The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-04-26
WEPENER FINALLY RELIEVED
BOER FORGE IN FULL RETRE4T
 TOW1RD LADYBRAND.

The Besieged Garrison LostThirty-thre'
 Killed and 132 Wounded-Burgher,
 Evacuate De Vets Dorp in Time te
 Avoid Being Cut Of-Roberts' Chancel
 Of Catching Them im His Net Though,
 10 bo Very Slendcr-AIl Depends on
 the Rnpidity of French's Movements
 London, April 25.--The war office has Issued the following from Lord Roberts dated Bloemfontien, April 25 3:25 p. m.
 'The enemy retired from in front of Wepener last night, and this morning fled northeastwards along the Lady brand road. Their number was be- tween 4000 and 5000"
 The Times has the following from a correspondent dated Mafeting, Basuto- land, April 25 T rode from Hammers burg here. skirting Wepener, and met General Brabants advance guard four miles south of Wepener. They report three successful fights, Saturday, Sum- day and Tuesday, with twenty-two cas- ualties The siege was raised and 5000 of the enemy retired along the Lady, brand road within our sight and unpur- sued. Colonel Dalgety's casualties are thirty-three killed and 132 wounded"
 A despatch from Cape Town says: The relief of Colonel Dalgety was &C., complished by General Brabant.
 Considerable results have been at tained in the relief of Wepener and from the clearing the southeastern cor ner of the Free State of Boers; but the Boer army, whatever it's strength, has still to be dealt with. Besides the cas- ualties among the men the Boer bonn bardment of Dalgety's men wrought great havoc among the cattle and horses. The garrison could have held out for another fortnight but it is in no condition to render much assistance in pursuit of the Boers.
 A dispatch to the Times from De Vets Dorp late Wednesday says that General Rundle arrived there that morning.
 Early to-day the war office gave out the following dispatch from Lord Rob- erts:
 'Bloemfontein April 25.-Pole- Carew's division reached Roodekop yesterday evening without casualties. Its advance was CONtIeQ ny CoNdlly cilu HUI oC etl lli- lery, which drove back the enemy with heavy loss their dead being left on the ground. The mounted troops halted for the night at Grootofontein, and at 7:3O this morning were crossing the Modder river at Valsbank in accordance with my instructions to French to endeavor to place himself astride the enemy's line of retreat.
 'French's arrival near the Modder evidently, however, alarmed the Boers, for they evacuated their strong position near De Vets Dorp during the night, and it was occupied by Chermsde's d- vision this morning. The Mounted i'm fantry, under Ian Hamilton, drove the enemy off the kopjes in the neighbor- hood of the waterworks without casual ties on our side.
 ''The Highland Brigade marched twenty-four miles yesterday to support General Hamilton and halted for the night at Kip Kraal, four miles short of Sannas Post.
 "Brabant and Hart are still a few miles short of Wepener, and the num- bers of the enemy appear to have some what increased during the last few days. But it is not likely there will be much trouble in the neighborhood of Wepener once De Vets Dorp is occupied by our troops.
 q inspected the City Imperial Volun- teer battalion yesterday on their arrival al Bloemfontein. They are in fine form and look very workmanlike
 T also inspected the First company of Imperial Yeomanry, which has ar rived here. The men turn out smart, and their horses are in admirable con- dition."
 A Reuteur correspondent with General Pole-Carew and General French wires from Damfontein, under date of April 24, as follows: Ever since Sunday Boer force of about 1,600, with one gun and one pom -pom,' has been trying to impede our progress"
 He then proceeds to describe how the various mounted bodies. the Canadians, Roberts Horse and French's cavalry, time after time engaged the Boers and held them while the infantry and bag gage passed. He says General Pole- Carew found it necessary to use shell on the left flank. The Boers evidently intended to draw him into action in or der to delay the column, but the admir- able tactics adopted enabled a steady advance, only interrupted by slight de- lays. The Boers always took good care to keep their baggage and guns well out | of reach"