The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-25
Has Three Long Trains of Supplies
for Colonel Baden-PoweIl, Which
the Beers Are Anxious to Take.
GENERAL FRENCH RESTING
HIS SOLDIERS DISTRIBUTING LORD
ROBERTs's PROCLAMATION.
Beers Said to BE RnIlying at Three
POints-Skirmishes in NataI-Re-
view OF the Situation.

LONDON, March Z5.-At q late hour last
night the War Office posted the following
dispatch from General Roberts:
"Bloemfontein. March A-Yesterday.
Lieutenant Colonel Crabbe. Captain Trot-
ter and Lieutenant the Hon. E. Lyon. of
the Grenadier Guards. and Lieutenant Col.
Codrington. Of the Coldstream Guards,
rode eight or nine miles beyond their camp
on the Modder river, without escort, ex-
cept one trooper. They were fired on by a
killed and Lieutenant Colonel Crabbe,
Lieutenant Colonel Codrington and Captain
Trotter were seriously wounded. The troop
er, also, was wounded One of the wounded
officers held up white handkerchief and
the Beers came to their assistance. and did
all they possibly could. attending to their
wounds. The Beers then conveyed the
wounded to the nearest farmhouse. where
they were taken care Of"
Lord Roberts. in an earlier dispatch. dat
ed March q, evening, said: There Is
no special news to report. The country
south of here is generally settling down.
Numbers of arms have been delivered up
and the people are beginning to recognize
the advantage OF bringing in supplies for
sale The movement of troops in the west
ern district is being attended with good re-
suits
Lord Roberts's dispatch is generally in
terpreted to mean that he hopes speedily
TO announce some intelligence gratifying
to the British The optimists even deduce
from the number Of minor items of news
received that Lord Roberts has satisfac-
tory news OF the advance Of the flying col
umn from the southwards by a detour
towards Mafeking. In the meanwhile Col.
Plumer's position is arousing anxiety. He
has with him three long trains of supplies
for Mafelxing. the loss of which would be
serious, and further information about
Commandant Eloff's movements is awaited
with some trepidation. in view of the re-
port from Pretoria that he was isolating
Colonel Plumer's force near Gaberones.
Wen-informed people in South Africa. are.
however, more hopeful than the inhabi-
tants of this city. The former are prepar-
ing all kinds of celebrations to take place
on the announcement Of the raising Of
readiness for presentation to Colonel
Baden-Powell-
dispatch from Maseru, Basutoland. un-
der Friday date, seems to dispose OF the
story that General French was lighting
yesterday, but it indicates that q battle Is
imminent
A dispatch from Bloemfontein says: "Ad-
vices from Thabanchu. between Bloemfon-
tein and Ladybrand, on the Orange Free
State border, dated March q. say General
Frenchs force is resting there, and dis
tributing Lord Roberts's proclamation.
Brand, a son Of the former President Of
the Orange Free State. Sir John Henry
Brand. continues his duties as landrost
He appears quite willing to cooperate
with the new regime. The people generally
outwardly express satisfaction with the
advent of the British. The insurgents in
the northern part OF Cape Colony have
been detected in ingenious swindle. 1t
appears that before the departure of the
Beers they purchased quantities of the
notes Of the Boer force, which they are
now presenting TO the British authorities.
demanding compensation for property al
legged to have been requisitioned or dam
aged. The loyalists. who are the actual
losers of the goods, are infuriated."
From elsewhere come stories of the
Beers rallying at various points Kroon-
stad is well intrenched and General Jou-
bert is preparing 10 make a determined
stand, while the Beers in the eastern dis
tricts have been ordered 10 rally at Ficks-
burg, northward of Ladybrand, in the Or
ange Free State, doubtless with the view
OF attempting to intercept the junction of
the forces commanded by Lord Roberts
and General Butler. Another Boer force at
Fauresmith, southwest of Bloemfontein, is
In defiant mood. so the southern part of
the Orange Free State is not yet subdued.
Sir Charles Parsons, commanding coll
nmn in the western district, composed of
Canadians and others, has arrived at Van
Wykslei, between which and Kenhardt
force of insurgents is reported TO be in
trenched.
Colonel Herchmer. commanding the Ca
madam Mounted Rifles, is convalescent at
Carnarvon and will rejoin Parsons Sun
day.