The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-01

London, April 27.-11:12 p. m.-The
war. office has issued the following
from Lord Roberts, dated Bloemfon-
tein, Friday, April 9th: General
French reached Thabanchu this morn
ing with cavalry. He met General
Hamilton's INC General Smith-Dor-
rien's ~brigades there. The enemy were
still holding the eastern outlet of the
town wherefrOm Generals French and
Hamilton were proceeding to turn them
out. General Rundle's division was
eight miles south of Thabanchu last
evening.
"A patrol from Bethulie came across
a body of the enemy on Smithield
road April 25th. Private King, of the
Prince Alfred Guards was killed and
two of the Royal Scots service corps
Were taken prisoners. The yeomanry
cavalry, under General Brabason, af-
ter recOnnOitering as far as Wepener,
returned to De Vets dorp this morn
ing"
London. April q, 2 p. m.-The fol-
lowing dispatch has been received at
the war office from Lord Roberts:
"BlOemfontein, April 26.-At the re-
quest of the high commissioner, War
rem has been appointed military gov
ernOr of Griqualand West while hat
part of the country is in a disturbed
condition"
This curious dispatch constitutes all
the war news received UP to this hour.
THE BOER STRENGTH.
According to a special dispatch from
Lourenzo Marques the latest authentic
estimates of the BOer forces place them
at 80, 900. of which Is, 900 are at Kroon-
stad. 5000 at Fourteen Streams, 5000
in Natal, 700 about Mafeking and 1000
at Pretoria while $50 have been order
ed north to intercept General Caring
tons force. The work of e~ntrenching
Pretoria is proceeding.
a dispatch from Kimberley says
entric fever is so rampant there that
the city officials are urging the
military authorities to remove the
camps from the towns n
the use of public buildings as hospitals,
with the view of better safeguarding
public health.
A dispatch from Lord Roberts dated
BIOemfontein April 9th, gives General
HamiItOn's report of the British cas-
uaIties at IsraeIs poort April 18th.
Among those slightly wounded is
Colonel w. B. Otter, of Canada.
REPORTS OF CORRESPONDENTS.
london, April 2S.-The BIoemforteiu
correspondent of The Morning Post tel
egraphing Thursday, says: Most sat
isfactOrv progress has been made in
the c~cumuIation of stores during the
present week. Supply park now pre-
sents a respectable appearance. The
prospects of a general advance are
more favorable"
The BloemfOutein correspondent Of
The Times. t~elegraphing Thursday,
Saws: There appears to be little
chance of inficting effective punish
ment on the retreating Beers. Com
= General LOui BOtha, VINO ar
rived at De Vets Monday, realized the
situation at C1ce and ordered the i'm
mediate withdrawal of the Beers, both
from there and from Wepener."
The BlOemfOntein correspondent OF
The Daily Chronicle, t~elegraphlng
Thursday. says: The latest reports
show thai the Beers passed east or
Thabanchu when going north A pr1s-
one1 reports that a which
doubled back on the pursuing Brit
iSh is now making it's way west II the
direction of Llewu kOp.
The BlOemfontein correspondent OF
The Daily Telegraph under Thursday $
date. says: The Beers who retreated
from DeWet's dorp kept we'll ahead OF
General FHrench's cavalry. Unless the
enemy should make a stand at Kroon-
stad. Lord Roberts will rapidly cross
the Vaal river"
other BIoemfontein dispatches throw
interesting points of light upon the
situation One special says: seven
hundred and fifty wagons of Roe1
heavy transport train have reached
Kroonstad from the south. Only light
g have been left behind. The
Beers have organized a specially
mounted corps for foraging and othel
work requiring special mobility
Another dispatch reports that before
the Beers were driven from De Vets
dorp. about 1000 of them had peer
slowly retiring toward LadyDrand
where large supplies are stored an6
immense corn fields are ready for har.
yeSting-