Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-04-26
NOT LIKELY TO o..
TRAPPED BY R0BERIS
Beers at Wepener and Dewstsdorp
will Probably Escape 70
the North. ~ -,
ROADS ARE IN TERRIBLE SHAPE
Makes Progress of the British Very
Slow, and Will Give Beers
Chance to Get
Away.

London, April a5.-The reports that
the siege OF Wcpcncr had been prac-
tically raised were apparently prema-
ture. The Bocr attack upon Colonel
Dalgetys position, as described by
Maseru, was probably IL final attempt
to rush the garrison before securing IL
safe retreat, and as Colonel Dnlgety
successfully rep,.lsrd the attack, little
further anxiety is felt on his account.
Lord Roberts has now spread Il net
with some 10000 or more men and l50
guns, covering the whole western
semicircle around Wepeucr, while
General Hamilton occupies the water
works, practically without Opposition.
The Seventh division, under General
Tucker, assisted by naval gums, has
made Il demonstration from karce
siding, the Beers showing some oppo-
siton. At the same time brigade
moved out from Glen to take up IL po-
sition ON a range of hills at Gcnnaa
denalc. north of the Modder. The
watcrworkS were found unchanged.
with the exception of the removal OF
the siding valves of the pumping
engines.
The Beers now can only escape
without rislling an encounter north
ward to Iadybrand, and the chance
of Il successful outcome of the plans
OF Lord Roberts depends on whether
the British troops can reach 1haba
N'Chu and Ladybrand before the re-
treating commanders from Dcwets-
dorp and Wcpcncr.
All the correspondents report that
the roads are in Il terrible condition,
which accounts for the slow progress
of the British columns, and if the
Beers are as we'll informed of the Brit
ish plans as they hitherto have been
they are likely again to escape.
Ii is rrow within three weeks of the
date predicted for he British occu-
patton of Pretoria, and although the
present operations, as suggested in
some quarters, may be the beginning
of The main advance, it is not certain
that they will not entail further
halt at Blocmfontein.
Pretoria, April 23.-An official bull
letin issued here says:
The fedcrals continue fighting at
Wepener and have captured Il herd of
l'rabant'S cattle and horses. De-
vets losses at Dewctslorp were
one killed and six wounded. Twenty
British were captured besides the
killed and wounded The British app
pear to be retiring beyond Dewets-
dorp.
"Cronic reports that with strong
commando he attacked the British
north beast of Roshof. a heavy engage
ment followed and the English were
driven from kopie to kopje. The fed
erals displayed great courage and res
oution, and spiritcdly chased the
enemy i'm the direction of Boshof.
Only two burghers were wounded.
The British lost fifteen killed and left
three wounded and eight prisoners in
the hands of the burghcrs.
Warrenton, Monday. Smelling was
resumed this morning, he fire being
directed at the British river rcdoubts,
which are steadily being pushed for
ward. The Beers appear to be in
stronger force down the river and the
yeomanry patrols are frequently be-
ing SHIPPED. 1t is confidently believed
that important developments are not
far Off.