Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-27
BOerS At Thaba N'Chu Will
Cover Conveys Escape.
BRABANT'S CLOSE CALI
UnaccOurtable Delays in Advances by
BritiSh-Methuen Still at BOSh0f
While Hunter Has Arrived at
Kimberly.

London, April q, 5 a. m.-Israel's port
which is not marked on the map lies be-
tween Sannas Post and Thaba N'Chu.
General Hamilton has probably BY this
time arrived at Thaba N'Chu. as he is
trying his utmost endeavors to cut off the
Beers who are r~etreating from Dewets-
dorp.
The Boer forces at Thaba N'Chu are now
likely to make a stand to cover the escape
of the conveys from the southward. They
have laagers eight miles apart. stretching
from Brandfort to Thaba N'Chu with a
base camp at Samalldell station.
A report comes that a small force of
British mounted infantry had a brush
with a party of Beers three miles east of
Karee siding, who were trying to estab-
lish a connection between Brandfort and
Boer forces to the southwark
Otherwise there Is no news beyond the
official dispatchs of Lord Roberts except
belated details of recent operations. 1t ap-
pears that General Brabant, in the fight
with the Beers at Wepener had a mar
row escape. General Poie-Carew's adj
vance was much hampered by the tardy
arrival of artillery which prevented him
from capturing Leeuw Kop before dark
ness set in and enabled the Beers TO Sc
cure their retreat.
Although the large succession of opera
tons worked successfully several cases
of ~unaccountable delay in. the advances
are remarked by the correspondents.
Taken on the whole, however, there has
been no bungling anu apparently Lord
Roberts. with the in the hands.
of younger generals, now has an exceed
ingly efficient army
The report that the Beers had reoccu-
pied BoshOf proves to be untrue. Lord
Methuen is still there and General Hunt
er's division from Natal which was sup
posed to be going to Bloemfontein, is ar
irving at Kimberley. This is evidence
that some important operations are afoot
in that district.
1t is understood the reason the Beers
did not destroy the Bloemfontein water
works was, that there are many Beers
among the stockholders
The Beers are showing more activity in
Natal. They are placing some heavy II
four miles north Of Elandslaagte.
Mr.. Wyndman's explanation in the
house of mmOn yesterday has
aroused considerable comment. especially
his statement that Lord Roberts has
been delayed by the necessity of defeat
ing detached forces of the enemy which
threatened his communications from
Capetown and Port Elizabeth, and which
blocked them from East London. The
only intinlation hitherto received that
the East London line was blocked had
been discredited. This was the Boer re-
port that the bridge at Bethulie had been
blown UP.
All discussion of the Spion Kop disa5-
ter has been postponed until May 90 by
the blocking motion introduced in the
house of commons yesterday by James
Lowther.
A body of Boer prisoners has been
landed at ST. Helena.
The Netherlands minister of foreign
affairs yesterday received the BOer peace
commissioners. 1t is alleged thai they
will time their arrival in the United
States so that it will occur at the most
exciting period of the presidential cleo
ton.
From Lourenzo MARQUES comes the re-
port that large quantities of gunpowder
are going to the Beers disguised as sacks
of meal.
Bardfort, O.. F. S., April 23.-Monday.-
A British column in the direction of Built
fonfeint has been driven back through
Bushof. The federals sustained two cas-
ualties, while the British had - killed
and a numbe wounded.
Yesterday General Kelly-Kenny's ar
tillery at Dewetsdorp INDUCED in a mild
bombardment of General Dewet's posi-
ton. the firing lasting throughout the
morning.
The scarcity of water is supposed to be
very pressing at Bloemfontein.
A desperate attempt was made by a.
large British column to % the
Waterworks. Their right flank was beat
Ell back, however, and a party of so were
cut off and IL men were killed.
The johannesburg commando has cap
tured a British scout.
some American scouts have been shot.