The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-17
LATEST AFRICAN WAR NEWS.
Butler Attacked While Changing His
Posftfon-British Casualties to Date.
General Gatacre Recalled.

London, April H., 5 a. m.-There is
little fresh intelligence from the seat
of wal in South Africa. It looks as
though Lord Roberts may be prepar-
ing TO al a strong force to clear the
Beers from behind him A Cape Town
dispatch says he will not move for an
other week. owing to h necessity Of
gathering stores and supplies.
Sir William Gatacre's sudden re-
movaI is the theme of much specula-
tion TIL curt manner in which II Is
announced causes much comment. The
general impression is that it is connec-
ted with the Reddersburg affair, al
though there are many who consider
that there must be something more Sc
rious as other generals in South Africa
have been retained in command after
blunders more formidable than Gaia
cre's.
The war office has received no news
of the death of Colonel Baden-Powell,
and utterly discredits the rumor.
The operations in Natal have not
yet been fully explained. There ap-
pears to have been an attempt to out
flank the British at E~landslaagte and
to sever them from their base at
Ladysmith.
Pretoria, Tuesday, April 1O-The
latest news from the front is that
fighting is continuing at Elandslaagte,
CNataD and DeWet's dort, Orange
Free State, but no particulars have
been received.
1t is reported here tina Colonel Ba-
den-Powell, Che British commander at
Mafeking) is dead.
London, April 1.-THE war office has
received the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts:
"Bloemfontein, April 11.-Buller re-
ports that the enemy attacked his right
flank yesterday while he was engaged
in changing his position, but u ar
tillery silenced their guns n they
did not press the attack. Our losses
were four men killed and eight men
wounded. There is 10 further news
yet from Wepener."
TOTAL BRITISH CASUALTIES.
London, April 1.-THE war office is
sued this afternoon a return of the to-
tai British casualties up to April 7th.
1t was as follows:
Killed in action, 211 officers and 1860
men; died of Wounds, As officers and
465 men; missing and prisoners, 16S Of
ficers and 1922 men; died of disease,
AZ officers and 1,4S5 men; accidental
deaths, 3 officers n "a men; repatria-
ted invalidS, 2S8 officers n 4,949 men;
total 1885, exclusive of the sick and
wounded now in hospital.
To the war office returns of casualties
must be added the losses of the last
week and the wounded, ag~gregating
% 10000, making a grand total of
upwards of $4,000 officers and men put
out of action.
THE FIGHTING AT GLANDS
LAAGTB.
. Ladysmith, Tuesday, April 10.-The
Pnarc nnono1 fro this mnrninO CARLY
sending shells into the British camp at
Elandslaagte from three positions
widely separated. The shells did no
damage. The troops moved out to
~reconnoitre and found the Beers in
strong force and well fortified. A ma
val Al inch gun replied to h Beers,
who have again placed a Long Tom
in position.
CHANGES In BRITISH COMMAND
Bloemfontein, April 10.-General Cat
acre, the commander of the Third di-
vision is about to return to England.
General Polo-Carew has been appoint
ed to the command of the eleventh di-
vision.
Several changes are likely to be made
in the brigade commands.
London, April u.-Lord Roberts
wires to the war office from Bloemfon-
tein under date of Tuesday, April 10th
as follows:
The enemy have been very active
during the past few days. One COM
mando is now on the north bank of the
Orange river, not far from Aliwal
North, while another is attacking
Wepener. The garrison there is hold
ing out bravely and inflicted serious
loss on the Beers. Major Syringe, of
the mounted rifles. was killed No
other casualties have been reported as
yet. The troops are being moved up
rapidly; a patrol of six men OF the
Seventh dragons, d Lieutenant
Wetherley, which had been reported
missing since April 7th, has returned
safely"
AS the foregoing does not mention
the alleged British reverse on Satur-
day at Meerkatsfontein, the Boer tel
egrams are not credited at the war
office and they are further diScredited
on account of the discrepancies in the
dispatches, as Meerkatsfortein In one
message is located near Brandfort,
and in another it is located southeast
of Bloemfontein, the places being 100
miles apart.
General Gatacre'S return to England
is accepted as being i'm the nature OF
a recall, though no reason is given for
it and it will be associated in the pub
lie mind with the lack of success.
Lord Roberts criticised his manage
ment of the Stormberg attack and pos
sibly Gatacre's having reached there
an hour and a half too late to rescue
the Reddersburg force may have de-
cided his return.
The Rhueter Telegram Company's
correspondent at Ahwal North wiz
ing at $3.50 o'clock his morning says:
.sThere is no further news from WEEP
euer. Too cloudy to Telegraph. More
British troops are arriving.
BRABANT CONFIDENT IN HIS
DnCTTTnN
London April 12.-The Bloemfontein
correspondent of The Times telegraph
ing Wednesday says: Bra
bants forces are confident OF being
able to hold out. The Beers, AFTER
Showing considerable dash, have way
cred on reaching the final issue and
have struck at least the vital point,
III they are greatly handicapped
by their proximity to the Basuto Dor
der.
ssOr-;r~ RI tho cf-ofaoiool onncQntra-