The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-05-02

works were found unchanged with the
exception of the removal of the sliding
valves of the pumping engines.
The Beers now can only escape,
without risking an encounter, north
ward to Ladybrand and the chances OF
successful outcome of the plans of
Lord Roberts depend on whether the
British troops can reach Thaba N'Chu
and Ladybrand before the retire eating
commanders from Dewetsdorp and
Wepener get there.
All the correspondents report that
the roads are in terrible condition,
which accounts for the slow progress
of the British columns, and, if the
Beers are as well informed Of the Brit
ish plans as they have been they are
likely again to escape.
1t is now within three weeks of the
date predicted for the British occupa-
| ton OF Pretoria; and, although the
present operations as suggested in some
quarters, may be the beginning OF the
main advance, it is not certain that
they will not entail further halt at
Bloemfontein.
| DLOEMfONIElNj hplll Ac'-oCbOi-
al Pole Carew's division reached Roode-
kop yesterday, their advance being
covered by General French's cavalry
who drove the enemy with heavy loss.
Several of their dead being left on the
ground.
Gen. French crossed the Modder
river at Vaalsbank in accordance with
my instructions to place himself across
the enemy's line of retreat. The Beers,
| however, alarmed at these operations,
evacuated their positions, Gen. Cherm-
side thereby entering Dewetsdorp.
Meanwhile Gen. Hamilton drove off
the Beers in the vicinity of the water
works (Sannas posO.
He suffered no casualties. The
Highland brigade marched twenty-four
miles yesterday to General Hamilton's
support. Generals Brabant and Hart
are still four miles short of Wepener.
! The Boer numbers there are some
what increased but it is unlikely there
will be serious trouble about Wepener
now Dewetsdorp has been occupied. l
inspected the newly arrived Volunteers
of yeomanry today. The men make a
smart appearance and the horses are in
admirable condition"
LONDON, April 26.--It is now APP
parent that Lord Roberts chances of
catching the retreating Beers in a net
are very slender. The Beers have
everywhere retired at the first pres
sure of the British advance, and the
hope that General Rumble would be
able to keep them at Dewetsdorp until
they had been forced to fight or to sur
render has been disappointing. No at
tempt was made to pursue the COM
mandoes retiring from Wepener.
Everything now depends upon the
progress of General French's cavalry
brigades, but they are entering very
difficult, billy and practically unknown
country.
The cavalry has already had long
march over heavy and sandy roads,
and nothing is known regarding the
condition of the horses. In any case
it is now race between the federals
and the forces of General French and
General Hamilton.
The slowness of the recent move
ments of the British infantry and pre-
vious experience of the ability of the
Beers 10 move rapidly with guns and
| UdSBdR6, ONoI tuclI COuutIyy lShu W
belief that Lord Roberts enveloping
operations will fail and will have to be
repeated further north. At the most
he will perhaps capture some Boer
guns and baggage and hurry the re-
treating burghers. Considerable re.
suits have been attained in the relief
of Wepener and in the clearing of the
southeastern corner of the Free State
of Beers, but the Boer army, whatever
its strength, has still to be dealt with.
The Beers at WarreDton, having be-
come emboldened, shelled the village
and the British trenches Wednesday
night. Col. Paget placed several guns
on the river bank under cover of the
darkness, within thousand yards OF
the Boer trenches across the river. The
horses and carriages were withdrawn
beyond range and at day break the
British opened heavy bombardment
with shrapnel and lyddite.
The Beers were taken completely
by surprise, but they replied with five
guns, including forty-pounder, and a
heavy rifle fire wae opened at the same
time. The duel continued many hours,
the Beers finally evacuating the posi-.
ton with, it is believed, considerable
loss.
| LONDON, April 27.-The war office
publishes this morning the following
from Lord Roberts dated Bloemfontein,
April 20: "Gen. Ian Hamilton yester-
day drove the enemy off strong posi-.
ton at Israel's Poort by we'll con-
ceived turning movement, which was
admirably carried out by Gen. Ridley,
commander of the second mounted in
fsntry brigade, and Gen. Smith Dor.
rien, commanding the Eighteenth bri-
gade. These troops are today advanc.
ing toward Thaba Nchu. Our losses
we're slight, only one yet reported
Major Marshall, Grahamstown mount
ed rifles severe wound in the shoulder"
General Hamilton has probably by
this time arrived at Thaba Nchu, as be
is using his utmost endeavors to cut of
the Beers who are retrealing from De-
Wetsdorp. The Boer forces at Thabs
| Nchu are not likeIv tn mako a atand tr