Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-25
LORD ROBERTS DISPATCH.
Generals Brabant and Hart Hear That all
is Well With tho Bcstrigcd English at
wepcner English Driven Back Near
Boshop-Bocrs Who wero Driven from
Lccuw Kop May Rally at Thabnnclu-
Lord Roberts Generals Surrounding tho
Beers.
tBy Telegraph to vlrginlan-PiIot.)

complicated, situation in the southeast
ern portion OF the Orange Free State,
from which developments of the ut
most Importance must ensue in the
near future. General Rumble, 1t would
seem, has found the Beers confronting
him at Dewetsdorp in stronger force
than he cares to engage, and so he is
marking time pending the arrival of
supports. While General Rumble Is
preparing to strike DewetsdorpGenerals
Brabant and Hart are pushing along
the frontier to BaSutoland, where they
will be able to Illustrate any attack on
General BUNDLES right and General
French and Pole-Carew are fastening
from Bloemfontein to bar the Boer line
of retreat northward.
Meanwhile the burgher forces occu-
plying Thahanchu are In q position to
fight delaying action, giving the
Beers al Dewetsdorp and Wepener time
to retire In case of defeat, and 1t seems
as though General French must dis
pose of this Thanbanchu force before
he can reach the rear OF the Boer forces
opposing General Rumble and Brabant,
otherwise his flank will be open to as
suit.
The Beers driven out of Leeuw Iop
will probably rally at Thabanchu, where
stiff fight may be expected. Should
the British fail in this attempt to bring
about another Paardeberg. it must inn
mensely affect the larger issues of the
war. as it will undoubtedly lead to
persistent repetition of the guerilla
tactics which have been largely re-
sponsible for the opening up OF Lord
Roberts at Bloemfontein for SO many
weeks.
During the course of General Alder
sons advance on Leeuw Kop the Ca
nadians found themselves in tight
corner Sunday near Donker Poort. The
Canadian mounted infantry sent to re-
connoitre the Boer position approached
within 800 yards OF a farm flying the
hospital flag, under cover of which the
Beers opened such a hot fire on the
Canadians that they were unable to at
tempt to retire until another force OF
Canadians covered their retreat by
threatening the rear of the Boer po-
eition.
OFFICIAL DISPATCH
London, April 24-11:15 p. m.-The
War Office issues the following from
Lord Roberts,:
Boemfontein, April 24.-GeneraIs
Brabant and Hart yesterday turned the
position occupied by the enemy who
tried to prevent their moving north
ward and got into Telegraph commu-
nication with Colonel Dalghety, COM
mandant of the besleged garrison at
Wepener, who reported all well.
General Brabant has three wounded,
one missing. Three were wounded on
the previous day. The Border regiment
has seven wounded
At l p. m. yesterday Brabant and
Hart We're eight miles south of WEEP
ener. The Eleventh division, under
General Pole Carew and General
French's two brigades OF cavalry
reached Tweede Celuk yesterday after
noon without having met serious op-
position.
Photograph communication has been
established with General Rumble. A
patrol of the Seventh Dragons, under
Lieutenant Jenkins, which was report
ed missing yesterday, has rejoined
General French camp. with the eXcep
tion OF Corporal Taylor and Private
Cook, who are believed to be wounded
and prisoners.
Mounted infantry yesterday, under
General Hamilton, occupied the water
works at Sannas Post. AS the enemy
are holding the neighboring hills in
some strength the Ninth Division, con-
eisting of General Smith Dorriens and
General MacDonald's 5rigades. has
been dispatched to support Hamilton
General MaXwelrs brigade. formerly
General Chermside's of the Seventh Di-
vision. yesterday moved eastward and
seized the hills covering the wagon
bridge over the Modder river at ISranz-
kraal, an important communication
much used by the Beers during the last
three weeks. Our only casualty was
Private Brum. New South Wales
Mounted Rifles. taken prisoner"
FOR BRITISH PRISONERS
Cape Town. April 2i.-The authori-
ties have already listed the names of
10000 alleged rebels in Cape Colony and
Natal.
a consignment of thousands Of boots,
shirts, clothes and packages of tobacco
will be dispatched from here to-mor-
row to the United States Consul a Pre-
toria, Adelbert Hay. for distribution
among the British soldiers held as pris-
oners by the Beers.
LOSSES At WEPENER.
London. April 24-An official list of
the British losses at Wepener from
April to IS shows: Killed 3 officers
and is men. Wounded fourteen officers
and sc men.
FOR ST. HELENA
Cape Town. April 24.-The transport
Bavarian sails for st. Helena to-mor-
row with 1850 Boer prisoners
SITUATION AT LEEUw KOP.
Leeuw ISop, Monday. April 23.--The
Beers retired from their positions here
so hurredly that they left n quantity
Of ammunition and many rifles behind
them when the Warwickshire Regi-
ment took the farmhouse at the foot of
the ridge. the Beers pompoms innicting
no damage. the Welsh Regiment adj
vancing along the Manufactures left
and approached the ridge, experiencing
g. cross fire.
When the Beers fled they were OBJ
ligcd to move for some distance along
the sky lines, and the artillery planted
q shell with great accuracy, 1t burst
Ing just above the Beers. rolling over
three horses. General Dickson met with
opposition, the Beers firing their rfl 8
at long range. Their nosltlon was one
OF great natural strength.
General Pole-Carew's admirable dis.