The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1900-04-14
BOERS ARE STILL Advancing
HEAVY CANNoNADING HEARD
Boer Headquarters Report British
Retirfng-General Brabant IL Still
Alive-BOers Insist ON Active
Work In the Field.

Retiring-General Brabant IL Still
Alive-BOers Insist ON Active
Work In the Field.
London, April ia special dispatch
from Elandslaagte says:
Fighting has been renewed beyond
Elandslaagte. The Beers steadily advanc-
ed upon the British positions. There was
a continuous rifle fire and the Boer big
guns were in action. The British replied
effectively, and after two hours fighting
the Beers were checked"
still Fighting at Wepener.
Pretoria, April l3.-Advices from
Wepener, where the British forces were
surrounded, say the battle continues fa-
vorable to the federals. About 1900 Brit
ish troops are said to be there. Heavy
cannonade was heard in the direction of
Bellefontein, situated midway between
Windburg and Boshof, in the Orange Free
State, and north of Brandfort. Advices
from Boer headquarters in Natal say that
after heavy bombardment the British
are retiring in the direction of Lady
smith and the federals are going to their
old positions.
Details Are Scarce.
London, April l3.-Elandslaagte and
Wepener still monopolize attention. At
both places q series of indecisive actions
are occurring. The Boer report Of the
fighting on April 10 at Eandslaagte ayers
that the advance on the British camp
was made with the loss of only three
mules and two horses, while the British
losses, says the same report, must have
been heavy. The bombardment lasted all
day.
Nothing has been learned regarding the
rumor of Colonel Baden-Powell's death,
nor is there anything tending to show
how long the general advance tow .rds
Pretoria will be delayed.
In the absence of exciting developments
public interest centers more upon the
personality Of the new commanders and
In the supposition as to who the next
general will be to be sent home.
Unimportant Victory.
u6 duIAOuACculSnt VA eAO ACOSSuke$sA~AA
of Smithfeld by the burghers, just re-
ceived, is no news, as the small British
force at that place withdrew thence after
the Reddersberg affair.
1t now appears that General Brabant
himself is at Aliwalnorth and that only 4
portion of his column is at Wepener.
Beers Are Restless.
Bloemfontein, April l3.-According to
information received here the Boer &C
tivity eastward of the railroad and i'll
proximity to the border is largely due t.
the fact that Presidents Kruger and
steyn have found they are unable t.
Keep their forces together in inactivity
the burghers declaring they are unwilling
to remain with their comhlandos unless
actively employed, as they are convincea
the British game is waiting one. Il
ie believed the Boer movement was orig
inally designed to oblige Lord Roberts
to weaken his force at Bloemfontein IL
order to protect the railroad, when thu
Beers would have attempted to recap
ture the capital. But the burghers arr
evidently ignorant of the enormous force
Lord Roberts has at his disposal. Ad
vices from Karoo siding say the Beers ar
busily entrenching their position east Q
Brandfort, running parallel with the rail
road, while strongly holding the Waterva
drift water works.
No Substitutes for Beers.
Pretoria, April 1.-THE Free State Ga
1ette publishes orders to the effect tina
no person commandered for active sci
vice has the right to send substitut
without the consent of the landrost.
reference to leaves of absence the va
zette says that 10 per cent OF eac
command will be relieved by ballot fo
periods Of l2 days. This is intended
meet the wishes of burghers desiring
plant crops. -
The Peace Commission.
Naples, April l4.-The Transvaal con
missioners, accompanied by DR.. MULE
and Herr Van Booschoten, has starte
for Milan.
British Losses Heavy.
London, April l2.-The war office hi
issued returns Of the total British casua
ties up to April 7. 1t was as follows
Killed in action, 2ll officers, 1860 mel
died of wounds, 48 officers, 466 men; mis-
ing and prisoners, 1853 officers, 1922 mel
died of diseases, Al officers, l4s5 men;
cidental deaths, 8 officers, "a men; rePa
rated invalids, 2S3 officers, 4934 mel
total, 1895, exclusive Of sick and woun
de now in hospitals. To the war DIN
returns of casualties must be added u
losses Of last week and wounded aggregs
ing about 10000 men, making total
upwards of $4,000 officers and men p
ont Of action.
Brabant Holds His Own.
Aliwalnorth, April l2.-The Brti
losses in the fighting at Wepener were
killed and Al wounded. Fighting was
sumed. The British are holding their oV
well.