The Afro-American advance., 1900-03-24
DEFEAI.OF GEN. .GATACRE.
Report from Kroonstadt Says That
British Have Been Repulsed
with Heavy Loss.
THE NEWS NOT CREDITED IN LONDON.
Lat News Received from Gntacrr
Was ON Tuesday When He Report
ed "Au Well"-coI. rlnmer Hnr-
asncd by Beers May Not He Able
TO Reach MRfekInE.


ed "AI WeIl"-coI. rIumer Hnr-
as.cd by Boers May Not He Able
to Reach MafekInE.
Kroonstadt. Orange Free State,
March 20 tvia Pretoria March 23).-The
Beers, commanded by Gen. Olivier,
have engaged the British troops under
Gen. Gataere in the vicinity of Bethu
lie, repulsing the British with heavy
loss and capturing many of them.
Burghers are arriving in great NUM-
bers. Gen. DE Wet arrived to-day.
Desultory lighting with Col. Plum
er's column occurred near Gaberones.
Report Not believed.
London, March 23.-The report from
Kroonstadt, Orange Free State, via
Pretoria, that the Beers, under the
command of Gen. Olivier, had defeated
the British troops under Gen. Gatacre
in the vicinity of Bethulie, is not be-
lieved here. A dispatch to the Daily
News, from Springfontein, dated Tues
day. March %, says Gen. Gatacre was
'all we'll" and adds that he and Gen.
Brahant had not lost dozen men in
the fortnight. The last advices also
placed Gen, Gatacre about 80 miles
north of Bethulie. where the Boer re-
port saws the defeat was inflicted.
This. combined with the fact that no
mention of the affair was made by
Lord Roberts, in his dispatch of March
81, confirms the belief that the kroon-
stadt adyices are erroneous.
Cause of Grave Anxiety.
The reports of skirmishing near Lo-
batsi, while apparently not intiictinR
any serious loss on Col. plumer's col
umns, cause grave anxiety in regard to
his ability to reach Mafeking. Further
news from that quarter is anNiously
awaited, for in the six days that have
elapsed since the last messages were
sent of serious engagement may
have occurred, though not of Col Plum
er's seeking. The Beers seem deter
mined not TO give up their prey at Ma
feking without fierce struggle.
In reply TO the mayor of Cape Towns
request to make "Mafeking relief day"
a public holiday, Premier Sehreiner
wrote:
May the holiday come soon. and NAV a
spirit of general good viii and kindly con-
sderation prevail later"
Can Continue the struggle.
The Times. in its second edition.
publishes n dispatch from Lorenzo
Marques which quotes President
Steyn as saying, at Kroonstadt. that
the Beers could continue the struggle
for six months longer.
While the Beers and British in the
Orange Free State are taking adyan-
tage of the period of inactivity 10 en-
joy n rest, those on the borders Of Nat
al are beginning 10 show activity. A
special dispatch from Durham SAYS the
town of Pomeroy. 80 miles east Of
Ladysmith, has been burned by the
Beers. A British detachment, arriy-
ing at Pomeroy as the Beers evacuated
the place, shelled the burghers. but
they succeeded in taking up a strong
position in the hills with force esti-
mated TO number 5000 men.
Excitement In Commons.
There was considerable excitement
in the house of commons Thursday
the part of the Irish members TO Sc.
cure more OF the hou9e's time, In
which they spcceeded. after noisy dis
plays Of passion on the part of both
the Irish and their opponents. Only
the tact of Mr.. Balfour, the govern
ment leader, saved the uproar from
developing into scene of violent dis
order.
Queen Visits Hospital.
The queen. accompanied by Princess
Christian and attended by large suite.
visited Herbert hospital at Wooiwich.
Thursday afternoon. to see the sick
and wounded soldiers who are being
cared for there. Immense crowds
awaited the arrival Of her majesty al
the station in WooIwirh and lined the
route 10 the hospital There were
lavish decorations and unbounded cn-
tbusiasm was displayed. The queen
appeared 10 be In excellent health She
drove in an open landau through the
arsenal grounds. where 20 900 employees
were drawn up in line and gave her
ma iesty magnificent reception. The
queen distributed quantities of Wind
sor flowers in The wards Of the hospital
FIoekinE 10 Roberts standard.
LONDON March 23-Iord Roberts
telegraBbs from BIoemf3nteln, under
date Of March q. a follows.
80 many burEhers have expressed q de-.
sire To surrender under hs terms 81 the
Inst proclamation that / haya seut small
columns IN various directions 10 register
their names and take over their arms
a cavalry brigade ha9 gone 10 the east
ward TO Thahanehu. ard 4 detHehTnsr.t
from .spFiugf0HteIn has occupied Smith
field. where some TFansyanlers and
wa goH with Rruns ard ammunition we're
captured Tbs Scots guards are 80 Eden
burg nd EedaeFabsFx Cen Clement hsFf-
Rads Is marching hfther b. way of Ehllip-
p8p8ils and FaareAmtfha
HstaFa tn Their FnFHs.
Aliwai North. Cape Colony. March
29--romnandant Olivier Jeff, smith
field two hoBrs before the British
scouts arrived. tie only sBeeeeded in
inducing about 80 men To aenonFa n
him. mostly inSBfaent eo}oniaf2 The
Free sfatsra refused 10 70 With him
and are returning 20 iheir farms
Nethsrisna. Replies to hrsKer.