Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-08

! news from Field Marshal Lord Rob
| erts. attention turns to Natal. 1t is
reported that Gen. Butler has pushed
| forward a force along the Harrismith
railroad towards Van Reeneens pass,
using the railroad freely for communi-
cations. 1t appears that the Beers in
tend to take up strong position at
| Riggarsberg range and contest the
Glencoe passes. although it hardly
seems likely that Gen. Butler will at
tempt to force these for the present.
But his plans are almost as secret as
those Of Lord Roberts.
While waiting for the important de
velopments which are daily expected
to occur in the Free State, rumors of
peace recur. The second edition of the
Times. this MORNING. contains dis
patch from cape Town which says
there is a crying need for an explicit
statement by the British ministry that
nothing short Of annexation is intend
ed in order 10 damp the mischievous
agitation that is going on under the
preteXt If a demand for peace"
Another list of the casualties Sus-
tanned by Gen. Buffers forces from
L en-. IA 10 i en-. - SHOWS. hlIleU, l-o,
wounded, 515; missing. "a.
OF these losses of the Inniskillings
We're as follows: Killed. "a: wounded,
1862: missing, -: Dublin Fusiliers, kill
ed, Il; wounded, 81; missing, Is; Con-
naught Rangers, killed. 10; wounded,
105; missing. s; Royal Irish Fusiiers,
killed, II; wounded. So: missing. 9
Scots Fusiliers. killed, Is; wounded. IS;
missing, .. With the list of casual
ties issued, Monday. this makes the
total cost to the rank and file in the
final relief of Ladysmith 1859 men.
Cap" Town, March An undated
telegram from Colesbcrg says that the
Australian Regiment has been honorcd
by visit from Lord Kitchener
The Arundel column has been largely
reinforced.
An official notification has been is
sued that the Qucentown proclamation
Of February - regarding certain terms
offered the rebels by Gen. Brabant in
event Of their surrender, has been
withdrawn. but those in arms against
England may return to their farms up
on surrendcring their weapons. receiv-
ing pass but they are liable to later
called to account.
Ladysmith March 5.-Thcre are no
Beers within 20 miles Of here. Plenty
Of supplies are available and the
troops are quickly recovering their
strength. Many Of the volunteers have
been granted furloughs.
London. March 7.-i16 z. MA
special dispatch from Durham says a
flying column of British troops from
Zululand has entered the Transvaal
and has been daily skirmishing with
small parties of Beers. The force con-
ssts Of mounted infantry, Natal scouts
and artillery, all commanded by Major
Prendergast. The column first cross
ed the border, Feb. IS. 1t now occu-
pies an entrenched position on Catas
hill, . miles within the Transvaal
Boer Camp. Biggarsberg. Saturday,
March 3.-The federals have fallen
back on the BiggarSberg chain that
crosses Natal south of Dundee. The
retreat from Ladysmith was due to
the mistake of a certain commandant
in ordering his men to retire from the
key of the position without any reason |
for the move. On the receipt of the |
bad news from the Modder river |
Wednesday. it was resolved to send |
the wagons back to Biggarsberg and |
soon long strings of OK wagons lined !
the roads. over thousand wagons |
took the westerly route to the lager |
southwest of Ladysmith. Another |
convoy was sent to the foot of the ,
Drakensberg. A large number of tents |
captured from the British at Dundee |
and also the ammunition We're aban-
doned.
The chief difficulty was in dismount-
ing Long Tom.
The Beers were independent of the !
railway. as is shown by the fact that
not one of their 2000 wagons went by
rail. All travelled by road, together
with the field batteries. Only the
heavy guns. the infantry and wounded
went by rail.
when the last train had left Glands
1aagte. Il Workmen'S train followed.
carefully blowing up every bridge and
culvert between Ladysmith and Glen
coe and when this had been done, set