Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-04-25
LARGE BOER FORCES
Federal Army In the Free State Is
Much Larger Than At First
Reported.
WEPENER RELIEF DELAYED
The Beers Made An Important Advance
Of Several Miles During the Night
The British May Be Attacked
In the Rear.


Aliwal North, April 24-It is reported
that firing is being heard between Zas.
tron and Wepener. 1t is believed that
erals Brabant and Hart are in con.
tact with the enemy. The Beers are sc
numerous that it took them two days
to cross Caledon river at Bastard's
drift.
WEPENER NOT RELIEVED.
Maseru, Basutoland, April 24-On
breaking up bivouac this morning Gen.
erals Brabant and Hart discovered that
the Beers, who fell back toward Wep-
ener yesterday, had advanced during
the night several miles nearer to the
Strauss farm, favorable position for
resistance. Colonel Dalgetty was Sc
verely attacked with six guns this
morning, probably with a view of pre-
venting him assisting the relief column.
1t seemed yesterday that Dalgetty prac7
tically had been relieved, but the often
sive attitude assumed by the Beers this
morning shows this idea to be errone-
GUS. General Hart is now a few miles
behind Brabant's division, which is
waiting for the former to come up.
Thirteen British wounded were re-
moved to Mafeteng at midnight.
STRONG RESISTANCE.
Maseru, April "a, p. m.-Generals
Hart and Brabant covered only short
distance to-day, and finding that a
strong force opposed them bivouacked
on the ground they had occupied. Fir
ing has been desultory and casualties
slight. The British are edging up to-
ward the Basutoland border Persist
ent rumors are in circulation that Com
mandant Olivier, with 1,5OO men, is pre-
pairing to attack General Hart's rear.
There is no sign of an advance of Cen
eral Rumble from Dewetsdorp.
DEWETSDORP OCCUPIED.
London, April 25.-Lord Roberts tele-
graphed the following:
"Bloemfontein, April 25.-Dewetsdorp
occupied by Chermside without opposi-
ton at $3.50 o'clock this morning.
BOERS IN A TRAP.
Herschel, Cape Colony, April 24-It is
reported that the British occupied Wep-
ener after heavy fighting. It is also
said that the Beers are unable to escape
north. and great developments are ex-
pected.
BRITISH STRATEGY.
London, April 25-The indecisive ac-
tion and the slow progress of Generals
Hart and Brabant are relatively unim-
portant when compared with the prog
ress of General French. 1t Is evident
that Lord Roberts wishes not only to
defeat the Beers, but to pen them in, as
at Paardeberg. To this end 10000 Brit
ish troops are concentrating in the
southeastern portion of the Orange
Free State. The success of the impor-
tant movement almost entirely depends
upon French. If he can sweep down
from the north with the rapidity of ex-
ecution he displayed at Kimberley and
Paardeberg he will put the girdle
around the $4,000 Beers estimated to be
in the southern part of the Orange Free
State.
BRITISH DRIVING THE BOERS.
London, April rs, 4:57 p. m.-The war
office received the following from Lord
Roberts:
"Bloemfontein, April 25.-Gen. Pole
Carew's division reached Roodekop yes
terday evening without casualties. The
advance was covered by cavalry and
horse artillery, which drove back the en-
emy with heavy losses, their dead be-
ing left on the ground. The mounted
troops halted for the night at Grootfon-
tein, and at 1880 this morning were
crossing the Modder river at Val's bank
in accordance with my instructions to
French to endeavor to place himself
astride the enemy's line of retreat.
French's arrival near Modder evidently
however, alarmed the Beers, who evac-
uated strong position near Dewets-
dorp during the night. 1t was occupied
by Chermside's division this morning.
The mounted infantry under Ian HAM
ilton drove the enemy off the kopjes in
the neighborhood Of the water works
without casualties on our side."
''The Highland brigade marched
twenty-four miles yesterday to sup
port General Hamilton, and halted for
the night at Klipkraal, four miles short
of Sannas post. Brabant and Hart are
still few miles short Of Wepener, and
the numbers of the enemy appear to
have somewhat increased the last few
days. But 1t is not likely that there
will be much trouble in the neighbor-
hood Of Wepener since Dewetsdorp has
been occupied by our troops"
Beaten BY Workmen.
Chicago, April 25.-R. w. Clark, night
superintendent Of Davidson Bros mar
BILE works, was beaten into insensibili-
ty by three men supposed to be union
workingmen this morning. His recovery
is doubtful
The Wool Market.
st. Louis, Mo-, April 25-Wool Is un-
settled pending the arrival Of the new
clip. Territory and western medium Ia
17@20c; fine, 1S@17c; coarse, 14017c.
Another Present for Dewey.
Washington, April 25.-Admiral Dew
ey to-day received a delegation which