Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-04-13
Daily Kcnrebec Journal.
HOPEFUL WORDS
Continued from page ~

1t is calculated that Lord Roberts
now has 2li.00O effective troops, with
12.O 900 more afloat or under orders.
The war office has instructed officers
not to take any more expanding bull
lets to Africa for rcvolvers.
Hilyard Stcyn. brother Of President
Stcyn, in the course Of an interview at
Bloemfontcin. said: The original war
plan Of the Beers was to uVcrrun all
cape Colony. but, on becoming involV-
ed in the siegcs of Kimberley and
Ladysmith. the burghers found the de
sign spoiled. To this | attribute the
Boer failure to conquer the British. l
expect the war TO last until Christ
mas"
The seventh month Of the war is be
ginning with Easter tide ana the morn
ing paper editorials cXpatiatc upon the
need Of sobcrness.
a dispatch to the Daily Mail from
Lourenzo Marquee. dated. Thursday.
says: 1T is reported from Pretoria
that a Boer commando is moving
through Basutoland. This is said to be
a clever ruse to draw the British away
from Wepener. About 1000 foreigners
constitute lilt new lpItlSH I'SlbI III
Pretoria, including some Cossacks in
uniform. Several fresh recruits left
here for Pretoria, today, including 4
French captain. brother Of the late
Gen. De Villebois Mareuil"
The Bloemfontein correspondent Of
the Times, telegraphing, Thursday.
says: THE latest news is that Col.
Dalgety's force occupies a position out
side Wepener, while the Readville COM
mando occupies the town itself The
pressure there should be partially re
lieved within the next "a hours. Lieut..
Nix, the Dutch military attache, who
was wounded at Koorn Spruit, died,
today, under an operation"
The Bloemfontein correspondent of
the Daily Telegraph, telegraphing.
Wednesday, says: Lord Roberts
wisely declines to exhaust his men and
horses in hunting the elusive Beers
until his preparations are complete
He will leave to the enemy the barren
comfort of the occupation of a few
farms for a short time"
The Copenhagen correspondent of the
Daily Mail says: Lord Roberts, in a
telegram to the Prince of Wales ten
dering congratulations on behalf Of the
troops in South Africa upon the escape
of the Prince at Brussels. spoke very
hopefully of the situation at the front"
Cape Town, April 12.-The Bloemfon-
TEN correspondent of the Cape Argus
says: "Oliviers commando is moving
in the direction of Smithfield. Five
different laagcrs are located between
Bethany and the Kaffir river, lying
parallel to the railway, u miles east
ward"
Aliwal North, April 12.-The colonial
troops are still holding their own
splcndidly at Wcpencr. CannonadinE
rec mmeuced. This morning. The Boer
attack, yesterday. was not very seri-
Gus. The British are carefully hus-
banding their ammunition ana their
guns are making excellent practice.
The Beers are short of ammunition. a
patrol returning from Smithfield re-
ports that small groups of Beers are
visible
News from a Rocr source at Wepcner.
officially communicated. says that four
Bocr guns have been disabled and four
communicates Killed or wounded Tues
day night, the British made 4 sortic,
capturing 4 Eocr gun ana taking some
prisoners.
Pretoria, Wednesday,. April IL
Heavy cannonading was heard, this
morning in the direction of Iiultfnn-
tein, situated midway between VIM
burg and Boshof. in the Orange Free
State and north of FRANKFORT.
Advices from the Boer headquarters
in Natal say that after heavy BON
bardment the British are retiring in
the direction Of Ladysmith and tn
federals are going to their old posi-
tons.
Adviccs from Wepencr, whore the
British, force is surrounded. say tho
battle continues favorable to the f#'-
erals. About 1900 British troops are
said to be there.
The Free State Gazette publishes or
ders to- the effect that no person who
has been communicated for active scr
vice has the right to send 4 substitute
without the consent Of the landrost. IN
reference to leaves Of absence the Ga
zette says that 10 per cent. of each
command will be relieved by ballot for
periods Of u days each. This is in
N'''N''' ~ iIlttJ lIle " lSiltS VI ti4'
burghers desiring to plant their crops.
London, April PA special dispatch
from Elandslaagte dated Wednesday.
says: Fighting was renewed beyond
Eiandslaagte. this afternoon The
noers steadily advanced upon the Brit
lSn positions. There was a continuous
!Iie hre and the Boer big guns were
III action. The British replied effec-
livery and after two hours fighting the
boers We're checked"
naples April 12-The Transvaal
MISSION accompanied by DR.. Muller
a"u r. Jonkhorr Van Rooschoten.
started this morning, for Milan.
Wall uo"' april 12.-Elandslaagte and
SM o,pp still monopolize attention. At
ions places places a series of indecisive act
of tho occurring. The Boer report