The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-21
Losses Of the CoIoniaIs at wepener
Reported To he Twenty-Five
killed and 100 Wounded.
DEADLY WORK OF MAXIMs
FIVE wAGONLOADs OF BOERs LAID
OUT At SHORT RANGE.
Two British Officers and COrre-
spondent Captured-Enort to OUT
flank Gen. Buffers Force.

Chermside and General Run6le are moving
over the sodden roads. Rain was still
falling when they went into camp on
Thursday afternoon eighteen miles west of
Dewetsdorp. They hold the railway and
the southern frontier of the Free State
with 5000 men. How many going
with the generals who will engage the
Beers at wepener is not mentioned in the
latest dispatch from Oorlogspoort, where
the British bivouacked Wednesday night.
The field telegraph ends there. On Thurs
day the Beers still had Colonel Dalgety
closely penned-
The Bloemfontein correspondent of the
morning Post, telegraphing Thursday.
April 10, says: There Is already thirty
foot flood OF the Caledon river, which is
reported to be still rising. All the drifts
on the Modder river are impossible. Traf-
fic is temporarily interrupted southwark.
the water having washed the ballast from
the line of the railway. The country about
Bloemfontein is so deep In mud that the
farmers carts are unable to reach the
town. We had a heavy rain last night.
To-day the weather is improving. but prog
ress will be impossible until the roads are
In better condition. Strenuous efforts are
being made to rearrange the transport to
meet the requirements of the enlarged
army. In view Of the impending advance
anxiety increases among the troops con-
cerning the future of the garrison at
Bloemfontein. every one hating the thought
OF being left there. There has been no in
crease of sickness"
A special dispatch from Bloemfontein,
We afa ri fS
ported to be in progress south of Karee
Siding. six miles north OF Glen. The
strength of the Beers is not known. The
British infantry. supported by artillery,
hold strong position on a large dam.
General Delary has returned to Brand
fort from a reconnaissance in force east Of
the railroad to the Modder river. He re-
ports that he met only few scouts, but
that he saw British Notifications all along
the hills.
The Bloemfontein correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph. telegraphing Friday,
says: '"The weather is now fine. The enemy
still holds the water works and our scouts
report that the Beers have a line of out
posts and small commanders fifteen miles
east OF Bloemfontein, from the Modder
river to the Kaffir river"
The Bloemfontein correspondent Of the
Times. teIegraphing Friday. says: "Major
General Prettyman has been appointed mil
ftary governor of the whole territory, which
hitherto belonged to the Free State. This
extension of our authority has become
necessary to preserve law and order. The
arrests of suspected Free Staters contin-
ce."
U-fx
patch from Jammersburg. dated Thursday
April 10: 'The investment o. the British
, position on the east and south has been re-
laxed. a majority OF the enemy are sup
posed to have left for the purpose of inter
ceptIng the relief column, leaving one gun
and about one thousand men on the west
to prevent our cooperation. Our casualties
are about $50. No sound of the relief col.
umn has yet been heard"
The Ladysmith correspondent of the
Standard says: There is good reason tc
believe that the Boer raids are intended tc
cover the enemy's withdrawal from Nata
in order to help the Beers In opposing the
advance of Lord Roberts,
The governments reason for publishing
Lord Robertss Spion kop dispatches was
explained last evening at Hull by Mr.. Wal
ter Hume Long. president Of the Board OF
Agriculture, who said that the country
was entitled to receive all the information
that the government could give. 1.-The
government Is told" continued Mr.. Long
that. having published the dispatches. 4,
is bound to deal Immediately with the
generals affected. but. in following such
course. the government might have 10
dismiss every general the moment he made
mistake. Had such a policy been pur-
sued in the past many most glorious deeds
would not have been performed The gov
ernment used its discretion I'm publishing
the dispatches From the beginning OF
the campaign her MaJesty's ministers have
not swerved from the rule Of leaving the
conduct OF the operations 10 the discretion
and Judgment OF the commander-in chief
General White. IL not required i'm South
Africa. will go as governor OF Gibraltar
toward the end OF May.
BY way OF Pretoria comes a report that
fever is decimating the Mafeking garrison
and letter from the mayor OF Mafekinr
ssys Lord Roberts asked Colonel Baden
Powell TO hold out until May 20.
SLAUGHTER AT WEPENER