Evening star., 1900-04-26
CHASING THE BOERS
Little Chance, However, for British
to Overhaul Them.
COUNTRY FAV0RS THEIR RETREAT
Commandant S. Cronje Reported
as Among the Killed.
EXPLOSION AT PRETORI A

LONDON. April 26.-All the interest in
the South African war is now centered in
the running fight in progress between the
burghers retreating from the southern por-
tion of the Orange Free State and Gen.
French's horsemen and the infantry of
Gems. Pole-Carew, Chermside and Rumble.
But the British hope of conclusive results
is slim at present, the Beers escaping un-
beaten. and having accomplished an i'm
mense amount of damage. They clung to
their positions as long it was safe to do
so. and they have now slipped off to hold
the next commanding ridge, through a
broken country, admirably suited for rear
guard defense.
Dispatches from Aliwal North, under date
of Wednesday. April %. say the Beers left
Wepener hurriedly that many of the
dead were left in the trenches unburied.
Commandant S. Cronje is reported to have
been killed
According to advices from Bloemfontein
the attempt Of the Beers at Brandfort to
get in touch with the command at Thaban-
chu was frustrated by a force dispatched
by Gen. Tucker from Glen.
dispatch from Pretoria reports the arri-
val there of Lord Rosslyn as an unwounded
prisoner.
MIR. Wyndham Explains.
In the house of commons today George
Wyndham. parliamentary secretary of the
war office, replying to questions, declared
Lord Roberts had made no comment what
ever on Gen Lord Mctiucn's Magersfon-
tein operations. Neither did Lord Roberts
dispatches indicate that the advance was
either retarded or modified by the scarcity
Of remOunts. he continued. AT the same
time, the secretary declared. it was true
that the expenditure of horsefiesh had ex-
ceeded all the estimates and that the war
office had iuNarI1 blV EYHpFdad he
tons from South Africa. The difficulty in
procuring ships had handicapped the au-
thcrities, but already this year they had
sent out - Oh horses and II 143 mules as
remouuts. in addition to those accompany
ing the troops, and by the end of May the
rcmOunjs delivered would number 1900
horses and 23,ooo mules.
To supply Rolling Stock.
Steps had also been taken to supply the
necessary rolling stock for the railroads
But as far as the government was aware
the military problem before Lord Roberts
had not turned on the question of remounts
or rolling stock. but the fact that Lord
Roberts had shifted his base from Cape
Town to BIoemfontcin. thus necessitating
the recap,urinz; and repair of the railroad
ard the clearing of the line of cOmmunica-
tiOns Tor a distance of 100 miles on a single
track. with a rise of 4.J(r0 feet. Regarding
the relief Of Mafeking, which all had at
mean l. lIlt secretary Ssllu Ile mouse WOULD
realize that speedy relief would not be
aided by divulEing the objective of any of
Lord Roberts forces.
James Lowther. conservative was hearth
ly rheered when he gave notice that he
would call attention. May D. 70 Lord Rob
erts' recent Spion Kop dispatches and move
the production Of further papers on the
subject.
Good News From Baden-Powen.
The war office has received the following
message from Lord Roberts:
BLOEMFONTEIN. April 25.-Good news
from BadenPoweIl up to April TO- Macla-
rem much better. All the wounded doing
well The Beers captured several native
women who were trying to escape from
Matck-ng, but these were turned back af-
ter being stripped and sjamboked."
Beers Retreat From Deyetsdrop.
A special dispatch from Dewetsdorp,
dated yesterday. says:
Owing TO the approach of General French
and to General Rundles persistent shelIing
the Beers relinqushed their positions last
night. retiring. with their guns. in a north
easterly direction. Generals French and
Rumble Joined hands east Of Dewetsdorp
this morning
General Rumble IS pursuing the Beers in
forced marches.