Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-04-10
SEVERE FIGHTING
The Beers and British Have An ALI
Day Battle In Orange
Free State.
THE CASUALTIES ARE HEAVY
The Artillery Did Considerable Execution
In the Fight At Wepener-The Beers
Have Been Checked In Their Ad-
vance On Bloemfontein.

Aliwal North, April 10.-An engage
ment took place yesterday at Wepener.
The Beers Vickers- Maxim did consid-
cradle execution at first, but the British
guns soon got the range. The fighting
lasted all day. The Beers received a
check. The casualties are rather heavy
on both sides. Another commando ia
advancing toward Wepener from De-
Wetsdorp.
THE SOUND OF BATTLE.
Pietermaritzburg, April 10.-Heavy
cannonading commenced this morning
in the vicinity of Elandsaagte.
ATTEMPT TO STORM MAFEKING.
Mafeking, April 10.-The Beers under
Commandant Jan Cronje are evidently
falling back before the advance of the
southern relief column, concentrating
with two commands, who are retiring
before Colonel Plumer in order to make
a final effort to reduce the town. All
forts and outlying positions are man
ned by troops standing to arms, and ev-
erybody is under cover. All are con-
vinced that this is the Beers last at
tempt.
HEAVY FIRING.
Ladysmith, April 1O-Heavy firing
was heard this morning in the direction
of Sunday river. 1t continued for a few
hours
ATTACK ON WEPENER.
Aliwal North. April 10.-Heavy fight
ing continued at Wepener this morning.
The result is unknown. Three Boer
commands are attacking the town.
ANOTHER BOMBARDMENT.
Mafeking, March 27.-News was re-
ceived yesterday of the advance of the
southern relief column. The Beers this
morning opened fire at sunrise with sew
en- guns including one 100-pounder.
This has been the most vigorous bonn
bardment of the season. The Beers
siege guns alone already fired over sixty
rounds. Under cover of the fire the
Beers advanced to the northern works,
but retired precipitately on coming
within rifle range. They also advanced
to the southwestern parts, but were re-
pulsed. There was one casualty.
KILLED THIRTY ONE KAFFIRS.
Pretoria, April 7.-Advices from Mafe-
king say that band of armed Kaffirs
left Mafeking through the burghers
lines during the night of April and
were surrounded in the bush and shelled
by a Maxim Nordenfeldt gun. The
Beers then stormed the Kaffir position.
killing thirty-one. The Kaffirs fought
stubbornly. Skirmishes are reported at
Blggarsberg and in the Free State,
mostly between patrols.
BIG PREPARATIONS.
London. April 1O.-Mysterious move
ments of troops at Bloemfontein are
proceeding. The newspaper correspond
ents are not allowed to telegraph their
destination, and the presumption is that
Lord Roberts is making dispositions to
cut off the raiding Boer forces when
they try to withdraw northward from
the pursuing British column. The reap
pearance of the Beers in the occupied
country caused the revival of war
like feeling among the Free Staters in
the Fauresmith and Philoppolis dis
tricts. The British residents have been
told that steps for their defense will be
taken Immediately. The Beers are re-
ported to have ventured south of Big
garsberg and to be posting heavy guns
four miles north of Elandslaagte. They
are also said to have fortified the vicin-
ity of Vessels Mex. The war office pro-
poses to land at Cape Town before the
end of May 10000 horses, which will be
conveyed there in twenty-three steam
ers, sailing from New Orleans, Buenos
Ayres and Australian ports.
HOLDING MAFEKING.
Buluwayo March 31.-Colonel Baden
Powell wires from Mafeking, under
date of March 81, confirming the report
that the Beers have been pushed back
SO far that the town is comparatively
out of range of musketry. He concludes:
"All promises we'll for the eventual cut
ting off Of this force of the enemy If we
BOERs ENCOURAGED.
Bethulie, Orange Free State, April g..
: 1T is expected that the Beers will en-
deavor to retake and destroy the bridge
over the Orange river. Consequently
extraordinary precautions are being ta-
ken. A force of Beers is located twelve
miles east. AS a matter of fact, the
Beers practically again hold the Free
State eastward of the railroad, and are
greatly encouraged by the successes at
Reddersberg and Korn spruit.
WEPENER IS ISOLATED.
Bloemfontein, April 1O.-The garrison
intrenched and able to cope with large
force. Provisions are plentiful, and
there is no fear that the Boer forces
that are approaching from DeWetsdorp
1000 strong against the camp will make
a serious effort to capture the position.
NEARLY ALL WOUNDED.
Bloemfontein, April 1O.-Several Beers
were captured to-day near the city.
They state that only fifty men remained
unwounded out of the whole British
column captured at Reddersburg. Gem
eral Gatacre and staff fired on the Beers
while they temporarily occupied Red
lersburg. Considerable movements OF
troops occur in that vicinity to prevent
surprise.
A WINTER CAMPAIGN.
London, April 10.-Severe winter will
soon set In In the Transvaal and Lord
Roberts expects to make winter cam