The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-29
Little Doubt that All the Beers Re.
Gently Operating Near wep-
ener Have Escaped.
CAVALRY FOLLOWING THEM
IN THE HOPE OF OvERTAKING THE
SWIFTLY MOVING BURGHERS.
Generals Hamilton, French, Brabant,
Hart and Rumble in Command
of the British Pursuers.

LONDON, April %, $3.50 a. m.-The total
absence of news from the seat .of war in
South Africa during the last twenty-four
hours, 1t is presumed, indicates that opera
tions are progressing which it is deemed
prudent to keep secret
So far as the situation in the southeastern
part of the Free State can be worked out
from the latest dispatches, the main body
of the Beers, composed of the forces re-
Gently holding Thaba N'Chu, Leeuw kop
and Dewetsdorp, is retiring, probably with
a view to joining to the north of Ladybrand
the commanders in the vicinity of Wep-
ener who, according to a dispatch from
Aliwal North, dated April 2S made good
their retreat to Ladybrand. The main body
of the Beers is being followed by Generals
Hamilton, French, Brabant and Hart, while
Gen. Rumble is also on the spot. The Brit
ish thus have an overwhelmingly superior
force, and ought to be able to wipe out the
Beers If they succeed in overtaking them
and bringing them to bay.
1t may be assumed that the Beers are to
the eastward of a line drawn from Thaba
N'Chu to Wepener. The retreat, 1t seems,
Is being carried out without fighting. which
indicates that the Beers have a good start,
any the dispatches say they are not ham,
pered much by transport and leave no Wis
ible wheel tracks behind them on the veldt.
This initiates against the probability of
their being overtaken and forced to a de-
eisiye action. While 1t is possible that news
of such battle may come at any moment.
the chance seems even that the retreating
commanders may get away without being
forced to turn and fight.
1t is within the range of possibilities that
Lord Roberts, without waiting for the out
come of these maneuvers. may begin his
advance northward. This may be the secret
that the censor has been so jealously guard
ing. The outcome Of this interesting situa-
ton cannot now be long delayed.
A dispatch from Thaba N'Chu, dated
April q, says: General Rundle's division
has arrived here. The march from Dewets-
dorp was uneventful. Generals French and
Hamilton are also here. The Beers are
reported ten miles to the eastward. The
mounted force came in contact with them
and had a slight skirmish. The result of
the junction of Generals French and Rumble
is the clearance of the country of Beers at
this point"
Advices from Maseru, under date of April
"a. say: 1.-The Beers. numbering several
thousand. who abandoned the siege of Wep-
ener on Wednesday. started in the direction
of Ladybrand, but changed their course
and took the middle road leading past
Thaba Patso mountain and Lecan river
mills, thence toward Thaba N'Chu and in
the direction of Winburg. The border
guard of Basutos has been broken UP in
consequence of Wepener now being in the
hands of the British. One of General Hart's
wagon trains, which encountered the move
ments, has been taken charge of by the
Basutoland government, and removed to
Maketing. where at present seventy wound
ed are getting along WELL"
The news from other points is unimpor-
tant and uninteresting. Sniping and she'll
ing continue about Warrenton, apparently
Intellectually. as no casualties have been
reported on either side.
A special dispatch from Beira, dated
April q. states that the dispatch of Gen.
Carrington's division to Rhodesia is pro-
ceeding as rapidly circumstances will
permit. Seven transports have already
landed troops and stores.
a diSpatCh from LadySmith, under to-
days date, says there are only small parties
of Beers in Tintwa pass, but that some
hundreds are guarding Van Reenan's and
Olivershoek passes. Commandants De
Beer and Vannieskerk are in charge and
their forces have been so disposed that the
whole body can be massed at any pass the
British may attempt to force.
A dispatch from Dewetsdorp. dated April
q, says residents of that place claim the
strength of the Boer force which recently
evacuated the place was 5000 men, with six
guns, under German officers.
The st. James Gazette this afternoon,
dealing with the problem of the treatment
of the Free State farmers, suggests a re-
vival OF General Weyler's Cuban concen-
trado system. minus the horrible dishon-
esty of its execution