The sun., 1900-04-24
ADVANCE BY RUMBLE.
Beers Stubbornly Contesting His Prog
ress Toward Wepener.
BATTLING AT THABANCHU.
De Wet and yiIIiers Force Back the
Left Wing of the British, Who,
However, Succeed In Occu-
pying Some hopjes.

London, April 23.-General Rundle is
evidently advancing slowly toward We
pener, every step being closely contested
by the Beers. From the Boer side there
is a good deal of interesting news.
Thabanchu dispatch, dated Friday,
April 20, reports the arrival there of
Commandants De Wet and Nilliers and
an attack upon 5000 British under Gen
eral Rumble. The British, it is added,
occupied some kopjes but their left wing
was driven back. The Boer loss was one
killed and five wounded.
From Brandfort comes the news that
Saturday, April n, Il British patrol OF
ten men vcntured near that place and
suffered the loss of one man killed and
two captured. including a Free Statel
who was leading the party.
A Pretoria dispatch, dated April 21,
says the latest official news was that
fighting was proceeding within half an
hours ride OF DE Wetsdorp with no re.
suits.
The Transvaal government it is added.
has asked Lord Roberts to be allowed to
send Il Clergyman to st. Helena, and also
neutral consul to watch the interests
of the prisoners in the same manner as
Mr.. Adclbcrt s. Hay guards the interests
of the British ut Pretoria.
A proclamation has been issued pro-
hibiting the working of the mines on
Sundays and intlicting punishment ON
managers paying over II $50 month to
natives.
All Quiet Mt Lndysmith.
From I4adysmith comes dispatch say.
ing all is quiet and that the Boer guns
are silent.
There is nothing further from Bloem.
fontein to indicate the progress Of the
preparations for the main advance.
AT Cape Town government con-
| tractor, named BAN, has been arrested
| for harboring three escaped Boer prison
| ers, dressed as clergymen. The prisoners
were sent back to Simonstown, whence
they had escaped.
A. dispatch from Wakkerstroom, dated
April %, says:
After yesterdays shelling it was ex.
pected that the Beers would open again
| but Colonel Brabazon, with the yeo'
manry, made Thorough scout to the left
The Beers endeayored to turn the British
right. but the movement was detected by
the yeomanry and mounted infantry, and
the guns opened fire and drove them off
greatly extending the position. None OF
the Boer guns was in action. There were
no British casualties. Many of the Beers
are moving southwark
A dispatch from Lisbon says that the
press continues to criticise the govern
ment's acquieseence i'll the transport o
British troops across Portuguese Eas
African territory to Rhodesia. The Com
mcrcio atiirms the government has there
by violated paragraph 0 of the constitu
tion and maintains that il Great Britain
right 10 transport troops across Portu
gucSu territory is admitted her right Il
establish an arsenal at the mouth Of tn
Tngus might be equally recognized.
The United States hospital ship Main
has arrived from South Africa uneXpect
ctlly early. 4 small group Of friends o
+ those on board, including the members .
+ the committee awaited her arrival an,
! vigorously waved their hands and hand
,, liercLirfs as thcy recognized Lady Ran
! ,lolph Churchill on the steamers deck.