Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-03-30


London, March &c. = Lord Roberts
telegraphs to the war office from
Bloemfontein, under date of March %,
evening, as follows:
There is no special news to report.
The country south of this place is gen.
orally settling down. Numbers of arms
have been delivered up and the people are
beginning to recognize the advantage of
bringing in supplies for sale. The move
ment of the troops in the western district
is being attended with good results
Expect Good News from Roberts.
London, March 26. - Lord Roberts
dispatch, saying he has nothing spe
cial to report, is generally interpreted
to mean that he has hopes speedily to
announce some intelligence gratifying
to the British. The optimists even de-
duce from the number of minor items
of news received that Lord Roberts has
satisfactory news of the advance of the
flying column from the southwards by
detour towards Mafeking.
In the meanwhile, Col. Plumer's posi-
ton is arousing anxiety. He has with
him three long trains of supplies>for
Mafeking, the loss of which would be
serious, and further information about
Commandant Eloff's movements is
awaited with some trepidation in view
of thereport from Pretoria that he was
isolating Col. Plumer's forces near
Gaberones. Well-informed people in
South Africa are, however, more hope
full than the inhabitants of this city.
The former are preparing all kinds of
| celebrations to take place on the an
ing's siege. A sword of honor is in
readiness for presentation to Col.
Baden-Powell.
Battle Imminent.
A dispatch from Maseru, Basutoland,
under Fridays date, seems to dispose
of the story that Gen. French was fight
ing. but it indicates that battle is
imminent.
From elsewhere come stories of the
Beers rallying at various points. Kroon-
stad is well intrenched and Gen. Jou-
bert is preparing to make determined
stand, while the Beers in the eastern
districts have been ordered to rally
FiclSsbulg, northward of Ladyf
| in the Orange Free State, doubtless
with the view of attempting to inter-
cept the junction of the forces COM
manded by Lord Roberts and Gen. Bull
| Ter. Another Roer force at Fauresmith,
southwest of Bloemfontein, is in de-
faint mood, SO the southern part of
the Orange Free State is not yet sub
dued.
Sir Charles Parsons, commanding a
column in the western district COM
posed of Canadians and others, has ar
rived at Van Wykslei, between which
and Kenhardt force of insurgents is
reported to be ,intrenched.
Col. Herchmer, commanding the Ca
madam mounted rifles, is eonvalescent
at Carnarvon and will reioin Parsons
Sunday.
French's Forces Resting.
Bloemfontein, March %. Advices
received from Thabanchu between
Bloemfontein and Ladysmith on the
Orange Free State border, dated March
21. say Gen. French's force is resting
there, and distributing Lord Roberts
proclamation. Brand. a son of the
former president of the Orange Free
State, Sir John Henry Brand, contin-
ues his duties as landdrost. He APP
pears quite willing to cooperate with
the new regime. The people generally
outwardly express satisfaction with
the advent of the British. The insur-
gents in the northern part Of Cape
Colony have been detected in an in
genious swindle. 1t appears that be-
fore the departure of the Beers they
purchased large quantities of the notes
of the Boer force, which they are now
presenting TO the British authorities,
demanding compensation for property
alleged TO have been relrquished or
damaged. The loSalists. who are the
The actual losers Of the goods, are in
furiuted