Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1900-04-27
WEPENER RELIEVED.
THE BOERS RETIRE UNDER COVER
OF DARKNESS.
DcWefsdorf Occupied by General
Chermside without 0pposition-
Colonel POle.Carew Reaches RoOde-
knp without CasuaIties-The Beers
Driven Back with a Heavy Loss
Their Dead Left on the Field.

London, April 26-5 a. NIT is now
apparent that the chances of Lord
Roberts catching the retreating Beers
in net are very slender. The Beers
have everywhere retired at the first
pressure Of the British advance, and
hope that General Rumble would be
able to induce them to remain at Dew
etsdOrp until they had been forced to
fight or to surrender has been disap-
pointing.
No attempt was made to pursue the
commanders retiring from Wepener
Everything now depends upon the
progress of General Frenchs cavalry
brigades, but they are entering L very
difficult hilly and practically unknown
country.
The cavalry have already had u long
march over heavy and sandy roads,
and nothing is known regarding the
condition Of the horses. In any case
it is now a race between the Federals
and the forces Of General French and
General Hamilton.
The SlOWneSS of the recent movements
of the British infantry and previous
experience of the ability of the Beers
to move rapidly, with guns and bag
gage, over their own country, lead to a
belief that Lord Roberts enveloping
operations will fail, and will have t.
be repeated further north. At the most
he will perhaps capture some Beer
guns and baggage and hurry the re-
trea ting bUrgheTS.
COnsidera bic results have been at
tanned in the relief of Wepener and in
the clearing of the southeastern corner
of the Free State of the Beers, but
the BOer army, whatever it's strength
has still to be dealt with.
Besides the casualties among the
men, the BOer bombardment of Colonel
Dalgety's position wrought great havoc
among the cattle and horses. The gar
risOn could have held out for another
fortnight, but it is in no condition to
render much assistance in pursuing the
Beers. There is little news from other
quarters. The inhabitants Of Mafeking
are now on a daily ration of two pints
Of soup and two quarters of "Skilly."
London, April 25.-11:05 p. MT is
officially announced that Wepener has
been relieved.
2:55 p. m.-Lord Roberts has tele-
graphed the following message to the
War Office:
Bloemfontein, April 25-Dewetsdorp
was occupied by Chermside without
opposition at $50 o'clock this morn
ing.
4:57 p m-The War Office has re-
ceived the following dispatch from Lord
Roberts:
"BlOemfOntein, April 25.-Pole-
CareW's division reached Roods kop
yesterday evening without casualties.
Its advance was covered by cavalry
and horse artillery, which drove back
the enemy with heavy loss, their dead
being left on the ground. The mounted
troops halted for the night al Groot-
fontein, and at 7:30 this morning were
crossing the MOdder river a t Valsbank,
in accordance with my instructions to
French to endeavor to place himself
astride the enemy's line of retreat.
French's arrival near the MOdder evil
IDENTIFY, however, alarmed the Beers,
for they evacuated their strong posi-
ton near DeWetsdOrp during the night
and it was occupied by Chermside's
division this morning.
THE mounted infantry under Gen
eral Hamilton drove the enemy off the
kopjes in the neighborhood Of the
water-WOrks without casualties on our
side
1.-The Highland Brigade marched
twenty-foUr miles yesterday to support
General Hamilton and halted for the
night at Kip Kraal, four miles short
of Sonnas Point.
miles short of Wepener and the num-
bers of the enemy appears to have
somewhat increased during the last few
days. But it is not likely there will be
much trouble in the neighbOrhood of /
Wepener once DeWetsdorp is occupied
by our troops.
Il inspected the City Imperial Volun-
teer battalion yesterday on their ar
rival at BlOemfontein. They are :. in
form
like.
IT also inspected the first company
of Imperial Yeomanry, which has ar
rived here. The men turn out smart,
and their horses are in admirable con-
dttion.''
Cape Town, April 26.-The relief of
Colonel Dalgety was accomplished by |
General Brabant.
London, April 25-The War Office has |
issued the following from Lord Rob
erts, dated Bloemfontein, April 25th, |
1925 p. m:
The enemy retired from in front of |
Wepener last night, and this morning |
fled northward along the Ladybrand |
road. Their number was between 1000 |
and 5000. |
Aonuon, Epr1l- IA special dis
patch from Pretoria dated Tuesday, |
says that the Beers have reoccupied |
Boshof, the British retiring
The LOurenzo Marques correspondent |
of the Times, telegraphing Tuesday, |
says: 1t is asserted that the Beers are
collecting enormous quantities of pro-
visions at depOts in the Lydenburg
district, with a view to a final stand |
In the mountains. The districts around |
johannesburg and Pretoria are bein.
intrenched. Begsbies' foun- |
dry at Johannesburg is turning out zoo !
shells a day.