The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-05-05
LOSING PATIENCE
BRITISH GRUMBLE OVER FAILURE
OF RECENT OPER ATOMS.

No Further Hope of Capturing the
RetreatinE Boers-Very Little IL
Gained During the Past Ten Days
From the Enormous Display. of
FOrce-Gen. French Finds the
Beers Holding Hills East of Thn-
ba Notwithstanding Operations
Will Probably Entail Further
Delay.
Thaba N'Chu, May l.. - Gen. French
sent the Third and Fourth cavalry
brigades on separate "Reminiscences
around the hills east Of town. The
enemy, it was found, held the hills
strongly, though evidently only a rear
guard, as no transport was visible. The
Beers are now holding a very steep
row Of hills east. q
London. May 1. - The only dispatch
from Lord Roberts since yesterday was
the usual list Of deaths and sickness.
The flood of newspaper dispatches to-
day describing the present operations
throws no light whatever upon the
present position of affairs. or of the
great. question as to when the main ad-
vance is to begin. The Standards an
nouncement that Gen. French's cav
airy are returning to Bloemfontein is
clear proof that there is no further
hope Of capturing the r%etreating Beers
and the London papers are beginning
to display impatience at the practical
failure Of the elaborate operations of
last week.
The Standard says: at is dishearten-
ing to find that these elaborate ma
neuvers have brought so small a re-
suit"
The Chronicle remarks: "We are re-
~luctaDt to criticise Lord Roberts. but
|" is impossible to shut our eyes to the
fact that during the last zen days we
have gained very little from our enor-
nous display of force"
Without doubt these operations have
been Of a very %exhausting nature and
will entail further delay. The Bloem-
fontein correspondent of the Times.
writing March 3. after the Paardeburg
affair. describes Lord Roberts army as
a wreck. because it was without horses
and without transport. There is very
little from other quarters.
The sudden decision Of the Boer
peace delegates to go to America is at
tributed, to the fact that the govern
ment Of the Netherlands. after sound
ing all the European capitals, told them
they had nothing to hope for from Eu-
rope.
Col. Dalgaty's force at Wepener num-
bered LOO. His losses during the.
siege were 80 killed and 149 wounded
1t is reported that there was an en-
gagement yesterday at Karee Siding,
but no details have been received.
Beers Will Make n Stand.
London. May 1. The Bloemfontein
correspondent of the Chronicle, tele-
graphing Saturday, says: A Cavalry
reconnaissance three miles northeast
encountered 400 Beers. The British
drove them out of a kopje north of
karee. Our outposts are still harrassed
by moving commanders. In an out
post affair OH Thursday several Beers
were killed. The enemy will certainly
make a stand at Kroonstad. where
they have constructed miles OF
trenches.
Suited to Boer Tactics.
Lordon. May 1. - The Bloemfontein
correspondent of the Standard says:
The Beers have taken every advantage
Of the mountainous nature of the coun-
try which marks their retreat to Lady
brand. Their I'M Of retiring Is
beautiful. and it is doubtful if they
can be reduced in a district SO suited
to their tactics. 1 have visited h
British outpost, the nearest Brand
fort. The Beers show the deepest
anxiety to learn the probable action
Of our advance and they declare they
will not fire Il shot from Brandfort. as
they wish to save the town from bonn
bardment. The enemy are ~intrenched
on the hills southeast Of BrandfOrt. but
they are not likely to make any serious
stand until we reach Kroonstad.
Aliwalnorth. May 1. = 1t is reported
here that Commandant Olivier was
wounded at Wepener last Monday.
Six New Zealanders. while scouting,
fought six Beers, killing three and
wounding three. One New Zealander
was wounded. The inhabitants of
Rockville do not know to which gov
eminent they belong as there is no
civil administration there.
jBocr Commissioners Coming.
The Hague. May 1. - The members
of the Boer peace commission will sail
from Rotterdam for the United States
next Thursday evening by the Hollands
American line steamer Maasdam. Dr..
Leyds and DR.. Mutter will not accom-
pany the delegates. .ifsa
EOroafnl1oL nv ROfhA. y
London. May 1. = The B~loemfontein
correspondent Of the Standard. under
Fridays date, describing the manner
of Gen. Botha's retreat which enabled
the Beers to evade being surrounded,
says: Gen. Botha arrived at Dewets-
dorp Thursday and Immediately dis
patched commando to oppose Gen.
French's column. We appear to have
been forestalled by Botha by just
twenty-four houhs. According to the
latest reports from Thaba N'Chu the
enemy are still withdrawing their
wagons and guns.
British Will Hold Thaba N'Chu.
Bloemfontein. May 1. 1t is under
stood that the British will continue to
hold Ihaba N'Chu owing to its STRAIT
egic Importance, especially with a view
~ nhccLinp, future raids. The COM.