The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-09
THEIR FORCES ON POSITION IN FRONT
OF ROBERTS.
FIRST STEP TOWARD ANNEXATION
OF TransvaaI and Free State-Petitfon
Therefor Circulated In House of Com
mons The Battle on the Modder to be
the Deciding Feature of the War.
Natal and Cape Colony Free of Boer
Forces British and Beers Each Gain
a Slight Victory.

oDCfh Sill Pd0SCS III III LCi5
hood Of Osfontein, while stores, re-
mounts and fresh troops stream to-
var him from the Cape. Each army
is on both sides of the Modder river.
Although the Beers have mounted
eight guns on the tops of kopjes and
appear to be too far away for inspec-
ton, the British scouts report that
they are diligently using pick and
shovel.
Military opinion is that their position
merely sirens more easily defended
e deeper in the region. 1t is sug-
gested that Lord Roberts is quite will
ling to give the Beers time to assem-
BILE all their men in order to deliver a
smashing blow effectively.
FIRST STEP TOWARD ANNEXA-
TON.
The round robin in favor of the an
nexation of the Transvaal and the Free
State, which is being promoted among
the supporters of the government in
the house of commons. continues to re-
ceive signatures.
WOMEN IN BOER RANKS.
Cape Town, March 6.-Many women,
who are reported to be good shots, are
among the Boer prisoners arriving
here.
The Dutch church has issued a man
ifeSto in favor Of the Boer republics
retaining complete independence.
London, March 6.-The Beers in
northern Cape Colony are in full re-
treat to the Orange Free State. The
possession Of Stormberg puts General
Gatacre in railroad communication
with General Clements at Colesbcrg,
far OH tho P0Qrc norfioDv UrQnkG6
the railroad, it is understood h a 1t
can be quickly repaired, and thus the
entrance of additional British troops
into the Free State will be greatly ia
cilitated.
The position gained by General Bra
bant at Dordrecht is reported to be
exceedingly strong. According to The
Times correspondent, the Boer num-
bers alone enabled them to retreat
from Dortreicht, practically unhinder.
ed. He also reports a violation OF the
white flag by Beers and that they de-
liberately fired, at close range, on a
stretcher party.
HORRIBLE SIGHTS ON THE RE-
CENT BATTLEFIELDS.
General Whites garrison has begun
to leave Ladysmith and is arriving at
the Moot river camp, where the troops
will remain several days, after which
they will go further south. They are
emaciated and exhausted and say the
road to Colenso presents scenes that
| exceed in horror those depicted in
Dante's Inferno Dead men and an
imals are lying, mutilated and putri-
fed. in the trenches formerly occupied
by the Beers and fill the air with a
sickening stencil. In cases where
burial had been attempted, the rains
have washed the earth away n out
Of the earth stick CHASTITY legs and
| arms of dead burgherS.
TO BE THE DECIDING FEATURE
OF THE WAR.
A dispatch from Osfontein says that,
according to the Boer prisoners, an
other important British success will
cause President Steyn to flee to Ere
toria, leaving a provisional government
at Bloemfontein, which is likely to
make peace overtures, those Free Stat
ers not wishing for peace trekking into
the Transvaal and there helping to
make a stand which most of the Brit
ish military critics now point out vii
constitute the most difficult and de-
Gliding feature of the war.
Surgeon Treves cables from Lady.
smith that the condition of the town
is most deplorable and that there are
500 cases of typhoid fever. Lavish sup
plies of comforts are now in the place
however.
Dordricht, March 5~.-Following yes
terday's success, General Braban'
again engaged the Beers today will
tured yesterday. There was som,
smart fighting this morning, the Brit
ish losing five or six men, capturing tn
Boer fort and D - vastly improving
their position. The Beers fought te
naciously, contesting every inch o
ground, but ultimately they ~retreate'
suddenly. carrying off their gum an
wagons. A mounted force pursue'
them, but the result is not yet known
The British casualties during the tw
days were twelve or thirteen killed an
wounded. The Boer losses are un
known. Throughout the arduous fight
ing and severe fatigue, the colonial
have behaved splendidly.
/ NATAL CLEAR OF BOER TROOPS
London March 6.-The war office ha
received the following dispatch froI
Lord Roberts:
"Osfontein, March 6.-General Ga,
4 acre occupied Stormberg yesterday
The lines Of railway north and Yves
will now be repaired. General Glen
ents is at Joubert's siding station, be
. yond Colesberg. The Duke Of Mar
borough, with the Oxford company
the Imperial Yeomanry, has left CaI
. Town for Naauwpoort.
General Butler reports Natal no
practically clear Of the enemy n ths
L ne CdIlIOl uSdI VI ~ NJ
them anywhere. The Beers left son
e ambulances full of their sick, fro
s which the mules had been taken Il
transport service"
. BRITISH RETIRE BEFORE DOE
= FIRE.
e Ladysmith, Saturday, March D.
Three regiments Of cavalry reconne
tering n~orthwards today, saw a DO
of Beers behind Pepworth hill. II
long trains which were ready to lea
promptly moved before the troo
reached them and the Beers blew
: a culvert behind them as they wei
: The British passed a large body
I Beers in the vicinity of Pepswort
Il The Beers opened a heavy rifle N
\ the British field guns replying. L
a British did 10 press the attack a
T. the Boer fire ceased on the British i
:. firing. The Boer camps showed ma
II evidences of h presence Of women
;, AUCTION OF ARTICLES FROM
= BOER CAMP.
An auction was held of thin