Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-06

LONDON, April ga special as
patch from Lorenzo Marques Say
sharp fighting occurred April 2 IN the
neighborhood of MafeKlng. Inc gar
rison made a sortie while Gen. Plum
er's cavalry attacked the Beers at
Ramathlabama. Both attacks were re-
pulsed.
Twenty of Col. Plumers men were
found dead on the field and SIX others
were made prisoners. The Federal
losses were small.
DETACHED bodies of Boer horse, num-
bering from 500 to 1000 each, nave
sppeared at several places to the south-
word and eastward of Bloemfonteln,
threatening the railroad, but COM
munication by wire and rail is not al
fected. One of these forces is near
East springfontein, on the Bloem-
fontein railroad, and Gen. Gatacre
forces are reported to be about 10 en-
gage it. L ord Roberts, except to SAFE
guard the railroad, seemingly declines
tn send columns chasing the Boer
hands He is reserving his cavalry
and TRANSPORT animals for the forward
movement. Explanations having dl-
rect origin in the war office as TO why
Lord Roberts is inactive, are that there
has been a lack of horses for remounts
but new horses are arriving by tram
loads hourly. The pressure OF the
railroad is so great that private par
cells and the official newspapers nave
not been forwarded for three weeks.
The situation in the Free State re-
mains far from clear and is unsatlsfac-
tory to British observers. The SICK
ness among the Boer prisoners at ST.
mons Town continues to increase. Five
men died April 3. The prisoners who
we're on board the transport Mongol-
ian have been transferred to the shore
camp. Unless the sickness abates II
is not likely that more prisoners VIII
be sent to ST. Helena.
A dispatch from Cape Town dated
yesterday announces the departure for
the front of the second contingent of
Canadian mounted infantry.
GEBERONES, March 2S.-Col. Plum
er, with force of British mounted
Infantry started on a daring march
Sunday. March %, with the object of
threatening the Boer lines of commune
cation. After two rapid night marches
through Transvaal territory they ar
rived at dawn March 9th, within II
miles of Zeerust and distinctly heard
the bombardment of Mafeking. Hav-
ing reconnoitered the country with the
view of future operations without
sighting single white man, Col. Plum
er crossed the railroad south of Lo-
basti, which he found in possession of
a Boer force and returned. Thence,
finding the railroad hence damaged by
Gen. Snyman's main force he return
ed to the vicinity of Mafeking.
Rumors reach here that relief col
umn is approaching Mafeking from
the south.
MAFEKING, March 23.-There has
has been little excitement during the
past week The Boer shell fire comes
in f1tful gusts and has little effect.
The British casualties are almost nil.
The Beers seem to be breaking I'D their
main lager westward, but have taken
up an entrenched position northward,
with the view of preventing the APP
proach of relief. The sharpshooot-
ars keep up steady exchange of fire.
1t is rumored that relief is near.
The usual Sunday truce enables the
garrison to continue playing cricket
matches.
Mchete, native chief southwark
mas broken out against the Beers.
There was heavy firing in the direc-
ion of his chief kraal March %.
An Irish-American trooper in the
Protectorate Regiment has deserted to
he Beers. A reward of $50 has been
offered for his capture, dead or alive.