The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-04-18
NEWS FROM LADYsMITH.
Beers Retiring To Biggarsburg Range
and Dynamiting Mine
Property.

NEW YORK, April ia dispatch
10 the Tribune from London says:
Ladysmith dispatches confirm the ne.
port that the Beers have retired from
the Glands I.aagto district to their
Biggarsburg positions. No raidlng
operations scuthward have been re-
ported and II is now clear that the
Boer advance was ordered for the sake
Of employing the burghers on active
duty and Of checking desertions The
British inactivity in one sense is mas
terly, since 1t demoralizes the enemy.
Sir Redvers Buffers scouts have re-
ported that the Beers have wrecked
the engine house and shafts Of three
collieries by heavy charges Of dyua-
mite. These wanton attacks upon pri-
vate property have been characteristic
Of the Dutch campaign. South Afri-
cans explain them on the theory that
the Beers are aware that claims for
damages to property in Natal and Cape
Colony. which will be presented after
the war. can never be assessed against
the farmers Of the two commemorative,
but will be liquidated by the mineown-
ers Of the Rand
Accordingly the Beers feel at liberty
to inflict as much damage as possible,
since the indemnity will come out Of
the mining industry Of the Rand in the
form Of taxation based on the profits
Of the companies. The theory is cor
rect without doubt. that johannesburg
will pay the piper when the war is
over. Neither Pretoria nor Bloemfon-
tein has resources for liquidating war
indemnities and bills for damages.
An official bulletin issued at Pretoria
contains survey of the military sit
uation in the various sections and inn
plies that there is activity all along
the line. The Boer officials evidently
lind il necessary to convey the impress
sion to their own people that the Dutch
forces have not disbanded. but are
actively employed at various points.
The only fresh claim of victory in this
dispatch is a report that General
Froneman has defeated a British col
umn and driven It across the Orange
river.
There is no confirmation Of this story
from British sources and. on the con-
trary. the attack on Colonel Dalget-
tvs force near Wepener has slackened
and there are persistent rumors that
General Brabant has relieved the gar
rison after defeating the Beers. Gen
eral Brabant is on the way to Wepener I
with strong mounted force and re-
'-forccments from Natal are behind /
A. -eral Chermside, with a full 4
nlm' w. ling east from Red I
liVlsion Is aisc NV Na caught |
dersburg and the Beers may ~
in corner somewhere in the SOUTH
western section of the Free State.
The general situation at BloemfOn-
teln is unchanged. Military experts
here do not expect an advance north
ward for a week or ten days, since
Lord Roberts Is waiting for large ship
ments OF horses. which have barely
arrived at Cape Town. They are also
that General Butler will re-
main on the defensive and not attack
until the enemy's force
has been drawn of by Lord Roberts
invasion Of the Transvaal.
It is considered probable that Gen
erals Hunter and Brabant will work
their way up to Wepener and Lady
brand and in this way protect Lord
Roberts line Of communications.