The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-03
GENERAL ROBERTS BEGINS HIS MOVE
MENT NORTHWARD.
A DECISIVE BATTLE IMMINENT.
Daily Skirmishes-More Troops TO be
Hurried To the Front - Maraudinx
Parties OF Boers-Boers Threaten Re-
taiiation for Sending Their Prisoners
to st. Helena-Mafekings still Holding
Out Roberts Coincidence To Kruger
on the Death or General Joubert.

London. April J.. q. m-The war
office issued no further new tonight
and the few dispatches received from
the seat OF war bear evidence Of hav-
ing been delayed by the censor.
According TO a special dispatch from
Pretoria dated yesterday. Lord Roberts
has commenced his advance northward-
The dispatch says that there are daily
skirmishes and that a big battle Is i'm
minent. This, however, may refer TO
the operations preceding the engage
ment at Karee siding. which has appar-
emily cleared the way as well as secur-
ed an advantage OF position whence
the next operations may be conducted.
fuckers division Is now strongly
occupying the Beers camp at karee
siding with the way clear 10 Brand
fort, which is reported already evacu-
ated.
Orders have been received At Cape
Town for the Eighth division to be
disembarked and sent north immed-
ateiy on it's arrival there.
The BoeF forces in the neighborhood
of Paardeberg are reported 10 be as
lively engaged in marauding AID n
attempting to capture British horses
left on the veldt owing TO their weak
condition.
The transportation OF the prisoners
to St. Helena is arousing the anger OF
the Beers who threaten TO retalIate
by sending the British prisoners -
Koomatipoort reputed 10 be the worst
| fever den in South Africa.
Bloemfontein, March U.-General
Lord Roberts has sent a telegram or
| coincidence to President Kruger on the
| death OF General Joubert.
Rudyard Kipling has written a poem
| on Joubert's death which appears -
The Friend OF The Free State.
Kroonstad, o. F. s., March 3o.-
General Smuts today engaged the Brit
ish at Mafet kop, south OF Brandfort.
and held them at bay for six hours.
| The burghers fought well. the casu-
alties are unknow. The Free state
raad will assemble at Kroonstad AprA
End.
London, March 31-Lord Roberts to-
day reported to the war Office that he
| had received news from Colonel Ba-
| den-Powell at Mafeking up TO March
| 10th when the general health of the
| garrison and its spirits were good. the
locally made gun, searchlight and am
munition were working well, the food
was holding out well and the paper
| currency which the British commander
| had issued was satisfactory.
From Cape Town IL Is reported tAat
| President Steyn has gone to Pretoria
| after, according 10 refugees. issuing
| an order that all British burghers re-
fusing to join the Boer armies shall
| be shot. The stories OF refugees, how
| ever, are notoriously unreliable.
The news from elsewhere is meagre.
though the last reports from Natal in
| dicated the speedy clashing OF the op-
| posing armies.
The war Office has posted the follow
| ing dispatch from Lord Roberts dated
| at Bloemfontein, March 30th, evening:
Reports point to the enemys leav-
ing Brandfort and proceeding in a
| northerly direction. The casualties in
| yesterdays engagement were more
| numerous than at first reported: on
GERS killed, 2; wounded s. Rank and
| file killed 19; wounded 159; missing g.