The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-26
An Explosion in Government Ar
senaI at Pretoria.
Wrecks the Building and Kill:
Ten WOrkmen.
RETIRE FROM WEPENER
Siege Raised on Near Approach
of the British.
No Attempt Made to Pursue the
Retreating Beers.

Pretoria, Wednesday. April 25--A
serious explosion occurred at the Beg
bic works used by the government as an
arsenal last night The walls of the
building were destroyed and the struc-
lures in the neighborhood were mass
OF flames The shfieks of women and
children in the adjoining streets added
TO the ghastliness of the scene.
Ten workmen were killed and 81 were
injured, including Herr Grunberg, the
manager of the works. The most i'm
portant Of the machinery was saved.
The cause of the explosion is un-
known. The works employed 200 per-
sons.
The Red Cross ambulance did good
work in helping the wounded.
BOERS ABANDON DE VETS DORP.
De Vets Dorp, April 25.-Evening-
Gen. French entered this town today
with two cavalry brigades. He left
camp at daylight and found Beers hold
ing the hills. These were shelled and
the Beers retreated. The cavalry push
ed around the position Of the Beers above
the town where they were holding Gen.
Rumble in check. 1t is reported that
5000 Beers passed through the town last
night in order to avoid Gen. French's
attack in the rear.
FRENCH AND RUMBLE JOIN
HANDS.
London, April PA special dispatch
from De Vets Dorp dated yesterday
says: Owing to the approach of Gen.
French and to Gen. Rundle's persistent
shelling the Beers relinquished their
positions last night, retiring with their
guns in a northeasterly direction. Cen
erals French and Rumble joined hands
cast Of De Vets Dorp this morning.
Gen. Rumble is pursuing the Beers in
forced marches.
SIEGE OF WEPENER RAISED.
London, April 25.-The war Office has
Issued the following from Lord Roberts
dated Bloenlfontein, April 25, 1925 p. m:
The enemy retired from in front of
Wepener last night and this morning
fled uortheastward along the Lady
brand road. Their number was between
1000 and 5000"
1t is now apparent that the chances
Of Lord Roberts catching the retreating
Beers in a net are very slender. The
Beers have everywhere retired at the
hrst pressure of the British advance,
and the hope that Gen. Rumble would
be able to induce them to remain at
Dewetsdorp until they had been forced
to fight or surrender has been disap-
pointing.
No attempt was made to pursue the
commanders retiring from Wepener.
Everything now depends upon the pro-
gress OF Gen. French's cavalry brigades,
L.
hilly and practically unknown country
The cavalry have already had a long
march over heavy and sandy roads and
nothing is known regarding the cOndi-
tion of the horses. In any case it is
now a race between the federals and the
forces of General French and General
Hamilton. The slowness of the recent
movements of the British Infantry and
previous experience of the ability of the
Beers to move rapidly with guns and
baggage, over their own country, lead
10 a belief that Lord Roberts envelop-
Ing operations will fail and will have to
be repeated further north. At the most
he win perhaps capture some Boer guns
and baggage and hurry the retreating
burghers.
Considerable results have been attain
ed In the relief of Wepener and in the
clearing of the southeastern corner of
the Free State Of Beers, but the Boer
to be dealt with.
Besides the casualties among the
men the Boer bombardment of Colonel
Dalgety position wrought great havoc
among the cattle and horses The gar
rison could have held out for another
fortnight. but 1t is in no condition to
render much assistance in pursuing the
A special dispatch from Pretoria
dated Tuesday. says that the Beers
have re-occupied Boshof the British re-
firing.
The Times has the following from z
special correspondent dated Mafetine
Basutoland, April 25:
rode from Jammersburg here
sklrting Wepener, and I met Genera
Brapant,s advance guard four mile:
successful fights. Saturday, Sunday an(
uesuay, with twenty-five casualties
Ihe siege was raised and 5000 of tn,
enemy retired along the Iadvhra M
road within our sight and unpursued
Colonel Dagety's casualties are 3
killed and 1872 wounded"
WORD FROM BADEN-POWEII
London. April 26.-1:53 p. m.-The wa
office has received the following mes
sage from Lord Roberts:
"BloemfOntein, April 25-Good ,ev,
from Baden-Powell up to April 10. Mac
Laren much better. All the xvounde.
doing well. The Beers captured seIera
native women who were trying to escap
from Mafeking. but these were tur.ne
back after being stripped"
DEATH OF YOUNG CRONJE RE
PORTED.
London, April 26-All the interest 4,
the South African war is now centere
IN the running fight in progress betwee
the purghers retreating from the south
ern portion of the Orange Free Stat
and Gen. F'rench's horsemen and m
infantry of Generals Pole -Carew. .Chernn
side and Rumble. But the British hon
OF conclusive results is slim at presenf
the Beers escaping unDeatpn and bav
ing accomplished an immense amour
OF damage. They clung to their position
as long as it was safe to do so an
they, have now slipped off to hold tn
next commanding ridge through
broken country admirably suited for
rear guard defense.
Dispatches from AliWal North unde
date Of Wednesday, April 25. say tn
Beers left Wepener so hurriedly tha
many Of the dead were left in tn
trenches unburled. C0mmandant
CrOnie is reported TO have bann ILL.,