The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-03-14
4 BRAVE STAND AMONG kOPJES.
ROBERTS FORCES HALTED.
British Commander Says Over On, Hundred
Dead We're Found and Twenty Prisoners
Taken Several 0fic.rs Los.

That Gen. Roberts has begun his
advance on Bloemiontein, the capital
OF the Orange Free State, is evidenced
by a dispatch from him, dated at Drie-
fontein, 7;15 a. NJ, Sunday which is
as follows:
The enemy opposed us throughout
yesterdays march. and from their in
timatc knowledge OF the country gave
us considerable trouble. Owing, how
ever to the admirable conduct OF the
troops, the enemy were unable to pre-
vent us reaching our destination. The
brunt OF the fighting fell on Gen. Kelly
Kennys divisions, the to battalions OF
which, the Welsh and Essex, turned the
Beers out of two strong positions at
the point OF the bayonct"
A dispatch OF Sundays date from
Greytown. Natal, so miles southeast OF
I.adysmith, says:
"A force composed of Bethune's S
mounted infantry, the Umvcti mounted
rifles and the Natal police. with three
Maxims, under Col. Bethunc. reached
Pomeroy Thursday. The following
morning the Boer pickets opened fire.
~
Beers using pompoms and two big
guns There was heavy firing on both
sides. Col Bethune, seeing the i'm
possibility of dislodging the Beers
without artillery, retired south OF the
Tugcla with one man wounded. The
Bocr loss is said to be considerable
According to Boer reports, the fall
Of Mafcking is certain. There has
been heavy fighting this week and the
Beers have been shelling the town
from all the outlayng forts which they
have captured. Col Baden Powell
cleared all the natives out OF town. but
the Beers drove them back. The
Beers are preparing for final assault,
with the idea that the capture OF Maie..
king will raise the dropping spirits OF
the burghers." ."
NEWS
kilograms from Poplar Grove, Or
ange Free State, dated Friday say:
Gen. French, who is 10 miles ahead, re-
ports that his front is clear OF the
Beers All other reports tend to CON
firm the state OF disorganzation oi the
Boer forces, Transvaal as well as Free
State. The general impression is the
further progress OF the British to
Bloemfonten will not be opposed
A great amount OF ammunition was
destroyed to-day. This included sew
eral boxes OF explosive bullets, on the
outside OF which the Beers had marked
manufactured for the British govern
mcnt."
Clements has occupied Norvals pont
and the adjacent drift. As soon as the
engineers, pontoon and troops arrive
he will cross the river, when the neces-
sary repairs to the railway bridge will
be commenced.
Gatacre occupied Burghersdorp
March 7 and was greeted with great
enthusiasm on the part OF the loyal in
habtants. His scouts report that large
numbers OF the rebels in the neighbor-
hood are anxious to surrender
Presidents Kruger and Steyn were
both present at the fight OF March 7,
and did all in their power to rally their
troops. The rout, however was com
plctc, the men declaring that they could
not stand against the British artillery
and such a formidable force of cavalry.
1t is said there has been dissension be-
tween Kruger and Joubert and that the
latter has resigned as wcN as several
other generals Kruger will probably
assume command himself It is also
declared the Beers will resist to the
death against a war OF conquest
A correspondent at Lorenzo Mar
ques saws: am reliably informed that
high officials openly avow that the Brit
ish flag shall never fly at Johannes
burg. The place will be razed to the
ground and the mines put in readiness
10 be electrically exploded from the fort
as occasion requires,
Most OF the gold mines, except
those which the government controls
are in shocking state. They are
flooded, and the machinery is rustne
and being wilfully smashed.