Evening journal., 1900-04-17


London, April 17.-Lord Roberts has
spread his net far and wide to catch
the adventurous commanders that
been making mischief in the south
eastern part of the state. The net has
not yet been drawn in. but at the
headquarters of Lord Roberts the I'M
preston exists that the power of the
Beers is decreasing A Daily News
correspondent has them fleeing to the
southeast; q Standard correspondent
reports them fleeing northward a
Daily Telegraph correspondent says
that some are going north and others
south. while a Morning Post represent
alive says Il is not yet known what the
Beers are doing.
Evidently the feeling at Bloemfon-
tein is that the dispositions OF Lord
Roberts are such as to enable him to
concentrate q large force rapidly at
any point. The Beers, being aware of
this, are presumed to be thinking now
chiefly of retreat.
The investment Of Wepener, accord
ing to a special dispatch from Bloem-
fontein, has absolutely been abandon
ed According to a Bethany dispatch
the Beers are unable to retreat north
ward because the British strongly hold
all roads.
Diverse reports come from Natal,
one asserting that the Beers have re-
tired beyond the Bggarsburg range
and another saying that some Of them
are close to Ladysmith.
London waits confidently for almost
immediate announcement Oh news ia
vorable to the British Distrust exists,
however, as to any rapid. continuous
advance toward Pretoria, chiefly on ac-
count OF the lack of horses. many of
which die in the case of the long voy-
ages. Letters from the cape say that
the three days journey by rail is made
in open trucks, that the arrangements
for feeding and watering are made
quate. and that the unfortunate anil
mails break down rapidly in conse-
quence Of these hardships.
The Bloemfontein correspondent oi
| The Morning Post telegraphing Mon
/ day. says Small bands of Beers are
| prOwling around and are even coming
within eight OF ten miles of Bloemfon-
| tein. Three Johannesburg Zarps ac.
/ tually entered the town one night and
/ ecaped without being discovered. The
| Boer demonstration yesterday at ka-
rec siding was designed to cover the
| withdrawal of an immense convoy oi
provisions, There is no doubt that
/ the Boer incursion into the southeast
ern part Of the Free State was largely
due to the need OF replenishing victual'
IN the most fertile part of the country
| This explains why the enemy marched
] 4. aft IA AnWfnfrt
| important movements are occurring
which naturally it is not desirable e
specify.
The BloemfOntein correspondent o
II The Daily Telegraph in a dispatch dat
cd yesterday, says: The Beers have
raised the siege Of Wepener and have
| left RouXville A majority OF then
have undoubtedly retired north, witt
the exception of a body of about 5000
now reported to be going TOWARD
Bethulie
The Daily News has the following
\ from Reddersburg, dated Friday Gen
ChaImaslde saw the rear guard of tn
! Beers disappear southeast in full re
treat. The enemy appear to be il
strong force IA miles east Of Redders
. burg They arc falling back befon
b. our advance guard.
The Bloomfcntein correspondent o
81 The Standard, telegraphing Monday
saws: The Beers are in full retrea
/ from Wepsnor. hugging the Basuto
n land border. The Basutos are march
' ing parallel with them along the from
1 tier. watching eagerly for the slghtes
encroachment.
The Daily Nail has the following
from Lady Sarah Wilson, dated Mafe
king. April g; The pinch of hunge
is beginning to be felt. AID relief seem
I'll more distant than ever. Since Marc
el 81 there had been no shelling unit
. today, Commandsnt Snyman havin
3 taken his burghers to bar Col. Plum
: er's road. Yesterday, however, he re
r turned. and the bombardment was re
newed today with splendid high veloC
ity guns. firing IA pound shells, such a
had not been used since the first day
, OF the siege. The military authori
% ties say the British artillery has moth
! ing to compare with these guns.