The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-17
B0ER FORCES SCATTERING.
REPORTED TO HAVE ABANDONED
SIEGE OF WEPENER.

They Are Said to Be Moving in Sew
eraI Directions - Indications Are
That Roberts Is Clearing the
southern Part of the Free State.
Beers Are Hoping for American In
observation-disclosures of Hunger Is BE-
ing Felt at MnfeISing.
London, April II, AIS a. m.-Lord Rob
erts has spread his net far and wide to
catch the adventurous commanders that
have been making mischief in the south
eastern part of the state.
The net has not yet been drawn in; but
at the headquarters of Lord Roberts, the
impression exists that the power of the
Beers is decreasing.
A Daily News correspondent has them
fleeing to the southeast; a Standard cor
respondent reports them fleeing north
ward; a Daily Telegraph correspondent
says that some are going north and others
south, while a Morning Post correspond
ent says it is not known what the Beers
are doing
Evidently the feeling at Bloemfonten
Is that the dispositions of Lord Roberts
are such as to enable him to concentrate
large force rapidly at any point The
Beers, being aware of this. are presumed
to be thinking now chiefly of retreat
The investment of Wepener, according
to special dispatch from Bloemfontein
has absolutely been abandoned Accord
ing TO a Bethany dispatch the Beers are
unable to retreat northward, because the
British strongly hold all roads,
Diverse reports come from Natal one
asserting that the Beers have retired be-
yond Biggarsburg range and another say
ing THAI some of them are close to Lady
smith.
London Eager for Good News,
London waits confidently for an almost
immediate announcement of news favor
able to be British. iDstrust exists. how
ever as to any rapid continuous advance
toward Pretoria, chiefly on account of the
lack of horses many of which die in the
case of the long voyages.
Letters from the Cape say that the three
days journey by rail is made in the open
trucks, that the arrangements for feed
ing and watering are inadequate and that
the unfortunate animals break down rap
idly in consequence of these hardships
Despite the energy of it's buyers abroad,
the war office foPsees much difficulty in
supplying the enormous number of horses
required.
Want American Intervention.
The Lorenzo Marquee correspondent of
the Daily Mail, telegraphing Sunday April
10, says
'The tone of the Standard and Diggers
News shows that the Transvaal govern
ment is relying strongly upon American
Intervention Great results are expected
from the campaign of Webster Davis and
from the presidential contest
while the blockade of Delagoa
bay has not done the slightest harm TO
the Transvaal, it has enriched foreign
firms at the expense of ruined Britishers"
Situation at NafeI1ing.
The Daily Mail has the following from
Lady Sarah Wilson, dated Mafeking, April
5:
'The pinch of hunger is beginning to be
felt, and reli seems more distant than
ever Since March 81 there had been no
shelling until to-day, Commandant Sny-
man having taken his burghers to bar Col
Plumer's road. Yesterday, however he
returned and the bombardment was re-
newed to-day with splendid high velocity
guns. firing 14-pouud shells such as had
not been used since the first days of the
siege
"The military authorities say the Bit
ish artillery has nothing 10 compare with
these guns"
Lorenzo MARQUEE, April 16.-Ileut.
Smth-Eman, a Rhodesan scout, who en-
tered Mafeking through the Boer lines,
has returned to Col Plumer's camp with
dispatches from Mafekng, saying that all
was well there April 8.