The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-17
BOERS LEAVE WEPENER
London Confidently Waits For Favor
able News From Roberts
BUT LACK OF HORSES WILL HAMPER HIM
Beers in the EIandsIaagte District Retire Beyond
Bggarsberg. Three Collieries Blown
Up. English Correspondent Thinks
The Worst of the War Over.
(By the Associated Press. }

London, April (Tuesday-4:15 A.
Milford Roberts has spread his net far
and wide to catch the adventurous COM
mandoes that have been making mischief
in the southeastern part of the State. The
net has not yet been drawn; but at the
headquarters of Lord Roberts the impress
is decreasing. a Daily News correspon-
dent has them fleeing to the northward;
a Standard correspondent reports them
fleeing southeast; Daily Telegraph cor
respondent says that some are going
north and others south; while Morning
Post representative says it is not known
what the Beers are doing.
Evidently the feeling at Bloemfontein
is that the dispositions of Lord Roberts
are such as to enable him TO concentrate
a large force rapidly at any point. The
Beers being aware OF this, are presumed
to be thinking now chiefly of retreat.
The investment Of Wepener, according
to a special dispatch from Bloemfon-
tein has absolutely been abandoned. Ac
cording to Bethany dispatch the Beers
are unable to retreat northward, be-
cause the British strongly hold all roads.
Diverse reports come from Natal, one
asserting that the Beers have retired
beyond the Biggarsburg range and an
other saying that some OF them are
close 10 Ladysmith.
London waits confidently for almost i'm
mediate announcement of news favorable
to the British.
Distrust exists, however as to any
rapid, continuous advance toward Pre-
toriA chiefly on account CT the lack of
horses. many of which die in the long
voyages. Letters from the Cape say that
the three days journey by rail is made
in open trucks that the arrangements
for feeding and watering are inadequate
and that the unfortunate animals break
down IA consequence of these hardships.
Despite the energy of its buyers abroad
the War Office foresees much difficulty in
supplying the enormous number of horses
required.
Cape Town. April 15.--It is reported
that General Brabant has defeated the
Beers at Wepener and captured their
arms.
RETIRE FROM ELANDSLAAGTE.
London, April ia special dispatch
from Ladysmith, dated April 18th, 9:45
a. M, says:
Native scouts have just reported that
the Beers in the Elandslaagte district
have retired beyond Biggarsberg.
"Other information tends to confirm the
report that the Beers have succeeded in
blowing up three important collieries near
Vessels Mex, completely destroying the
engine house and plants.''
BOTHA AT PRETORIA.
Pretoria, Sunday, April 15.-President
Kruger keeps in excellent health.
General Botha is here consulting with
the Government. The members of the
Irish American ambulance corps are
treated as guests of the Government.
DEWET STILL FIGHTING.
Brandfort, April 13.-(Via Lourenzo
Marques )-Fighting with BrabantS horse
at Jammerberg Drift continue. Com
mander Petrua Dewet is reported to have
engaged the troops sent from Bloemfon-
tein to Brabants assistance.
There was also brush with British
column advancing towards Bultfontein,
without decisive result.
All the foreign attaches are now here.
SIEGE OF WEPENER RAISED.
London, April 17.-(Tuesday.)- 1.-The
Bloemfontein correspondent of the Daily
Telegraph in a dispatch dated yesterday,
says:
The Beers have raised the siege OF
Wepener and have left Rouxville. ma
jority of them has undoubtedly retired
north with the exception of body OF
about six thousand, now reported to be
going toward Bethulie.