The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-04-18
BOER VICTORIES
Reported, But the War Office ls-
sues No News.
soER DISPATCHES CLAIM
That Gen. Dswet Has lnflictad a
Third Defeat on The Brit.
ish, Whe Loss Fifteen
hundred Men.
Hundred Men.

a London dispatch says aass the war
Office has issued no ROWS from Roberts
during the last three days, there would
be little disposition to place oredence
in the Boer reports Of another British
disaster. The unexpected rallying Of
the Free State commanders, however,
leaves the public in nervous eoadi-
sioa, fearing everything.
Dispatches frem Pretoria, as late as
Monday, did not mention any further
Boer victory. On the contrary, they
said all the commanders were quiet,
and as Lord Roberts has hitherto never
failed promptly to report nisehances,
IS we'll as suceesses, or to allow the
newspaper correspondents to report
them, until some confirmation is receiV-
ed there is justification for regarding
the Markalsfonsein rumor SO only an
exaggerated account Of the RedderS-
burg affair. At the same time Beer
reports have SO often proved correct
that the greatest anxiety will be felt.
No further news has been received Of
fighting either at Wepener orin Natal.
Boer reports seem to indicate that Lord
Methuen is advancing from Boshof to-
wards Hoopstad. Il is bold and sp-
parently dangerous move, since al
though it turns the right asak Of the
Boer position at Brandfort it puts Lord
Methuen's force between whatever gar
rison there may be at Bloemhof In the
Transyaal, and the Brandfort force.
NEWS OF RoER VICTORY.
A dispatch to the London Daily Nail
frou Brandfo1t, dated Sunday says:
yesterday General Dewet inflicted
the third defeat Of the British within
q week at Merkalsfontein, killing and
wounded ixhundred. He captured 600
with IL wagons, losing Eve Beers killed
and nine wounded. The Daily Mail
publishes the following, dated April 10,
from Lorenzo Marques: The Neither
lands Railway company processes to
havs received a telegram reporting a
Boer victory near Kroonstadt, the Bo-
ers capturing 900 British" Comment
Jug upon this the Daily Mail remarks:
"There is a Nlerkatfontein about 8
and half miles southeast Of Kroon-
stadt, but, if the report be true this can
hardly be the place.
THE BRITISH RETREAT.
Sunday Colonel Plumer, with 270
mounted men and few infantry and
one Maxim gun, arrived at Rsnsthla-
bama, where he left the dismounted
men and proceeding along the railroad
to within sight of Mafeking. The ed.
vance guard, under Colonel White, en-
countered large body Of Beers and al
most simultaneously she left aRd right
aanks we're attacked and sharp fighting
followed. The Beeza were in crescent
shaped formation and outnunbered the
British two one. They advanced with
skill and stubbornness and persistently
endeavored to ensircle the British.
After holding his ground for an hour
Colonel Plumer retired, with she Beers
slowly following him up. The fighting
continued throughout the ten miles
retreat to Ramathlabama, where the
British Maxim gun was brought into
play. After stiff fight Colonel Plumer
reached his camp. The British casual
ties we're: Killed: Three officers aad
seven men; wounded, three officers and
"a men; missing, II. The Boer loss
was serious. At the conclusion of the
fight General Snynan informed Colonel
Badea-Powell that he had some British
wounded and both Baden-Powell and
Plumer sent ambulances. The Beers
were also busy Sunday collecting their
dead and wounded. Most Of the Brit
ish wounded were only slightly hurt.
Colonel PluMer was wounded, bat was
able IN carry cat his duties.