ever-increasing supply of remounts can
not be too urgently insisted on. The sacri-
flee of horse flesh in the past is nothing
when compared with the possibilities of the
future. The area across which a cavalry
screen must be thrown will necessitate an
must be filled as soon as they occur. For
another month the grass will be worth
next to nothing, and the continuous feed
ing OF horses on heterogeneous matter is
certain TO cause lamities and kindred dis
eases arising from hot blood. The Sixth,
Seventh. Ninth and Eleventh Divisions will
participate probably in the direct advance.
The transport OF the Sixth Division will be
utilized TO provide for the mounted infan-
try, but the transport OF the Third Division
will possibly supply its place.
There are rumors that the advance will
be made in many columns, but do not an
ticipate much subdivision"
MIR. BECBIE In DANGER.
Charged with Murder as the Result