Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-04

LONDON, April 3.-Fuller news of
the disaster to the British army in the
neighborhood of Sannas Post does not
tend to improve matters from British
point of view, but with the dispatches
so mystifying it is impossible to ac
curately portray. the present situation
or to foretell the ultimate issue of
Lord Roberts's attempt to retrieve the
defeat.
The war Office has posted a dis
patch from Lord Roberts, dated Bloem-
fontein, April 2, 1880 a. M, reading as
follows:
In continuation of my telegram of
March 81: There has been consider
able delay in getting accurate returns
of the casualties, as the action took
place % miles hence; the telegraph
cable has been interrupted several
times, cloudy weather has interfered
with signaling, and, although there has
been no engagement since, the force is
CONTINUALLY Ill IOuCl Will Tie SuSIlly
There were many acts of conspicu-
GUS gallanu1y displayed during the
day. Q Battery remained in action I'M
der a cross-fire at 1000 yards for some
hours, the officers serving the guns as
the casualties reduced the detach-
ments. Several gallant attempts were
made to bring in two guns, the teams
of which mad been killed, but at each
attempt the horses were shot
THE Essex, Munster, Shrovshire
and Northumberland mounted infan-
try and Roberts horse covered the re-
tirement of the guns from that posi-
ton to the crossing of the drift found
by the cavalry two miles further south
and withstood the determined attacks
of the enemy, who, in some cases, ad-
vanced within a hundred yards. "
Battery of the Royal Horse artillery,
was suddenly surrounded in the drift
and the officers. and men were all made
prisoners without a shot being fired.
But Maj. Taylor and Sergeant Major
succeeded in escaping in the confus-
ion. Five guns were captured at the
same time. Further details to-mor-
row."
Lord Reber.s' dispatch seems to f1nai-
ly dispose of the earlier report of the
recovery of the guns and the fact that
the Beers remain in occupation of the
water works is taken as an indication
that they intend to make a stand suf-
fciently long to cover the withdrawal
of the guns and wagons to place of
safety, although the absence Of definite
information regarding the movements
of Gen. French's cavalry makes it diff
fcult to estimate their chances of add
ing this browning success to the blow
already inflicted.
A dispatch from Maseru, Basuteland,
dated Monday, April 2, says the Earl
Of Rosslyn, who is acting as war cor
respondent for the Daily Mail in South
Africa and who left there April 1 on
his way to Thaba NChu, has probably
fallen into the hands of the Beers.
Messages from Springfontein suggest
that the fact that press messages are
keenly censored indicate an early adj
vance northward, although there is a
question whether the loss of guns and
convoy will not delay the commander
in-chief's movements.
The alarming increase in the NOR
tally among the Boer prisoners at
Simons Town has induced the author
tiles to promise to remove 20 the main
land the prisoners who are not going
to St. Helena.
A dispatch from Van Wyksvlei,
dated Monday, April 2, indicates the
pacification of the northwest part of
Cape Colony. The refugees are return
ing to their homes.
Driver Bradley, of the Canadian ar
tillery, died April at Van Wyksvlei
as the result of an accident.
A dispatch from Pretoria announces
the arrival there of % prisoners, most
ly residents of Ladybrand, who were
seized when the Beers forced the
British to evacuate that place.
The German liner Koenig has again
reached Lourenzo Marques, this time
having on board PSI passengers bound
for the Transvaal.
AN interesting item appears in
periodical called The Gem, giving the
opinion of the royal family on Presi-
dent Kruger, culled from an album be-
lOHSIHS W INC ICuNlcSo vi Il ilC. L AC
Prince of Wales wrote:
Mr.. Kruger is a good judge of to-
bacco and bad judge of the English
people"
The Duke of Cambridge, former
commander in chief of the forces,
wrote:
Il am an old man, and so is Kruger
AS he is. so am Ian old soldier. l
have so many faults myself, how can
l Judge another
The queen wrote:
May God guide him and all of US
out of our troubles and difficulties.
PRETORIA, March 31.-There has
been heavy fighting between Brandfort
and Bloemfontein. The Wakkerstroom
and Ermelo commanders attacked 1000
British and drove them back with
heavy loss.
According to the reports of the
wouned who have arrived here, fight
ing occurred all along the line. The
Federal troops held positions on the
side and top of the mountain, while
the British positions were on the oppo-
site side of the hill. The British
charged repeatedly, but were repulsed.
The Federal loss was nine killed and
wounded
Reports from Brandfort received
later state that 1000 Federals attacked
1900 British successfully, but that 49,
600 British reinforcements arrived and