The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-21
FIGHT AT KAREE SIDING
This May be an Incident of the Brit
ish Advance.
SCHALKBURGER MADE WCE-pRESIDENT
He Succeeds Joubert in That Office, in the
Transvaal. General Louis Bolha is Gazet-
ted Acting Commandant General
of the Transvaal Forces.
(By the Associated Press.)

London, April 2O.-0:5O p. M.)-The re-
port of the fighting at Karee Siding, six
miles north of Glen, may be the first
news of the progress of the British adj
vance on Pretoria, but even if this We're
only an unimportant skirmsh there are
many other indications that Lord Roberts
is either starting or has already started
fer the Northern goal. A dispatch from
Cape Town, under tOday's date, says the
censorship restrictions have been great
ly increased owing to the movements of
the troops" All the dispatches bear
traces of the strenuous efforts of the cor
respondents to give their papers an ink
ling of what is afoot.
The Beers south of BoemfOntein are
reported to be retreating Large COM
mands were seen April 18th, near Thaba
N'Chu, moving to the North. Their prog
ress was slow, however, owing to the
terrible condition of the country.
By way of Pretoria comes report that
fever is decimating the Mafeking garri-
son and letter from the mayor of Mafe-
king says Lord Roberts asked Colonel
Baden Powell to hold out until May goth.
Cecil Rhodes returns TO Cape Town to-
morrow. The announcement of his depar-
ture was unexpected. Never has man
so prominently connected with the vital
questions of the day paid such a quiet
visit to London. 1t is learned that the
so-called empire maker" came to Eng
land purely on business connected with
the British Chartered South Africa Com
pany and the DeBeers Mine Company.
He has accomplished his objects and
hating inaction and not wishing to meet
people or freely express his views. has
Africa, where he will watch the inter-
ests of these two companies. Mr.. Rhodes
has absolutely refused to be interviewed
though privately he has expressed scath-
ing comments on several of the generals
still holding commands at the front. Lady
Gatacre will be a fellow passenger of Mr.
Rhodes. She is going as far as Madeira
to meet her husband, the British General,
who has been sent back to England
FIGHT AT KAREE SIDING.
London April 20.-G1:15 A. MA spe-
cial dispatch from Bloemfontein, under
yesterdays date says firing is reported to
be in progress south of Karee siding six
miles north of Glen. The strength of the
Beers is not known. The British in
fantry supported by artillery, held a
strong position on a large dam.
SCHALKBURGER ICE-PRESIDENT.
T Pretoria April 20.-Major General
Schalkburger has been gazetted Vice
President lin succession to the late Gen
eral Joubert), and General Louis Botha
has been gaZetted acting COmmandant
General succeeding General Joubert in
command of the transvaal forces).
VICTORIA CROSS FOR BABTIE.
London, April 2O.-The Gazette an
nounces that the Queen has conferred
the Victoria Cross on Major William
Babtie of the army medical corps, for
conspicuous bravery at the battle of
Colenso
Major Babtie went to the assistance OF
wounded gunners in the face of a heavy
rifle fire, during the fighting December
18th, and later in the dav, assisted in
bringing in Lieutenant Roberts, son of
Lord Roberts, who lost his life while at
tempting to rescue the guns, for which,
after his death, he was awarded the
Victoria Cross.
This latter feat of Major Babtie was
also accomplished under severe fusilade
CAPTURE OF CAPTAIN LITTLE.
Aliwal North, April 20-Cartain Little
Of Brabant's horse; Lieutenant IIolbecI
and Mr.. Milne, a Reuter- correspondent
fell into the hands of the enemy while
they were trying to reach Wepener week
ago. Everything was taken from the
prisoners. who were sent to Pretoria.
The Beers made nigh, attack on April
11th, but were discovered While creeping
along a deep ditch, BE- Care mounted
rifles. with Mayms, who fred into them
at distance of 2o) yards, with the le-
suit that the Beers lost five wagon loads
of killed and wounded /.
simultaneous at.srt in other quart
ers was repu'se by the British, who used
their bayonets.
The Beers still rf)uni Wepnncr, but
there has been lltt'a firing lately
Is