The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-27
B)ERS AGAIN IN RETREAT
GEN. HAMILTON is USING UTMOST
ENDEAVORS TO CUT THEM
OFF FROM ESCAPE
EXPECTED TO MAKE A STAND
Report of Boer Occupation of BOshOR
Proves GrOundiess - Lord
Methuen Is still I'm
Control There.

LONDON, April 27.-Gen. Hamilton has
probably by this time arrived at Thaba
NChu, and he is using his utmost en-
deavors to cut off the Beers, who are re-
treating from Dewetsdorp.
The Boer forces at Thaba NChu are
not unlikely to make stand to cover the
escape of the conveys from the south
ward They have laagers eight miles
apart, stretching from Brandfort to
Thaba N'Chu, with base at Smalldcll
station.
A report comes that a small force of
British mounted infantry had a brush
with a party of Beers ten miles east of
Karee Siding. who were trying to estab-
fish a connection between Brandfoit and
the Boer force to the southwark. Other
wise there is no news beyond the dis
patches of Lord Roberts, except the later
details of recent operations. 1t appears
that Gen. Brabant, in the fight at WEEP
ener with the Beers, had narrow es-
cape. Gen. Pole-Carew's advance was
much hampered by the tardy arrival Of
artillery, which prevented him from cap
turing Leeuw Kop before darkness set
in, and enabled the Beers to secure their
retreat.
Although the large scheme of opera
tons worked successfully several cases
of unaccountable delay in the advance
| are remarked by the correspondents. TAX
en- on the whole, however, there has been
no bungling, and apparently Lord Rob
erts, with commands in the hands of
younger generals, now has an exceeding
ly efficient army
The report that Beers have reoccupied
Boshof proves to be untrue Lord Methu.
en- is still there, and Gen. Hunters di-
vision from Natal, which was supposed to
be going to Bloemfontein, is arriving at
Kimberley. This is evidence that some
important operations are afoot in that
| district.
GEN. HAMILTON'S VICTORY.
! The war office publishes the following
dispatch from Lord Roberts, dated
| Bloemfontein. April 26:
Gen. Ian Hamilton yesterday drove
! the enemy off a strong position at IsraePs
Poort by a well-conceived turning move
ment which was admirably carried out
! by Gen. Ridley, commander of the Sec
ond Mounted Infantry brigade, and Gen.
| Smith-Dorrien, commanding the Eight
zenith brigade The troops are today ad-
| vancing towards Thaba N'Chu. Our loss
! es were slight. only one yet reported
Maj. Marshall, Grahamstown mounted
| rifles, severe wound in shoulder
GOOD NEWS FROM MAFEKING.
The war office has received the follow
ing message from Lord Roberts:
"Bloemfontein, April B.-Good news
from Baden-Pewell up to April TO- Mac
laren much better All the women doing
well. The Beers captured several native
women who were trying to escape from
Mafeking, but these were turned back
after being stripped and sjamboked.''
REDDERSBURG DISASTER.
LOURENzO MARQUES. April pa
correspondent of the Diggers News, with
! Gen. Dewet's force, gives a full account
of the British disaster at Reddersburg.
He says:
"A force of 500 rifles appeared at De-
wetsdorp and demanded the surrender of
the town. Capt. McWhinnie was sur
prised TO hear Boer force was approach
ing and he retreated on Reddersburg
Gen. Dewet, fresh from his brilliant vic
tory at Sannas Poort, followed the line of
retreat along a long range of kopjes. The
opposing forces were on different sides
Of the range. Gen Dewet knew all about
the British operations and movements,
but the Irish were quite unaware OF the
proximity of the Beers. They blundered
again as al Sannas Poort, and the scouts
were not alert.
by sunset Tuesday Dewet had the
British force in his power, after an en-
gagement which lasted all the afternoon
The Irish made a most brilliant defense,
but their fate was never in doubt Dur
ing the afternoon Dewet sent 300 bur-
ghers 20 cut off their retreat, and he then
moved forward a small party of horse
on the kopjes to attack the British. The
latter boldly attacked the Beers, but were
repulsed. By sunset the British found
themselves surrounded. They had in
deed foundered into a beautiful trap, for
the Beers had guns on two kopjes with
the British between them. At sunrise
the Beers commenced to hurl shell on the
devoted Irish band, who however. re-
fused to surrender, but fought with the
greatest courage for three hours At II
o'clock the British commander saw that
further resistance would only involve a
useless waste Of life, as his military po-
sition was quite hopeless, and he there
fore hoisted white flag.
1.-THE officers sorrowfully handed over
their swords to Gen. Dewet and $50 nom
commissioned officers and men surren-
dered. All the prisoners were forthwith
sent to Thaba N'Chu under guard and.
Gen. Dewet continued his march to WEEP
ener.''
BOERS ABANDON THABA N'CHU.
The Bloemfonteln correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph, under Wednesdays date,
| says:
! high mountain plateau of Thaba N'Chu
| today almost without opposition. AS
| Thaba NChu is natural fortress this
| must mean that the Beers have prac-
| tically thrown up the sponge in this sec
| ton of the country. If their force presses
| on to I.adybrand the whole country
| south of that point and in line with
| Bloemfontein will be in our hands. One
| difficulty is that many Of the Beers form
| ing commanders Immediately on finding
! themselves beaten retreat to their farms
| and resume the roles of peaceful citizen
| chip, hiding their rifles"
| REvERSES FOR BRITISH
| FRANKFORT, Orange Free State,
| April pa British column In the direc-
ton of Bulfontein and Hoopstad has been
beaten back through Boshof. The fed
erals sustained two casualties and the
British had twelve men killed and a num-
i Ia Ir-I1--