The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-28

LONDON, March 2S.--A despatch from
a correspondent with General Roberts ar
my, dated at Bloemfontein. March -, 9:45
p. m, says;
"Sir Alfred Miner, Governor Of Cape
Colony. who has been visiting important
centres in the northern part Of Cape Col
ony. arrived here at o'clock this after
noon. Lord Roberts and his STAFF met the
Governor at the depot. The band OF the
Bluffs" East Kents) played the national
anthem. while Lord Roberts and Sir Al
fred rode in an open carriage 10 the Gov
ernment House. The streets we're lined
with residents Of BlOeL-fontein. who cor
daily chcered the Governor. Sir Alfred
was much pleased with his reception. and
in response to the plaudits Of the crowd
made an address in which he referred TO
his last visit to Bloemfontein. when, as
British High Commissioner, he attended
the famous conference with the BOer
Presidents"
Attention is once more turned toward
I.adysmith, from which comes the report
that 20 OOO Beers are guarding the nine
passes OF the Drakensberg Mountains.
These men, it is said, are Free Staters.
and Commandant De Beer Of Harrismith. is
in command Of them. Such a body Of de
termined fighters will make the forcing Of
the passes by Butler a well-nish impossi-
bic task.
From Ladysmith also come reports that
the Beers are massing along ta- Biggars-
berg. At New Castle they have transport
rains all packed In readiness for retreat il
10
Wash Bank Boer patrols tried 10 trap a
party Of the Thirteenth Hussars. a hot
chase resulted. Several OF the Beers were
wounded
4 belated despatch from Kimberley
states that Gen. Sir Charles Parsons who
commands "a column In the dissffected
district in the western part OF Cape
Colony, has returned 10 Vanwyk's Wei
from the advanced force. and ordered his
column to move on March q.
The jailer at UpingtOn has arrived at
Kimberley. He reports that 500 rebels are
entTenChed there under COmmaudant
Steenkamp. They are armed with Martini
Henry rifles. and have sufficient ammuni-
tiou for one fight. Colonel Herchmer. OF
the Canadians, has been invaded to
Cape Town.
Natal despatch states that the de-
struCtiCn Of coal mines. which would like
ly TO be of use 10 the British. continues.
Three shafts Of the Dundee colIiery have
been blown up and the machinery de-
stroyed.
decpatch from Pretoria. dated March
"a, via Lourcnce Marques. March 26, p.
m. says.
There has been nothing Of Importance
from the various Boer commanders at the
front in the last three days Mr. Adelbert
s. Hay, the American Consul here is Wis
iting the BOeT lager at KrOOnstad. The
Government has exchanged 500 900 pounds
OF bar gold for coins from the banks.
State Secretary Eeitz. of the Trans
vaal in presenting a flag to the artillery
today made a speech In which he said the
situation was hopeful. He declared that
the two republics were not fighting for any
other final object than the maintenance OF
the national independence Of a free peo-
pie"
a Maseru, Basutoland. despatch. dated
yesterday. says: The news Of the Brit
ish occupation Of Lady Brand caused the
greatest qualification in BaSutoland. This
was succeeded by dismay when the report
arrived thar the Beers had reoccuJied the
place and seized commanding positions
about PlsubeTg and Modderport
It IS now thought that the reoccupa-
tion Of the place by the Beers shows that
the British prevented COmmandant 0 j.
yier's retreat. Hence there is a possibility
Of a fight in the Plattberg Mountain. whf,h
surrounds Lady Brand.
However, according 10 a despatch from
Laurence Marques. dated March 26 the
STANDARD and Diggers News" Of Johan-
nesburg, states that the War Office AZ
Pretoria heard on March p that Com
mandants Olivier and GrCbelar were far
enough 10 the north 20 relieve apprehen-
sion as 70 the possibility Of their being
cut OF.