The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1900-04-11
is REPULSED.
Twenty OF His Men Killed In an En.
sounter Near Mafeking.
aossIp ABoUr war I'M TRANsYAAL
Bodies OF K3oers ON HorseS Have Boon
Discovered at Several PlaeeA
ThreateninR Roberta Rail-
road Communicated,

f3scTll Lflls.ts = as'l4as s3ll-t.sf ~
London, April Detached bodies OF
Beers on horses, numbering 500 to
1000 each, have appeared et several
places to the southward and eastward
of Bloemfontein, threatening the rail-
road, but communication by wire ana
rail is not In the least Rffeoted.
one of these forces Is near East
Springfonteln, on the Rloemfontein
railroad, and General aatacre's torces
are reported to be about to engage IT,.
Lord Roberts expects TO safeguard
the railroad and seemingly declines to
send columns chasing the Boer bands.
He IL reservinH his cavalry and trans
port animals for the forward moves
ment.
Explanations having indirect origin
in tho war ofioe as to why Lord Rob
erts is inactive are that there has been
a lack OF horses for remounts. but now
horses are arriving by train loads
hourly. The pressure on the railroad
Is so great that private parcels and
Ghe ofnoers papers have not been for
warded from Cape Town for three
weeks. The situation in the Free state
is far from clear, and Is unsatisfactory
to British observers.
The sickness among the Boer prls-
oners at Simonstown continues TO In
crease. Five men died April g. The
prisoners who were on board tho
transport Mongolian have been trans
ferred to the shore camp. Unless the
sickness abates II is not likely that
more prisoners will be sent to ST.
Helena.
A dispatch from Cape Town an-
SIY. ha nj
tho second contingent of Canadian
mounted infantry.
I'm President steSh'S spoooh.U
Pretoria, April Sin his speooh at
the opening of tho Free state Eaa1
President Steyn declared that. In spite
of the surrender of Bloemfontein, he
had not lost hope OF the triumph OF the
republican cause. The war, he eaid,
was forced upon the TTNnsvaa1, and
nothing remained for the Orange Free
State but to throw In its lot with the
sister republic in accordance with the
terms of the treaty. Tho war. he oon-
tInued, WAS begun with The object OF
maintaining by arms the Independence
bought with the blood of tho fore
fathers of the nation, and had been so
successful that It had caused the great
est wonder throuEhout the world, and
even to tho Beers themselves. After
paying a tribute to the memory OF
General Joubert. President steyn said
tho British, Notwithstanding their
overwhelming numbers. were violating
the flag of truce and tho red GROSS. and
he was compelled to report the matter
to the neutral powers, The president
further remarked that the attempt to
create diBsOnBion among the burgherB
by tho issuing OF proclamations had
failed. Referring 70 the correspond
Once between the South African presi-
dents and Lord Salisbury, President
steyn proceeded: mot only were those
efforts made. but the republic had dis
patched deputation TO Europe and
America to bring the influence Of nou-
trail powers In order to secure q ecssa-
tion of the bloodshed, and greatly
desire that these efforts bo crowned
with success. After saying that the
government had raised q Temporary
loan with the TransYaal, President
steyn concluded with prayer that the
Free State be preserved from being
forced TO give UP it's dearIy-Ioyed Inc
dependence"