The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-08

| Transvaal and has been daily diminishing
with small parties of Beers.
The force consists of mounted infantry.
| Natal scouts and artillery all commanded
! by Major Prendergast. The column first
crossed the border on February 2Sth. It
now occupies an entrenched position Oh
| Catasa Hill, nine miles within the Trans
| vaal
BOER STORY OF RETREAT.
Boer Camp, Biggarsberg Saturday,
March 3.--The Federals have fallen back
on the Biggarsberg chain that crosses
| Natal south of Dundee. The retreat from
Iadysmith was due to the mistake OF
certain commandant in ordering his men
to retire from the key of the position
without any reason for the move.
On the receipt of the bad news from
the Modder River, Wednesday, it was re-
solved to send the wagons back to Big
garsberg, and soon long strings of OK
| wagons lined the roads. Over a thousand
wagons took the westerly route to the
lager southwest of Ladysmith. Another
convoy was sent to the foot of the
| Drakensberg large number of tents
captured from the British at Dundee, and
also the ammunition were abandoned
| The chief difficulty was in dismounting
Long Tom.
The Beers were independent of the
railroad, as is shown by the fact that not
| one of their two thousand wagons went
by rail. All travelled Ivy roa /, togeth' =
| with the field batteries. Only the heavy
guns, the infantry and wounded WEI:
! by rail.
when the last train had let klanGs-
fo
fully blowing up every bridge ana culvert
between Ladysmith and Glencoe and
when this had been done, sattng fire to
the Elandslaagte collieres. Thus the
British with Natal's southernmost collier
| les in their hands are unable to draw
supplies therefrom
'Under cover of the night ard With The
| collieries sending lurid flames to heaven,
| the bullock wagons wound over the hills,
| making roads where none efOra ',XisTed
| and the four months siege o. LadySIn,th
! was raised
1T is impossible as yet 10 give the
burgher casualties owing ID the disorcar-
ization of the ambulance and the CIR
cumstances of the retreat
CAPE DUTCH TO ASK FREEDOM
Cape Town March IA great move
ment is in progress among the Cape
| Dutch to obtain a settlement of the
South African questions consistent with
| the maintenance of the independence of
the republics. 1t is doubtless argued
that the Dutch, having remained loyal,
are entitled to a hearing at the settle
ment. The argument would have more
force if the Dutch had not risen in every
| district where there was a reasonable
| chance of success, and it is certain that
the whole British community and the ac-
lively loyal Dutch are opposed to any
settlement short of annexation
A proposal has been made by a deputa-
| ton of the Dutch party to visit England
shortly in the interest of peace.
The remainder of the Canadian artil-
1ery has gone to the front.
Squadrons and of Kitchener
Horse that were reported missing, have
returned to camp. They were cut off
with squadron e on February 18th, but
they escaped, although they lost their
way afterward on the veldt. Squadron
E are prisoners at Pretoria.
KRUGER INSPIRES THEM
Glencoe, Natal, March 3.-(Saturday. y
President Kruger returned to Pretoria
| yesterday.
| His address to the burghers has filled
them with fresh enthusiasm to continue
the fight for independence and to bring
| the war to a successful issue.
COST OF LADYSMITH'S RELIEF.
London. March Another list of
forces from February 14th to February
9th shows:
Killed 123 wounded 573; missing 81 OF these
| the losses of the Innskillings were as follows:
| Killed "a; wounded 1872; missing 3.
Dublin Fusilliers: Killed ID; wounded 81; mss
| ing Is.
Connaught Rangers Killed 10; wounded l05;
missing 5.
Royal Irish Fusiliers: Killed H. wounded SO;
missing 2
Scotts Fusilers: Killed 10; wounded So;
ing
With the list of casualties issued Mon
| day this makes the total cost to the
rank and file in the final relief of Lady
smith 1859 men.
TO CONTEST GLENCOE PASSES.
London, March Tt is reported that
| General Butler has pushed forward a
force along the Harrismith railroad line
towards Van Reenan's Pass, using the
| railroad freely for communications. 1t
| appears that the Beers intend to take
up a strong position in the Biggarsberg
range and contest the Glencoe passes al
though it hardly seems likely that Gen
| eral Butler will attempt to force these
| for the present. His plans, however, are
kept almost as secret as those of Lord
| Roberts.
BUTLER PRAISES HIS TROOPS.
Durham, March 6.-General Butler, in a
| general order, regarding the relief OF
Ladysmith says.
Two forces during the last few months
have striven with conspicuous gallantry
and splendid determination, to maintain
the honor of the Queen and the country
The Ladysmth garrison for four months
| held that position against every attack
with complete success and endured many
| prvations with admirable fortitude. The
| relieving force had to force it's way
| through an unknown country, across un'
fordable rivers and on almost inaccessi-
bic heights face a fully prepared well
| armed and tenacious enemy. By the eA-
hibition of the truest courage, it accom-
| .f;-bo3 tic object and added a plOrioue