The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-04-13
Beers HELD
IN CHECK.
Stubborn Fighting AlllDay
on Tuesday Without
Great Loss of Life.

London, April 13.-The situation
at Bloemfontein continues unchang.
ed.
The Beers at Brandfort are in
trenching themselves PARALLEL to
and east of the railway. They still
hold the Bloemfontein water works
| and great force is also at Water
val Drift and no doubt has secure
communications with Olivier's COM
mandoes.
On the British side the country
around Bloemfontein is white with
tents OF the enormous force under
Roberts command, growing in
strength and receiving the much
needed horses and mules.
At Wepener the Colonials are
still holding out against the com.
mandoes surrounding them, they
are carefully outstanding their am.
munition. The presence OF Kitch-
ener at Aiiwal North may possibly
foreshadow swift rush by the
bulk OF Brabant s force to the rescue
of their comrades in cooperation
with the flying column which will
take the Beers in rear.
There is a feeling here of admira-
ton for the daring Boer strategy,
as also in Natal, where doubtless
they are fired with a desire to emu
late. the successes gained by their
brethren in the Free State.
Several attempts have been made
to cut off the Sunday River camp
from Ladysmith.
The desire to press forward to-
wards Dewdrop from Van Reenens
Pass towards the south by the
Helpmaaker portion Of Buffers
army which has been detached to
swell the troops of their command
er-in-chief may have helped to in
crease the efforts of General Botha.
London, Friday, April 13.-The
Times correspondent at Ladysmlth
in dispatch dated April II, says:
The centre and right position
held by the Beers yesterday is a
line of low hills following the semi
circular curve of Sunday River.
They are at the foot Of the hills OF
the Biggarsberg range forming the
northern side of the valley in which
the river runs.
Our camp is on lower ground to
the south of the river and to the
north Of the railway.
GNn {ha ,ract Of thncn hI11c
the Beers have dragged four field
guns, one to the west OF the Dundee
road, the rest to the east.
1t is reported by the kaffirs that
previous to their evening attack
they intended that only the usual
precautions should be taken, and
the first she'll came as complete
surprise.
The Durham Light Infantry were
drilling at the time in front OF our
camp when it was shelled. One
man was wounded. The first few
shells fell among the second divi-
sion, one passing through the West
Yorkshire Regiments mess tent
while the officers were at breakfast
The fire was then concentrated on
the naval camp. The naval guns
were still dashed behind the wa
CONS, as is their usual method Of
transport, and 1t took some time to
get them into action. However fire
was soon opened from the naval
camp, while the rest OF the guns
were being dragged toEhe emplace-
ments previously built, and i'll half
an hour all the naval guns were in
action and the enemy's fire was
checked. The firing remained brisk
for two hours, during which hall a
battalion of the West Yorhshres
advanced to kopje, close to the
river west of the Dundee road.
where theJ came under a heavy
shell and Maxlm-Vickers fire. They
we're also subjected to musketry
fire and were lucky in having only
one casualty.
The last news from Wepener
which has reached headquarters is
to the effect that Dalgettys force
has held its position outside the
town and the Rockville Commando
has occupied the town. All our
force is most hopeful that the pres
sure should be partially relieved
within the next twenty-tour hours.
Aliwal North, April 1.-THE
Colonial troops are still holding
their own splendidly lat Wepener.
Cannonading recommended this
morning. The Boer attack yester-
day was not very serious. The
British are carefully outstanding
their ammunition and their guns
are making excellent practice.
The Beers are short OF ammunition.
A patrol returning from Smith
field reports that small groups of
Beers are visible.
Pretoria, Wednesday, April H.
Advices from the Boer headquart-
ers in Natal say that after heavy
bombardment the British are re-
firing in the direction of Ladysmith
and the federals are going to their
old positions.
Struck AGAINST Their New Foreman.