The sun., 1900-04-03

wnen II is reaI1zed rnat the activity or O
strong Boer force in the vicinity of Paar-
deberg has already intercepted direct
communication between Lord Roberts
and Kimberley. But for the overwhelm-
ing numbers at the disposal of Lord Rob
erts the situation would justly cause
Great Britain greater anxiety. AS it is
the nation is beginning to realize that the
guerrilla warfare is likely to embarrass
the future movements Of the British
troops.
Water supply Cut on.
A dispatch from Bloemfontein reports
that the water supply of the place has
been cut off. This is a natural sequence
of the Boer success at the waterworks.
But the authorities are hopeful that the
strong re-enforcements sent by the COM
mander in chief will promptly remedy
this.
1t is believed from Lord Roberts dis
patch that big engagement is in prog
ress. Although it is difficult to estimate
the number of British engaged, they
probably exceed even the 5000 or 10000
men which the Beers are estimated to
number.
The scene of the British disaster APP
pears to be Mealie spruit, where the
Bloemfontein road crosses a tributary of
the Modder river.
A dispatch from Lourenco Marques
announces the arrival there of Captain
Haldane of the Gordon highlanders and
Lieutenant lie Mesurier of the Dublin
fusileers, who escaped from Pretoria aft
er perilous adventures. 1t appears that
after Winston Churchil's escape the SEN
4
stalled, additional barricades We're CON
structed and the officers were confined in
the model school after $50 p. m.
Captain Ilaldane says that after sew
eral unsuccessful attempts they succeed
ed, in cutting off the electric, light, but
eten then tic street lamps preelHlcd an
attempt to escape, and they decided to
hide in the space beneath the building
to which trapdoor had previously been
secretly constructed, as ii had been an
nounced that the officers would be remov-
ed elsewhere in Il few days, when it was
hoped the two men would he able to rs-
cape. But the removal of the prisoners
was postponed, and the two men, in the
damp, subterranean dwelling, began to
despair and commenced digging in differ
ent directions in the hope of finding a
SuildDle tAlL.
The work was most arduous. as they
had only a screwdriver and skewer
with which to dig the ground, which was
as hard MS rock. The imprisoned officers,
March 10, heard somebody above say the
officers would be removed the following
day. After passing 20 days underground,
i'll cramped position and subsisting on
a little food and water supplied by some
of their fellow prisoners who were in
their confidence, their delight at the good
news was indcscribabfe.
The following morning they heard the
officers above leaving, and all day long
the room was filled with curious visitors.
looking at the clever caricatures on the
walls drawn by the prisoners. When
evening came, the noise ceased, and Hal
dane and Ic Mesurier crcpt to the trap
door. They were so weak that they
could hardly walk, but gradually recov-
ering, they made their way to the court
yard. got over the ratings and reached
the street.
In the house of commons, answering a
question on the subject. the government
leader, Mr. 4. j. Balfour, confirmed the
statement that Premier Schreiner had
\ expressed al objection to the removal Of
the Boer prisoners to the island of ST
| Hclcna. The government, he added, had
| fully considered the objection, but was
unable TO alter its policy of sending 4
certain number of The prisoners to st
| Helena. lie explained that this policy
was partially dictated by military con
| piJ