Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-03-17
British Meet With Little: or No
Resistance In Natal and
Orange Free state.
RUSHING ROBERTS SUPPLIES
Beers Lose In a Small Engage
ment and Two Prominent
Beers are Arrested.
DR.. LEYDs HAS DISAPPEARED

Burghefsdorp. March 17-Command-
ant Olivier evacuated his position on a
hill in front of the British during the
night. Several Beers of his force sur
rendered. DR.. Dewett, a member of
parliament and his brother. have been
arrested.
Bethulie March 16-General CAT
acres scouts have occupied Spring
fonten. The country is clear Of the
enemy The main column is following
the scouts.
London. March 17-It is persistent
ly reiterated thatMafeking has been
relieved, but the war office has no con.
firmation of the rumor.
4. Ladysmith, March 16--Lord Dun
donald's cavalry patrols reconnoitered
the Free State border from Basutoland
to De Beers pass where slight slkir-
lnish occurred, in which two British
were wounded. The Beers were also
encountered in some strength at Van
Reenan's pass and Tintwas pass
Kafhrs arriving here report the Beers
manifesting vindictive spirit under
defeat and many kraals have been
burned. A number of ambulances at,
tached to Boer forces were found near
'Modder Spruit, having been abandoned
by the Beers because they were un-
able 70 keep pace with the retreat.
They were brought into camp where
the wounded were cared for. Trans
ports were subsequently supplied and
the ambulances sent to the Boer lines
London, March 1.-THE peaceful
conquest Of the Orange Free State
progresses so evenly it is now believ-
ed there will be little or no fighting
until Lord Roberts reaches the Vaal
river. How soon he intends to start
out with this objective is not yet hint
ed. but the pacification of the free
staters seems engaging all his attens
tion. When the move comes it will
doubtless be accomplished with the
secrecy and swiftness which has char
acterized all the British advances. since
Lord Roberts assumed command.
Meanwhile the fate of Mafeking re-
mains unknown
The revolt of the Cape Dutch in the
northeast seems to have had its back
broken, and it is likely that General
Kitchener will soon resume his place
beside his chief. The lull that let's
the British troops in Natal and Free
State recuperate brings no rest to the
engineers and the transport service.
Girourd. the young Canadian officer
who rules supreme over the railroads
is now putting his system to a most
severe test in an endeavor to pour sup
plies from Cape Town to Bloemfontein.
Commandant Olivier after leaving
Burghersdorp went to Rouxville where
he is reported to be with only small
force. Dr. Leyds, the diplomatic agent
of the Transvaal, has disappeared
from Brussels. According to a
Globe" special he is believed to have
come to London but nothing is known
here about his arrival. It seems
scarcely likely that he would jump into
the lions mouth and the energetic
Boer representative is more likely tt
be soon heard of at one or another
of the European capitals.
London, March 1.-THE departure
OF Lady Roberts for South Africa to
day was made the occasion for popu
lar demonstration.
vanzyl, March 1.-THE railroad has
been re-opened from Bloemfontein tc
Norvalspont. General Pole-Carew ant
Grenadiers arrived at Norvalspont.
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