The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-03
CAUSED DIsMAY IN ENGLAND.
Report of Recapture of Gums Gave
Little Cheer

Little Cheer
London, April 2.-Tke rumors of the re-
capture by the British of the seven guns
taken from Col. Broadwo-d's force. basel
on dispatch to the Chronicle from Bloem-
fonten. which. it is said. in all probable
ity is correct, fails to compensate London
for the severe shock experienced from The
humiliating defeat sustained within a few
miles OF the headquarters Ct the Biitisn
army of occupation.
The public is painfully surprised 10 learn.
after all that has come ard gone, that
British officers of high position can still
neglect precautions which the veriest tyto
might be expected 10 observe and bIunder
into traps which the observance Of the ele-
mentary military rules would have reveal
ed.
There is no attempt here TO minimize the
Observation-Disclosures of ,he whole affair so
far as the British are concerned. or detrlct
from the dexterity of the Beers, who were
apparently commanded by Gen. Dewet
The tactics of the burgherS We're evidently
eXcellently conceived and boldly carried
out, and unless the reinforcements sent
by Lord Roberts have turned the tide and
recaptured the prisoners a couple of hun
dred men from Two crack corps Of the
Household Cavalry aud the Tenth Hussars
are now on their way to swell the grow
ing deposit of British prisoners at Preto-
ria.
President kruger's Promise.
President Kruger is said to have prom
ised to reoccupy Bloemfontein this week,
and the stubborn burghers seem to be
closing around the place in such force as
promises to be troublesome, especially
when Il is realized that the activity of
strong force in the vicinity of Paardeberg
has already interrupted direct commune
cation between Lord Roberts and KIM
berley. But for the overwhelming num-
bers at the disposal of Lord Roberts, the
situation would justly cause Great Britain
greater anxiety. AS it is, the nation is
beginning to realize from the nature of
guerilla warfare that it is liable 10 en-
barrass the future movements of British
troops.
special dispatch from Bloemfontein
this morning reports that the water sup
ply of the place has been cut off. This
is the natural sequence of the Boer sue
cess at the water works. But the au-
thorties are hopeful that the strong re-
Inducements sent by the commander-in-
chief will promptly remedy this.
1t is evident from Lord Roberts dis
patch that a big engagement is in pro-
gress. Although it is difficult to estimate
the numbers of British engaged, they
probably exceed even the eight or ten
thousand men which the Beers are esti-
mated to number.
The scene of the British disaster ap-
pears to be Mealie sprult, where the
Bloemfontein road crosses a tributary of
the Mod6er river
Escape of Two Officers.
A dispatch from Lorenzo Marquee, dat
ed to-day, announces the arrival there of
Capt. Haldane of the Gordon Highland
ers, and Lieut.. Lemeseuriere of the Dub
lin Fusiliers. who ESCAPED from Pretoria,
after perilous adventures. 1t appears that
after Winston Churchilrs escape, the SEN
tries were doubled, electric lights We're in
stalled additional barricades were con-
structed and the officers were confined in
the Model School after S:S9 D. m
Capt. Haldaue says that after several
unsuccessful attempts they succeeded in
cutting off the electric lights, but even
then the street lamps precluded an at
tempt to escape, and they decided to hide
in the space beneath the building, to which
a trap door had previously been secre .ly
constructed AS III had been announced
that the officers would be removed else
where in few Days, il was hoped the two
men would be able to escape. But the re-
moval of the prisoners was postponed and
.the two men, in the damp, sub erranean
dwelling began to despair and commenced
digging in different directions in the hope
of finding a. suitable exit. The work was
driver and a skewer with which 30 dig the
ground wnich was as hard as rock.
The imprisoned prisoners March Is
heard somebody above say the officers
would be removed the following day. At
ter passing twenty days underground in
cramped position and subsisdng on a lit
tie food and water supplied by some of
their fellow-prisoners who were in their
con idenee their delight at the good news
was understandable. The following morn
ing they heard the officers above leaving,
and ell day long the room was filled with
curious visitors looking at the clever carl
catures on the walls drawn by the pris-
oners.
When evening came the noise ceased and
Halden and Lemesieure crept to the trap
door They were so weak that they could
hardly walk. but gradually recovering.
they made their way to the courtyard, got
over the ratings and reached the street.
TO MAINTAIN YARN PRICES.