Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-23
Rundlc'S Forces will Soon
Engage the Beers.
BOERS ARE TENACIOUS
Hethuen Forced to Retire-Kitchener
Will Have a Separate Command
General Butler Will Likely be
Recalled.

London, April %, S a. NIT is quite
probable that by this time General Run
die has fought a decisive battle with the
Beers. He e%ntrenched himself Saturday
to await the arrival of General Campbell
with the Sixteenth brigade. That com
mander arrived Saturday evening and
news may therefore be expected at any
moment.
1t is still impossible to ascertain the pO-
sition of affairs at Blomfontein or to
learn when the long-expected advance
%northward will begin. The dispatches
conflict regarding the state of the
preparations. For Instance the Bloem-
fontein correspondent of the Daily
Chronicle says the troops have been sup
piled with winter clothing n that the
Modder river has fallen sufficiently to
permit cavalry to cross. The Standards
representative says almost the exact op-
posite. Present indications, however,
point to still further delay.
Without attaching undue Importance
to the stories from Lorenzo Marques
concerning the strength of the Boer
forces. it woul almost seem that the
former estimates of 0 1000 were rather
low.
During the last few days there has
been a renewal of Boer activity in all
parts of the theater of war. The te-
naclty of the enemy around Colonel
Dalgetys roves that considerable forces
are still there. Lord Roberts has order
ed Lord Methuen to retire from Boshof,
probably for the same reason. The pres
ence of a Boer force at Frankfort looks
like an endeavor to cut off Methuen. who
may next be heard of as retiring upon
Kimberley.
SSA D0o,,r -~1 --.1
BiOeI7fontein to the eastward. There
have been several outpost affairs in
that vicinity.
Ihe Eleventh division, under General
Pole7Asarey. and the Fourth cavalry
brigade are operating toward Sannas
Post.
In Natal there is no diminution of Boer
actlvlty., 1t is reported that Sir Charles
WafrerTis to be appointed governor of the
FreesState. Nothing is known regarding
GeneraE Buller, but there is little doubt
regarding his removal and rumor has it
mat Lord Kitchener will get an import
ant Independent command.
The Boer peace commissioners are I'M
uefstood to have been disappointed by
their visit to The Hague, but are deter
mined to visit Berlin and Paris before 60
ing to Washington.
n April 23.-The Standard puh-
u VII
nshes a lone dispatch from Bloemfontein.
dated Friday, explaining the numerous
dhleulties which tend to delay the adj
vance @ta Pretoria. The ~spond
says:
Enormous transport difficulties are en-
hanced by the rainy weather and by the
necessity of providing for the needs of the
army Tor weeks. perhaps months, in case
or an interruption of the long lines of
communication. together With the unset
.led state of the country in our rear ana
ne guerilla tactics of the army. It is OBJ
Nlous 'hat until our TANKS are cleared
ana no longer menaced, no forward
movement is possible without incurrin@
the graVest risks.
the most pressing need is a further
supply OF horses. General Hamilton hoe
awaited himself of the services of the Ans
!rallan bushmen to scour the Free state
IN all directions. buying horses from the
formers who ave end and arine
ing IN animals found upon unoccupied
hat Horse raiding is dangerous work
put the bushmen are more than match
for the Beers. "ee"