Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-12
Fighting at Wepener Regarded as
Favorable 10 Their Side,
LETTING OFF THE FARMERS.
Ten Percent Of Burghers Given Leave
10 Plant trops-Other south
African News


Pretoria, Wednesday April ll-Ad-
vices from Wepener where "a British
force Is surrounded, say the battle COM
tinues favorable 70 the federals About
1900 British troops are said 20 be there.
A heavy cannonade was heard this
morning In the direction Of Bultfoutoin,
situated midway between Winburg
and Boshof. 90 the Orange Free State.
and north Of Brandfort
AdyiCes from the Boer headquarters
IN Natal say that after q heavy bom-
bardment the British are retiring in tho
direction OF ladysnltn and the fed
erals are going 90 their ola positions
The Free state Gazette publishes Or
ders 20 the effect that no person come
Wandered FOR active service has the
right 90 send a substitute without the
consent OF the landdrost.
In reference TO leaves OF absence. the
Gazette says that 10 per cent OF each
command viii be relieved by ballot for
periods OF twelve days This Is intended
10 meet the wishes of the burghers de-
string 70 plant their crops
Capetown April 12-The British
steamer Monterey Captain padry
which sailed from Halifax March 18th
with Lord Strathcnna and Mount
Royals contingent OF Canadian troops
on board, has arrived here.
Bloemfontein, Wednesday April H.
According 10 information received here
the Boor activity eastward OF the rail-
road and IN proximity Go the border Is
largely due 20 the fact that Presidents
Kruger and Steyn have found they are
unable TO keep their forces together I'm
inactivity the burghers declaring they
are unwilling 10 remain with their COM
mands unless actively employed, az they
are convinced British game is a wait
Ing one. Il Is believed the Boer move
ment was originally designed 20 oblige
Lord Roberts 10 weaken his force 40
Bl0emf0ntein in order TO protect the
railroad When the Beers would have at
tempted 90 recapture the capital
But the burghers are evidently ignor-
ant of the enormous forces Lord Rob
erts has al bis disposal
Advices from K8ree Siding say the
Beers are busily entrenching their POSI-
ton east Of Brandfort running parallel
with the railroad. while strongly hold
Ing the waterfall Drift watcrworks.
At both places series OF indecislye
actions are occurring Tho Boer report
of the fighting on April 40 at Glands
laagte. AYERS that the advance on the
British camp was made with the loss
of only three mules and two horses.
while the British losses, says the same
report. must have been heavy. The
lasted al day.
Nothing has been learned regarding
the rumor Of Col. Baden Powells death
nor is there anything tending to show
how long the general advance towards
Pretoria Will be delayed.
In the absence Of exciting develop
ments. public interest centers more
upon the personality OF the new COM
manders and In the suppositions as TO
who the next general win De 20 be sent
home.
The sailors Of the Powerful are COM
Ing IN for enthusiastic greeting eQualing
that which met them on the first ar
rival at Portsmouth yesterday when
young and old women kissed officers
and men indiscriminately as they came
on the dock
The Boer announcement OF the
reoccupatl0u OF Smithdeld by the
L'i HH'l p JUDI itNNlNfAt Is no news, as
the small British force at that place
withdrew thence after the Reddersburg
affair
II now appears that General Brabant
himself rs at AIiWal North and that only
a portion OF his column Is al Wepener.
The queen has telegraphed 20 Captain
Lambt0n Of the British first class cruis-
en- Powerful. which arrived at Ports. /
mouth yesterday afternoon. as follows:
Il sincerely welcome you an on your
return home, and heartily congratulate /
.ou On The gallanl and valuable services
you have rendered IN South Africa. I /
hope 10 see you an shortly after my |
return 10 England
The duke OF York also telegraphed his I
20 Captain Lambton. /
his officers and the ships company Of I
he Powerful