The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-05-04
THE WAR IN
SOUTH AFRICA
Important Developments Must
Occur In Near Future.

LONDON, April 2t.-All attention is
conferred on the interesting though COM
plicatcd situation i'll the southeastern
portion of the Orange Free State, from
which developments of the utmost I'M
portanco must ensuc IN the near future
General Rumble, it will bc seen, has
been confronting tho Beers ut Dcwct's
dorp i'll stronger force than ne cares to
engage and SO he is marking time pond
ing the arrival of support. While Cen
cral Rundle Is preparing to strike Dew
cts dorp, Generals Brabant and Hart
are pushing along the frontier Of Basu-
toland where they will be able to frus-
tratc any attack on General Rundlc'H
right and Generals French and Pole
Carcw are approaching from Blocmfon-
tein to bar the Bocr line of retreat
northward.
III the meanwhile tho burghcr forces
occupying Tbaba N'Chl arc i'll posi-
ton to fight delaying action, giving
the Boer forces at Dcwcts dorp and
Wcpcncr time to retire i'll case of defeat,
and it seems as though General French
must dispose OF this Thabn N'Chu forco
before ne can reach the rear of the Boer
forces opposing Generals Rumble and
Brabant, otherwise his flank will bo
open to assault.
The Beers driven out of Lceuw kop
will probably rally at Thaba N'Chu,
where n stiff fight may be expected.
Should the British fail in this attcmpt
to bring about another Paartlcburg it
must Immensely affect the larger issues
of the war, as it will undoubtedly lead
to Il persistent repetition of the guerrilla
tactics which, have been largely rcSpou-
slble for the pcnning up of Lord Roberts
at Bloemfontcin for so many weeks.
During the course of General Ander.
sons advance on Lecuw Eop the Cana.
dianS found themselves i'll II tight cor.
nor Sunday near DonlIcrpoort The Ca.
madam mounted infantry went out tn
reconnoitre the Bocr position and ap.
preached within 300 yards of II farm fly.
ing the hospital flag under cover OF
which the Beers opened such hot fir
Oh the Canadians that they were unable
to attempt to retire until another force OF
Canadians covered their retreat by
threatening the rear of the Bocr posi-.
tiOn.
Beers Driven From Their Position.
LEEUw Kop, April 24-The Beers re.
tired from their positions here so hur.
riedly that they left quantity of am.
munition and many rifles behind them
When the WarwickShirc regiment took
the farmhouse at the foot of the ridge,
the Beers pompomS inflicting no dam.
age, the Welsh regiment advanced along
the WnrwickShire' left and approached
the ridge, experiencing IL cross fire.
When the Beers fed they were obliged
to move for some distance along the sky
line and the artillery planted shell
with great accuracy, it bursting Just
above the Bocrs, rolling over three
horses.
1t appears that General Dickinson met
viii. -t-r.-~:.:--.., eiro IIrIIig rirvii
rifles at long range. Their position was
one of great natural strength.
General Pole Carcw's admirable dis
position of his force thoroughly puzzled
the Beers, who Were unable to see the
direction of the attack owing to the
deep spruit.
The British artillery was unable to
join the right in time to reply to the
Boer gun which was shclling the mount
ed infantry vigorously. The shells,
however, burst 300 yards high and did
no damage. 1t is stated that General
Dewet holds the waterworks with q
strong force. The Beers who hold Lecuw
kop trcllkCd to the eastward General
French sent ont body of cavalry to tho
south, and IL few shots were heard, but
apparently the Beers do not hold strong
positions anywhere i'll close proximity to
the Leeuw hOp.
The shclling of Warrcnton was re.
sumcd yesterday morning, the fire being
directed at the British river RedoubtS,
which arc steadily being pushed for.
ward. The Beers appear to be in stronger
force down the river and the ycomanry
patrols are frequently sniped. 1t is CON.
fidently believed that important devel.
opments are not far off.
BOcr Bulletin Reports Victory.
PRETORIA. April 24.-An official bull
letin issued here says:
"The FcdcralS continue their fighting
Mt Wepener and have captured a herd
of Brabant'S cattle and horses
'.Dcwct'S losses at Dewet's dorp was
one man killed and six wounded. The
British lost 20 captured, killed and
wounded The British are retiring be.
yOnd Dewet'S dorp.
"CronJc reports that with q strong
command he attacked the British north
OF Boshof. A heavy engagement fol-
lowed and the English We're driven from
kopje to kopjo. The fc;lcrals displayed
great couras @ and resolution and spirit
edly chased tn enemy in the direction
of Boshof. Only two burghcrs wcro
wounded. The British lost Is men
killed and left three wounded and eight
prisoners i'll the hands of the burghers. +"
The Conf referred to is Commandans
Cronjc, second son of the famous Boer
general now prisoner Oh the island OF
st. Helena.
Buller Advancing on Wepcncr.
40