Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-06

fE3y Telegraph TO Virginlan- Pilot.)
London, April Go a. m.-Whatever
the reasons may be, considerable dis
satisfaction is beginning to be express
ed here at the unaccountable delay,
both at Bloemfontcin and In Natal,
which enables the Beers to recover
from the decentralization caused by
Lord Roberts former movements.
The enemy evidently now hope to re-
tard the advance by threatening Inc
railway behind Lord Roberts. SO far
as the Natal railways are concerned.
repairs arc being made beyond Glands
laaete, and the idea. so often repeated,
is that an advance is Imminent.
a dispatch to the Daily Telegraph
from Ladysmith says that the Boer in
vesting positions reveal immense
strength, ingenious construction and
immunity from the British shrapnel
and lyddte fire.
a dispatch from Ladysmith to the
Daily Chronicle gives serious news of
the outbreak OF u deadly lung sickness
among the oxen. which, IL 1t spreads, Is
likely to cripple General Buffers oper-
ations.
From Lorenzo Marques comes the
report that Mr.. Steyn has been appoint
cd commandment OF the Free State
forces
Although Colonel Plumer is reported
to have gotten within six miles Of
Nlafeliing, 1t Is evident that the siege
had not been raised on April /. Tow
ard the end of this month Colonel Plu-
mer will be reinforced by the troops
now going by way OF Beira, so that re-
lief cannot be far distant.
THE NEWS AND DETAIL.
London. April Q:55 p. MA spc-
cal dispatch from Lorenzo Marquee
says.
Sharp fighting occurred April in the
ncighborhood of Mafeking. The garr-
son made a sortie. while General Pal
mer's cavalry attacked the Beers at
Ramathlabma. Both attacks were re-
pulsed.
Detached bodies of Boer horse. num-
boring from 500 to 1000 each. have APP
peared at several places to the south
ward and eastward of Bloemfontein,
threatening the railroad, but communi
cation by wire and rail is not in the
least affected. One OF these forces is
near East Springfontcin, on Blocmfon-
ten railroad. and General Gatacre's
forces are reported 10 be about to en-
gage it. Lord Roberts. except to safe
guard the railroad, seemingly declines
10 send columns chasing the Boer
bands. He is reserving his cavalry and
transport animals for the forward
movement. Explanations having indi-
rect origin in the War Office as TO
why Lord Roberts is inactive are that
there had been lack of horses for
remounts, but new ones are arriving by
trainloads hourly.
SITUATION NOT CLEAR.
The situation in the Free State re-
mains far from clear, and is unsatis
fnn ft-1,1 toll
ness among the Boer prisoners at ST.
monstown continues to increase. Five
men died April 3. The prisoners who
were on board the transport Mongolian
have been transferred to the shore
camp. Unless the sickness abates it is
not likely that more prisoners will be
sent to st. Helena
dispatch from Cape Town, dated
yesterday, announces the departure for
the front of the second contingent of
Canadian mounted infantry.
TO PREVENT RELIEF.
Mafeking, Friday, March 23-Therc
has been little excitement during the
past week. The Boer shell fire comes
in ntful gusts and has little effect. The
British casualties are almost nil.
The Beers seem to be breaking up
their main lager westward, but have
taken up an entrenched position north
ward, with the view of preventing the
approach of a relief, The sharpshoot-
ers keep up a steady interchange of
fire. 1t is rumored that relief Ia near
The usual Sunday truce enables the
garrison TO continue playing cricket
matches.
Mshetc. n native chief southwark. has
broken out against the Beers There
was heavy firing in the direction of his
chief Kraal March 90.
An Irish american TROOPER of the
Protcctorate has deserted to the Roers.
a reward of $50 has been offered for
his capture, dead or alive.
MADE THEIR ESCAPE.
London, April 5.-Further details lust
received from Lorenzo Marquee in re-
gard to Captain Haldane. of the Gordon
Iighlanders. and Lieutenant LcNIe-
surfer, OF the Dublin Fusiliers, who re-
Gently arrived there after escaping
from Pretoria. enc0untering perilous
adventures In the way, show that their
experiences were very similar to those
OF Winston Churchill, the war CORES
pondent, who also escaped from Pre-
toria in December last. Hiding in
swamps during the daytime, having
narrow escapes from Boer patrols and
traversing one hundred miles OF coun-
try. Captain Haldane and Lieutenant
LeAfesurier at length reached Water
valcover in the South African 2epub-
lie, where they hid in a railroad truck,
covered with tarDaulin and llnally