The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-17
MOVEMENT OF BRITISH TROOPS FROM
SEVERAL DIRECTIONS.
THE REASSURING eREPORTS
From Bloemrontein Restore Confidence
OF the British Public Boers Restless
Over Inaction British Trenches at
Warrenton Shelled Beers Preparing
TO Make n stand Beyond Pretoria In
Case of Capture OF That City-Morc
British Captured.

London. April l5.-There has been
the usual Saturday nights absence or
news both from the war Office am
from other sources OF information
The situation in its chief point is al
parently unchanged.
Elandslaagte last evening report, %
that there had been no traces OF the
Beers in that neighborhood for the
past two days. Their progress south
ward has been effectively barred by
the British occupation OF Jonenos kop
on the left. and Unbulawan. on the
right The belief that the Beers ac-
ton on Tuesday was due to restless
ness and dissatisfaction in the ranks
is confirmed by natives. who say that
the Beers have been ready for some
time and wanted the British To attack
them. In order to force this the Beers
commenced Smelling. at the same time
sending a force to make a thanking
movement on the left. The natives
also confirm the statement that one
of the Beers heavy guns was put out
Of action and the gunners driven of
The scouts on Saturday located the
| Beers in a strong position eleven miles
| northeast of the British advanced po-
| sition at Bloemfontein-
Lord Roberts has strongly protested
/ to President Kruger at the treatment
| of prisoners. sick and wounded. in the
! hands of the Beers and has formally
| demanded the observance OF the Gen
| eva convention.
| II appears from every indication tina
the Beers are preparing in the even,
| of Pretoria being captured to make
| last stand along a line reaching from
| Leydenberg along the mountains into
! Swaziland. A traveller recently ar
| rived at Bloemfontein says that the
| Beers are energetically working 60
| persuade the Swazis that the British
cause is lost and are seeking to en-
gratiate themselves hoping To secure
| footing in Swaziland peacefully, or to.
| seize hold of the country If necessary
LORD ROSSLYN. CAPTURED.
London, April ia dispatch from
Bloemfontein dated April II. says: "A
patrol OF Royal Irish. with whom was
Lord RoSslyn, has been captured Lord
Rosslyn has been sent to Kroonstad."
Leemokop, Southeast of Bloemfon-
tein, April 13.-The Boer command
which is still in the southern district
and which, ii was feared. had been cH
off, has rendered q good account of
itself with the Basultoland police who
had invaded the Orange Free State
Four British scouts who were cap
pressed for water. They add that all
the private wells were guarded and
civilians We're not permitted To use
them until the troops were supplied
| COmmandant De Wet has received
a report that the British who fed from
Smithfield southwark were severely
punished by the burghers of Rouxville
News received here from Joha nnes--
burg drift says a British force Of about
1000 men, mainly composed of Bra
bant's horse, with General Brabant
commanding, is surrounded at Robert
| sons mills with a remote chance OF
relief or effective resistance
tNOte-The British force reported In
the dispatch from Leemokop To be sur
rounded at Robertson's mill Is probably
the force of colonial troops previously
referred to as surrounded blythe Boers
near Wepener. These British troops
are not commanded by General Bra
bant in person, but are under the COM
, mand OF Colonel Dalgety. General
Brabant was last reported at AIfwa1
North with General Kitchener
SMELLING BRITISH AT WARREN
; TON.
London. April 1.-THE only Develop
ment reported thus far today In the
cable dispatches received here from
; South Africa Is the heavy lombard
ment Of the British trenches at Ware
renton April 18th, but which resulted
in no damage, the Beers pparefltt ~
) being under the impression that the
British meditated an attack
THE MOVE TO SURROUND THE
I BOERS.
2 The reassuring reports from Hfoem-
2 fontefn published in this mornings
= papers have done much TO restore con-
fidence in London. All the correspond
ents seem agreed that Lord Roberts
, knows what he Is about. The critics
, OF the afternoon papers eagerly specu-
late on the possibilities OF the Boee
commands at Wepener being cut or.
This seems quite possible as the forcd
: from Bioemfontein is advancing by
way Of DeWet's dorp; General Cherm-
side Is nearing the objective with the
r | Third division by way OF Reddarshur,z
= and General Brabant's force Is moving
from Aliwal North by way of Roux-
| vile and Bushman kop, while across
2 the border a strong force Of Basutos
4 are closely watching events In the
\ meanwhile. General Rundle's division
D Is concentrating at Springfontein;
Lord Methuen's force Is trying to get
. TO Hoopstad and 1t Is believed that
d General Hunters division win
strengthen the British left at Fourteeu
Streams
The weakening OF General Buffers
force by the withdrawal of the Union
and Irish brigades now under General
hunter Is attributed 10 the fact that
, tne general ommanding I'm Natal has
decided that the forcing Of his troops
IS impracticable and that he viii mere
iy attempt to maintain the status quo
until Lord Roberts main advance
opens his road through Laings neck
II Beyond the mysterious Cape Town
, hint regarding the early expecta ton OF
good news about Mafeking, there fS
no further Information at hand Ia con-
nection with ttsat beleagured tow
which now must be in great STRATA