The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-04-12
Tie South African War.

In his speech at the opening Of the
Free State Rad, President steyn de-
clared that in spite of the surrender of
Bloemfontein he had hot lost hope OF
tue triumph of the Republican cause.
The war, he added, was forced upon the
Transvaal and nothing remained for the
Orange Free state but to throw in its
lot with the sister republic, in accord
ance with the terms of the treaty.
From Lourenzo Marques comes the
report that Mr. Steyn has been appoint
ed commandant of the Free State forces.
Although Col. Plumer is reported to
have gotten within 6 miles of Mafeking,
it is evident that the siege had not been
raised, April l. To yard the end Of this
month, oil. Plumer will be reinforced
by the troops now going by way of Beira,
so that relief cannot be far distant.
Lord Roberts in a dispatch, saturday,
states that another unfortunate incident
has occurred, resulting in the capture
of three companies of the Royal Irish
Fusilers and two companies of the 9th
Regiment of mounted infantry near Red
dersburg, a little eastward of Bethany
railroad station, within a few miles of
this place. They were surrounded by
or five guns.
The amazing activity of the Beers
southeast and southwest of Bloemfon-
tein continues, the Boer commands
seemingly going and coming throughout
a wide region as they please, but taking
good care not to throw themselves
against the strong bodies of the British.
The retirement of the Irish rifles from
Rockville to Aliwal leaves General Bra
bant without communication with the
other British forces He has 1000 or
5000 colonials holding a fine defensive
country, but he is apparently invested
so far as London knows.
1t is said that no one who has not
seen an African kopje can readily pic
ture it. More of a stump of hill than
hill itself, it is invariably covered with
boulders. Tropical floods have washed
away the earth and all the soluble COM
ponents of the rock, leaving veritabe
breastworks of sandstone, ironstone and
granite. 1t is these natural fortified.
tions of which the Beers have made
such effective use.
Gen. Roberts has a large army, but
| the loss of thousand men in one week,
without any compensating advantage, is
serious matter. Aside from the direct
results, the recent Boer successes have
greatly enhanced the difficulty of keep
ing open the long British lines of com
munication.
Heavy firing was heard. early Tuesday
morning, in the direction of Sunday s
river. 1t continued for few hours.
No details of the engagement have been
received.
An engagement took place, Monday,
at Nepener. The Beers Vickers Maxim
did considerable execution at first, but
the British guns soon got the range and
did great havoc. The fighting was Sc
we're and lasted all day long. The Beers
received a check The casualties were
rather heavy on both sides. Another
commando is advancing toward Wepener
from Dewets dorp. The Rouxviile
commando has gone to Nepener
Col Baden Powell wires from MAIZE
king, under date of March 27 confirm.
ing the report that the Beers had been
pushed back so far that the town was
comparatively out of range of musketry.
He concludes with saying "all promises
well for eventually cutting off this force
of the enemy if we can hold Snyman
here"
Remounts are continually arriving,
but competent authorities estimate that
the wastage of horses monthly by the
British forces in South Africa must be
calculated at not less than 5000.
The British casualties in the fight at
DeWet's dorp were 100 killed and
wounded, and 459 captured.