Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-04-23
A DECISIVE BATTLE
Continued from page ~

time the two republics had 10000 mer
in the field, including the coloEia
rebels. According to the same inform
ant. they can still muster $4,000 ol
whom $4,000 are in the Free State, TO-
goo in the BigGarsberg district and 10
GOO in the districts Of Fourteen STREAM
and klerk's Dorp. 1t is now believed
that before the war the burgher list!
were deliberately falsifed in order tC
deceive the British intelligence depart
mant
The Kimberley correspondent Of the
Morning Post telegraphing, Sunday
says: The Beers are reported to be
near Frankfort, where the country is
very difficult. At Klipdam they are
entrcnching their positions.
A correspondent of the Times at
Boshop. telegraphing Saturday, says:
II have been with an ambulance to the
Boer lines. While there | convcrscG
with Commandant Cronje, second son
of the famous general, and with As
siStant Commandant BoWthWaite
They had expected Lord Methucn to
operate to the eastward and We're still
expecting him ana they We're confident
that they could defeat his column.
"Bowthwaitc complained that he had
not changed his clothing for fort
night. indicating that he had been
travelling a long distance. but | could
not ascertain from what point
The Boer commando occupies strong
positions around Spitz Kop. about
eight miles northeast of BoshUf."
The Bloemfontein correspondent of
the Morning Post tcleGraphine, Fri
day. says: "Prcsidcnt Steyn's address
to the burghers was an impaSsoncd
speech. He implorcd thcm 10 continue
their resistance until the result Of tho
efforts Of the Boor peace commission
ers was known"
The DaNy News has the following
April 20: 1T is reported here, that
Gen. DeWct has been killed.
"Othcr Enropean Ambulance Corps
besides the sh-Amcricans are taking
up arms in behalf of the Beers. The
latter are unable to obtain smokeless
powder.
Trenches are being constructed for
eight miles around Pretoria. There
are GO guns in position at KroOnstad
and seven French guns at Pretoria.
Twenty-Five mines at johannesburg
have been charged with dynamite and
the Johannesburg fort has been dis
mantlcd.'
Tho Blocmfontcin correspondent Of
the Daily Telegraph in dispatch,
dated Sunday. says: "All the troops
/,
clothing ami other equipments LORD
Kitchener is making various disci-
plinary changes. The weather remains
fine
The Standard publishes 4 long dis
patch from Blocmfonttin. dated Fri
day. explaining the numerous difficult
ties which tend to delay the advance
t. Pretoria. The correspondent says:
The enormous transport difficulties
are enhanced by the rainy weather and
by the necessity Of providing for thc
needs Of tho army for weeks. perhaps
months. in case Of an interruption of
the long line Of communications. to-
gether with the unsettled state Of tn
country in our rear and the guerilla
tactics of the enemy. 1t is obvious
IEdl. ulllll our iItillkS si!lt N.N'iltN4 'tlf'
no longer mcnaccd. no forward move
ment is possible. without incurIing the
gravest risks. The most pressing need
is a further supply of horses. Cen.
Hamilton has availed himself Of the
services of the Australian bushmcn to
scour the Free State in all directions.
buying horses from farmers who have
surrendered ana driving in animals
found upon unoccupied farms. Hors"
raiding is dangerous work. but tn
bushmen are more than match for
the Beers
\ dispatch to the Times from Jam
mcrsbrrg. dated Saturday, says: 'Thc
Beers are displaying renewed activity.
Five guns were freely used today
from four new positi MS against ours.
Rifle fire from the south and west
was heavy and continuous. Officers
and men are on duty day and night
in the trenches ana the heavy rains Of
late have made their task 4 great feat
Of endurance ana pluck