Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-15
STILL IN RETREAT
Beers MAKING PRACTICALLY NO
STAND AGAINST BRITISH.
PEACE OVERTURES MADE
Report That Afrikanders Offered to
Quit But on Terms Out OF the Cues
tlon-Roberts Achieves Another
Success-kruger' Fervid Appeal
London Wild Over Victoria.

London, March 9.-The beers an
pear to have made no stand whatever
that while in retreat thew
twice repulsed Gen. French's cavalry
with rife fire. AS no report has been
made Of the capture of prisoners. the
enemy probably got away with its en-
tire force. Gen. French is still follow
ing and keeping between the beers
and Bloemfontein. The evacuation of
the northern districts of Cape Colony
is now nearly complete Military crit
les comment on the discouraging news
from Mafeking. Col. Baden-Poweu
seems TO be in grave need of outside
help. Gen. White is to go to Storm
berg to take supreme command of Gen.
Gatacre's division. The Daily News
makes the following editorial an
nouncement: 1T is rumored in Lon
don and We have some reason for be-
Iieving it, that formal unofficial over
lures of peace were recently made.
Unfortunately the conditions suggest
ed were Of such a character as to pre-
clude the possibility of leading to any
been gladly accepted before the war,
in order to avert it, were impossible
after the war with all the sacrifice it
has entailed"
Roberts Again Successful.
Osfontein March s.~-Lord Roberts
movement Wednesday again thorough
ly surprised, outwitted and outmaneuv-
cred the beers, who fled almost with
out firing a shot. Gen. Kelly-Kennys
division was ordered to make a huge
movement on the beers left.
following Gen. French who was in
structed to move to the southeast I'M
til opposite the boer flank, then to
swing around in the rear. Every
movement was admirably executed and
entirely successful. The beers were
surprised as was evident from the
state of the deserted camps The
British cavalry was almost in a posi-
ton to charge but was foiled by the
manouvering of the beers. When last
seen, Gen. French was pursuing the
enemy vigorously. He is between
them and Bloemfontein, about eleven
miles from their right wing 1t IS i'm
possible at present to give the boer
numbers, but it is estimated they
reach 1000, all of whom are now in
flight"
London Wild Over Queen.
No ~; i
Victoria along the Thames embank-
ment yesterday was the occasion of d
popular outburst of enthusiasm as has
seldom been seen in London Her
arrival was marked by scenes of en-
thusiasm unparalleled since the jubilee
celebration. Throughout the demon
STATIONS there predominated a note Of
triumph and the cheers made the
murky streets ring.
The queen visited the city in the
evening, reaching its confines on the
embankment opposite the Temple
steps, about 4 o'clock, where she was
welcomed by the lord mayor and cor
poration in robes of state The lord
mayor presented her majesty with the
city sword Of state With a smile the
queen touched the sword and returned
it to the lord mayor, saying" I thank
you for all my city has done" Then
the life guards trotted on and the
sombre dressed queen drove quickly
along the embankment, which was
black with cheering people. By
o'clock the queen, going by way of
HOlborn and Oxford streets, had re-
turned to Buckingham palace. The
whole metropolis assumed a gala as
pect. Thousands of people wore red,
white and blue badges and flags,
while buttons and medals of Generals
Roberts, Kitchener, Butler, White and
others found a huge sale. Whenever
the soldier or sailor appeared he was
almost mobbed, so anxious was the
populace to show its patriotism. The
scene in the quadrangle of the palace
after the queens arrival when
the lords and commoners
Joined in singing the nation
al anthem was unprecedented
probably never before occurring dur
ing the present reign. Viscount Croos
and Mr. Chamberlain acted as spokes-
men and graciously greeted the royal
visitor, but it was to Lady Butler that
the queen turned quickly with CRATE
full smile. Then, in the presence of the
legislators of the united kingdom,
drawing the wife Of the reliever Of
Ladysmith closer to her, she whispered
words of thanks. After it was all over
and while the cheering crowd of 5000
people still hung outside the palace,
the queen dined with the prince and
princess of Wales, the duke and
duchess of York and other members Of
the royal family. As the evening ad-
vanced, the crowds increased. Red
fire burned and the whole concourse
took up God Save the Queen This
was kept up until the balcony window
opened and one of the royal party, be-
lieved to be the prince of Wales, ap-
peared After a yociferous outburst,
he disappeared and then the crowd
broke up and the demonstration, such
as has not been seen in London in
many years, came to an end.
Kruger's Fervid Appeal.
Pretoria, March ga special dis
patch from Bloemfontein, dated March
s, says President Kruger in address
ing the crowd said: although God is
testing our people, my personal opin-
ion is that the limit Of the test is
nearly reached. If the people are sus-
tanned by faith in their adversely, God