Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-11
BOERS SHELL E[,.'lZT[SH
CAMP At LADYSMlTH

rival at Capetown of the transport Nom
terery with the Strathcona Horse. All
on board were we'll. One hundred and
sixtythree horses died on the yovare
New York, April 1.-A dispatch to the
tribune from London says: By the
grace OF the censor, the military situation
IS confusing but it is not an unintelligible
maze. The British inaction in the Free
state and Natal is not caused by an i'm
passe like that resulting at Chieveley.
Modder river and Stormberg from the re-
verses of December. 1t is halt rend-
cred necessary by systematic prepara-
ton for an irresistible movement into
the Transvaal. Lord Roberts and Gem
eral Butler will advance when the trans.
ports and equipment are in readiness and
they Will operate simultaneously.
This is the view of close observe RS II.
touch with the war office who assert thar
the British communications are not in
danger and that the offensive operations
against the railway lines are not seri-
Gus. ;,
Press dispatches make it clear that
there has been fighting for two days at
Wepener, where General Brabant with
the Colonial forces has been attacked by
three Boer commanders with several
guns. The result of Mondays artillery
practice was favorable to the Colonial
troops, but yesterdays attack was more
severe and determined. General Bra
bant's forces are reported to be well
supplied with provisions and ammunition
and in occupation of strong position.
The Basutos are greatly excited by the
Boer operations on the edge of their ter
ritory and 1t is most difficult for the
British agent to hold them under re-.
straint. The nearest point garrsoned
by British troops is Aliwal North, but
Wepener is APPARENTLY isolated and com.
pletely surrounded by the Beers. There
is no confirmation of the report that q
large Boer force is marching toward
Springfontein and there is no proof that
the railway or telegraphc communication
has broken south of Bloemfontein.
Sir Henry Rundell and the advance
guard of the Sth division are now report-
ed to be heading for Springfontein, in
stead of Kimberley. If this be true,
Mafeking will be compelled to shift for
itself until Lord Roberts compels the
| concentration of the Boer forces by an
invasion of the Transvaal.
The towns of the Free State through
which General Clements recently marcn-
ed, are showing signs of uneasness and
revolt. Il
Heavy cannOnading is reported from
| Elandslaagte and Sunday river but there
is no decisive news from Natal.
The Boer peace commission has arrived
| in Europe where it will be cody received
at every continental capital. Whatever
popular sympathy there may be for the
Dutch cause. no European government is
prepared to declare war on Great Brit
ain nor to undertake to dispatch nm arr
my of several hundred thousand men to
South Africa. Those are the only condi-
tions under which intervention would
serve any practical purpose. 1t is ex-
pected in diplomatic circles that Messrs.
Fischer, Wolmarines and Vessels will
make a short stay on the continent and
will cross the Atlantic in hope of draw
| ing the Americans, with the help of poll
| tcians, into some kind of ambuscade.