Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-04-12
.RUMOR OF A
BAD REVERSE
Beers Reported to Have Captured
600 British Troops Near
kroonstadt.
FIERCE FIGHTING AT wEPENER
The Engagement Began Monday
and Was Still in Progress
Yesterday.
ON THE OFFENSIVE EVERYWHERE
Beers Seem to BE Taking the AZ.
gressive in all Parts of the Field
of War--Fight Seems to BE
On at EIan.lslaagtc.

publishes the following, dated April
10, from Lorenzo Marquee:
The Netherlands Railroad company
processes to have received Il telegram
reporting II Boer victory near kroon
stadt, the Beers capturing 900 Brit
ish.'
Commenting upon this. the Daily
Mail remarks:
There is a Meerkafontein about
five and half miles southeast OF
kroonstadt, but if the report be true
this can hardly be the place.
But that thew office has issued no
news from Lord Roberts during the
last three days, there would be little
disposition to place amy credence in
the Boer reports of another British
disaster. The unexpected rallying of
the Free State commands leaves the
public i'm nervous condition, fearing
everything.
Dispatches from Pretoria, as late as
Monday did not mention amy further
Boer victory. On the contrary they
said all the commands were quiet
and, as Roberts had hitherto never
failed promptly to report mischances
as we'll as successes. or to allow the
newspaper correspondents to report
them. until some confirmation is re-
ccived there is justification for re-
g., ding the Meerketsfontein rumor
as only an exaggerated account OF
the Reddersburg affair. At the same
time Boer reports have so often
proved correct that the greatest anN-
iety will be felt. No further news
has been received of fighting, either
at Wepener or i'm Natal. liocr reports
seem to indicate that Lord Methuen
is advancing from I,oshof toward
Kroonstadt.
1t is a boldand apparently danger
Gus move. since although il turns the
right flank of the Boer position at
Brandfort, it puts Lord Mcthuen's
force between whatever garrison
there may be at Blocmhof i'm the
Transvaal and the l;ranofort force.
The l'oer peace commi oners at
Naples do not conceal he fact that
they have no hope of obtaining peace
with independence for the republics,
but they will endeavor to save their
amour propre, or to secure Il truce for
further negotiations. Mr.. Fischer says
the present Boer strength at the front
is $4,000.
Aliwal North. April o-An engage
ment took place today at Wepencr.
The Beers vicliers-maxim did consid-
cradle execution at first. but the Brit
ish guns soon got the range and did
great havoc. The fighting was severe
and lasted all day long. The Beers re-
ceived !, check. The casualties We're
heavy on both sides. Another COM
mando is advancing toward Wepener
from Dewets,lorp. The Rockville
commando has gone to Wepencr
Aliwal North, April TO- Heavy
fighting continues at Wepener this
morning. The result is unknown
Three Boer commanders are attacking
the town.
Pietermaritzburg. April TO-. Heavy
cannonading commenced this morning
in the vicinity of Elandsaagte.
I4adysmth. April 10. Heavy firing
was heard carly this morning i'm the
direction OF Sundays river and com,n-
ued for few hours. No details.
Bethulie. Orange Free State, Mon
day, April 9.It is expected the Beers
will endeavor to retake and destroy
the bridge over the Orange river. Con-
seqnently extraordinary precauti ions
are taken. \ force of Beers is located
twelve miles east. AS IA matter of fact
the Beers are practically again i'm con-
troll of the Free State eastward of the
railroad and are greatly encouraged
by the successes AT Reddersburg and
Kornspruit.
Butler May Surprise Them.
London, April 10. In connection
with the resumption of hostilitcs in
Natal interesting rulnors are current
that Butler has obtained command of
one OF the Drakensberg passes,
whereby he hopes to take the Beers in
the rear. If successful Butler has
enough troops to leave 10000 to hold
Natal, while he advances by way of
Harrismith, whence he will be able to
threaten the Bocr positions at Bethle-
hem and Kroonstadt.