Hutchinson gazette., 1900-04-12


london, April 1.-THE Boer attack
or Gen. Brnbant's force ut Wepener
was resumed again at dawn Tuesday.
Gen liabant's force, numbering from
5000 to 3,OOO,, hold positions in u
rough country. IL Is not known what
! the numerical strength OF the Beers
} Is, but whatever IL may be, II Is being
rapidly augmented, A body of 1000
is machng towards Springfontein
from Smithheld, between Wepener
aud Sringionten.
Mysterious movements Of troops ut
Bloemfontein are proceeding, The
/ newspaper correspondents are not al
lowed to telegraph their destinations,
and the presumption Is that Lore
Roberts is making dispositions to cus
OIL the raiding lioer forces when they
try TO withdraw northwnrd from the
pursuing British columns,
The re-appeHrance Of the Beers in
the occupied country has caused y
revival of the warlike feeling among
the Free Stnters of the Fauresmith
and Philippolis districts. The fed
ernl agents are busy getting details
OF the surrendered Beers, and owing
10 the British gariisons being with
drawn from these districts, the
British residents are uneasy and
sent delegates to Springfontein to
ask for help. They were told that
steps for their defense would be inn
medately taken.
The war office proposes to land at
Cape Town before the end of May
10000 hoGses which will be conveyed
there in 90 steamers sailing from New
Orleans, lIuenos Ayres and Australian
ports.
The Westminste3 Gazette likens
the British compaign TO "the fruit
less series of campaigns in which the
large, disciplined armies of Spain
sought TO crush the Cuban insurrec-
tion,' adding: "0f course our troops
far excel In valor and discipline the
conscript armies Of Spain and the
climate is in our favor, but our
enemies equally excel the ragged
leyles OF the Cuban insurgents"
In connection with the resumption
of hostilities in Natal an interesting
rmor is current that Gen. Butler has
obtained command of one of the
Dnrkkensberg. passes whereby he
hopes TO take the Beers in the rear.
I'm the event of his being successful,
Gen. Butler has enough troops 10
lenye 10000 men to hold Natal while
he advances by way of lIarrismith,
whence he would be able to threaten
the Bocr positions at Bethlehem and
KroonstNd.
Boers Greatly Enoourag cd.
Bethulie, April LIT Is expected
that the Beers will endenvor to re-
take and destroy the bridge over the
Orange river. Consequently eXtraor-
dinnry precautions have been taken
4 force of Beers is located 12 miles
east As II matter Of fact, the Beers
practically again hold the Free State
eastward of the railroad and are
greatly encouraged by their sue
ccsses at Reddersburg and Korn
Spruit.
Boer Prisoners Reach H. Helena.
Island OF ST. Helena, April little
Niohc and the Milwaukee have arrived
here with Boer prisoners. Their health
is good, with the exception Of four
cases of measles necessitatng the Mil
waukce being quarnntined The prS-
oners are quiet and well behaved. The
governor has been notified Of the de-
sire Of the authorities that the pris-
oners be treated with every courtesy
and consideration.
Cheering News from Mafeking.
Buluwayo, March 31.---Col. Baden
Powell wires from Mafeling under
date Of March "a, confirming the re-
port that the Beers had been pushed
back so far that the town was com
parativeIy out of range Of musketry.
lie concludes with saying; "Au
promises well for eventually cutting
of this force Of the enemy II we can
hold Snyman here"
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