Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-05-03
HEAVY FIGHTING
is LOOKED FOR
Believed That an important Engage
ment Is Imminent Near
Thaba N'Chu.
8oERs ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE
strong Force Under General Botha
Attacks the Observation-Disclosures
Hurries Rcinforcemcnts
Forward.

London May 3.-Fighting, ht. Ter
than any since Ladysmlth, seems to
ne imminent near Thaba N'Chu. The
dispatches of Lord Roberts, dated
Monday and Tuesday, show that the
i'oer rear guard, stubbornly resisting
Saturday and Sunday to act chiefly ON
the defensive.
General French, who is directing
the operations, has at least $4,000
men. Some estimates give him 10000.
The Beers are estimated to BE at least
5000 strong, and possibly 10000. Ne
cording to dispatch from Pretoria,
dated April as, they We're expecting to
give battle and have numerous artil-
lery. So long as the Beers engage
he attention of half of Lord Roberts
forces at Thaba N'Chu, his advance
toward Pretoria will be delayed. No
one here, however, considers that Gem
eral Botha will be able to stand longer
han Il few days The feeling is that
he must be beaten off by the masses
of Lord Roberts.
The Beers attacked the British out
posts at Boshof, the headquarters of
Lord Methuen, on April is, but with
out result.
The British gums at warrenton
shellcd the Beers out of their half
constructed trenches Sunday.
native runner got through from
MafelSing to Cotsi, sixty-one miles
north, on April %, with dispatches for
nearly all the London dailics. That to
the Morning Post says:
I'VE can stick it out for two months
or more. Nobody minds
Colonel Plumer, who appears to
have been reinforced lately by more
lihodesians, seems to be advancing
again.
A British accommodating party fell
into the hands of the Beers near
Windsorton.
The German steamer Koenig, on
April 22, landed a quantity of war ma
terials for the Beers at Beira and en-
barlSed a quantity OF Transvaal wool.
Lord Lansdowne, replying in the
house of lords yesterday to a question
regarding warm clothing for the
troops, read this dispatch from Lord
Roberts:
There is no necessity to appeal for
warm clothing. Some corps have re-
reived more than they require, and all
will be amply provided for as soon as
the numerous cases of clothing and
comforts of various descriptions can
be bougrht here from the base"
according to a dispatch from Lou
rcnzo Marquee there are 1000 British
residents yet remaining in the Trans
vaal, but they are to be expelled immc-
liately.
London, May Pin the house of
commons yesterday The parliamentary
secretary of the war office, Mr.. Wynd-
ham. announced that under the cN-
reptional circumstances of the case,
he proposed to lay on the table of the
house the telegraphic correspondence
between the secretary of state for
war, the Marquis of Lansolownc, and
the commander Of the British troops
in South Africa, Lord Roberts. with
reference to the publication of the
Spion kop dispatches.
secretary to the treasury. Mr.. Ham
March 81, was .ea3,250,0OO.
London. May 3. The war office has
received the following from General
Roberts:
"Ilocmfontein, May Hamilton
has marched in northern direction
from 1haba N'Chu with mounted in
fantry and Smith Dorrien's brigade OF
Clements division At Hautney he
found himself opposed by a strong
force in command of Botha. Rein
forcements reached his force during
the day. directed French to
strengthen him during the day. This
he was able to do. In addition IIami-
ton should be reinforced during the
|lay by Broadwood's cavalry and
Bruce Iamilton's infantry brigade.
lamilton's casualties yesterday were
about thirty. Maxwell's brigade yes
terday occupied Blallsonters and
schauslSraal, Il row of kopies without
meeting any opposition. The mount
ed infantry was engaged for some
Lours.'
An earlier dispatch from Roberts
said:
"Bloemfontein, April 30.-The Beers
made very persistent attacks around
lhaba N'Chu Saturday and Sunday,
but the position which Rundle's di-
vision holds are very strong and he
had the assistance OF Gordon's and
Dickson's brigades. cavalry under
French and th-Dorrien's infantry
brigade and a body of mounted in
fantry under Hamilton. Pole-Carew's
division returned from Dewetsdorp
yesterday.
Roberts also reported additional
casualties sustained during tllc fight
ing of April ~ around Thaba N'Chu,
consisting of Lieutenant Geary and
men wounded.
The Times correspondent describes
the position of the forces at Thaba
N'Chu as follows:
General Rumble is covering the adj
sanced camp, facing the Beers posi-
tio,f east, where they are strongly en-
trcnched. Generals Hamilton and
Smith-Dorrien occupy strong posi-
tions on the road to the north"
\ dispatch from Matching dated
April 90 says: "'rhc Beers have been
busy for several days blowing up
railways southwards. There has beer
little firing during the past wee
The town will respond cheerfully
Roberts request to hold out for an
other month Fever is rife, but other
wise the health of the garrison is
good All we'll"
Mint Record Broken.
Philadelphia, Pa. May 2.-The
month of April was a record breaker