The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-24

AliWal North, April 20.-Captain Lit
tie, of Brabant's Horse; Lieutenant
Holbeck and Mr.. Milne, a Reuter- corr
respondent, fell into the hands of theI
enemy while they were trying to reach
Wepener a week ago. Everything was
taken from the prisoners, who were
sent to Pretoria. Their native servants,
who escaped from the Doe lager near
Wepener, say that there were four
guns disabled and that the Beers had
lost 100 in killed alone.
FIGHTING AT WEPENER.
1t is also ascertained that the Beers
mad a night attack on April 18th, but
We're discovered, while creeping along
a deep ditch, by Cape mounted rifles,
with MaXims, who fired into them at a
distance of 200 yards, with the re-
suit tina the Beers lost five wagon
loads of killed and wounded. a stimuli
taenOus attack in other quarters was
repulsed by the British, who used their
bayOnets.
The Beers still surround Wepener,
but there has been little firing lately.
BOER FORTIFICATIONS ON BIG
GERSBERG.
Elandslaagte, Thursday, April 10
The British patrols yesterday discov>
cred another party of Beers on the
British left, in the same position from
which the enemy recently fired on the
South African horse. In this instance,
however, there was no firing.
Native deserters confirm previous
statements with respect to the FORTH
cations and strength Of the Beers along
the BiggarSberg range. The enemy
have recently established a large hos
pital which is already filled, and sim
liar hospitals are being established by
them at various railway towns. The
Beers are losing many horses. The
rank and file are not allowed to forage
for supplies. Their sugar is exhausted
and only bush tea is available.
The Beers are reported to wish to
leave the Riggarsberg and to take up
a position at Majuba, but the COM
mandantS refuse.
GUERRILLA WARFARE.
London. April 2O.-The Ladysmith
correspondent of The Daily News says:
THE Beers in Natal are already com
mencinS i guerrilla warfare. Both the
TTansvaalers and the Free Skaters are
compelling the natives to bear arms.
General Butler has ordered all the
farmers between Ladysmith and tho
DrakenSbeTg range to retire to Est
court
General Chermside and General Run
die are moving over the sOdden roads.
Rain was still falling when they went
into camp Thursday afternoon eighteen
miles west of De Wets d0rp. They hold
the railway and the southern frontier
of the Ere : at with 20. 900 men. How
many are q ilc with the generals who
viii engage the Beers at Wepener Is
not mentioned in the latest dispatches
from ~Co-ioas.o"t. where the British
bivOuat.et Wednesday night. The field
Telegraph dis there. On Thursday the
BC-rs ~,i-i had Colonel Dalgetty closely
peuu-d.
WHY ROBERTS REPORT WAS
PUBLISHED.
The governments reason for pub
fishing Lord Roberts SpiOn kOp dis
patches was explained last evening at
Hull by Mr.. Walter Hume Long. pres
ident of the board of agriculture, who
said that the country was entitled &c
receive all the information the gov
eTnmen could give.
The government is told" continued
Mr.. Long. that, having published the
dispatches, it is bound to deal imme'
diately with the generals affected. cut
in following such a course the gov
eminent might have to dismiss every
general the moment he made a mis-.
take. Had such a policy been pursued
in the past many most glorious deed:
would rot have been performed.
The government used its discretion
in publishing the dispatches. From tt.
beginning Of the campaign her males
tvs ministers have not swerved from
the rule IT leaving the conduct IF tn,
operations to the discretion and juds
ment of the cOmmander-in-chief.'
General White. if not required il
South Africa, will go as governor o
Gibraltar Oward the end of May.
THE SIEGE OF WEPENER.
NIaseru. MastOland. April 18th,
Beers continue to move freely arOun'
WepvEer. going in all directions froii
which relief is expected Desultory can
non fire and sniping have been goin;
or all day. with scarcely any repi
from Colonel Dagety's force.
The Caledun river rose considerable
during the night. This made tn
Beers uneasy, as they feared separa
tiCC- Some reinfOrcements have al
rived for them. coming apparent,
from Thaban 'Chue or that direction
Our casualties up TO date are believ
ed to have been % killed and IL
wounded.
The Beers who lately s~urrendere,
in the Wepener district have been fore
ed again with violence to fight. TIE
of their leaders nave been arrested.
President Steyn has issued orders t
the Boer force to hold tight to tn
grain districts of Wepener, Ladybran
and Ficksburg, from which they draN
their food supplies, and also to pre-
vent the British forces from gettin
Che flcn upplleS HoW III thOSc
THE HEAVY FLOODS.
London, April 21.-The Bloemfontei
correspondent of The Morning Pos
r~elegraphing Thursday, the 10th. says
There is ALREADY a thirty foot foo
of the Caledon river, which is reporte
to be still rising. All the drifts on IN
Modder river are impossible. ra1lc
temporarily interrupted IN
water having washed the ballast lrri
~ H-4 Af tho roi1rnnd ThQ cOU1llE
about Bloemfontein is so deep In mu
that the farmers carts are unable !
reach the town. We a a heavy raj
last night. Today the weather is IN
proving, but progress will be imposs
ditiOn.
strenuous efforts are being made I
rearrange the transport to meet tn
requirements of the enlarged army.
"In view of the impending advanC