Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-25
Who Retreated, Leaving
Their Dead On Field
TAKEN TWO POSITIONS
Chermide Division OccupyDeW-
acknowledgement Gained
After Heavy Fighting.


erts has telegraphed the following mes
sage to the war office:
Bloemfontein, April 25.-Dewetsdorp
was occupied by the Chermide without
opposition at $3.50 this morning.
Bulletin-London, 4:57 p m.-The war
office has received the following dis
patch from Lord Roberts:
Bloemfontein, April 25.-Pole- Carew's
division reported at Roodekop yesterday
evening without casualties. The advance
was covered by cavalry and horse artil-
lery, which drove back the enemy with
heavq losses. Their dead were left on
the ground. 1ne mounted troops halted
for the night at Grootfontein and at 1880
this morning were crossing the Modder
river at Valsbank in accordance with
my instructions to French to endeavor
to place himself astride the enemy's
lines of retreat. Frenchs arrival near
the Modder evidently however, alarmed
the Beers, who evacuated their strong
position near Dewetsdorp during the
night and it was occupied by the Cherm-
side division this morning. The mount
ed infantry under Ian Hamilton drove
the enemy off the kopjes in the neighbor-
hood of the water works without casual
| ties on our side.
Berschel, Cape Colony, April 24-It is
reported that the British have occupied
Wepener after heavy fighting. It is also
said the Beers are unable to escape to
the north and that great developments
are expected.
London, April 25.-The indecisive ac-
tion and slow progress of Generals Hart
and Brabant are relatively important
,r,st <Io of
General French. It is now event that
| Lord Roberts wishes not only to defeat
the Beers, but to oen them in at Paardes-
burg.
| To this end 10000 British troops are
concentrating in the southeastern portion
of the Orange Free State and are oper-
ating according to carefully devised
plans and the delay may be due as much
to strategy as to necessity
The success of this important move
ment almost entirely depends upon Cen
eral French; if he can swoop down from
the north with the rapidity of execution
he displayed at Kemberley and Paardes-
burg. he will effect the same swift, sud
den transformation which followed the
cavalry evolutions two months ago.
According to last accounts he was
pushing on successfully. Every day the
Beers remain at Wepener improves Cen
eral French's chances of success. To put
a girdle around the $4,000 Beers estimat-
ed to be in the southeastern part of the
Orange Free State, Lord Roberts has ev-
identity taken large chances. The Brit
ish critics differ regarding the result,
some declaring it is impossible for the
Beers to escape from the net, while
others reserve their opinion until more
definite news of General F'rench's prog
ress is received. There is general i'm
preston that the main advance upon
Pretoria will be taken up without any
RECOMMENDATION at Bloemfontein, as with
more than half the British army stretch
ed in echelon across the Orange Free
State such a change in directions would
indefinitely delay the accomplishment of
Lord Roberts main objective.
"The Highland brigade marched "a
miles yesterday to support General Ham,
ilton and halted for the night at Kip
Kraal. four miles short of Sannas post.
"Brabant and Hart are still a few
miles short or Wepener and the members
of the enemy appear to have somewhat
increased during the last few days.
"But it is not likely that there will
be much trouble in the neighborhood of
Wepener once Dewetsdorp is occupied
by our troops.
"I inspected the city imperial volunteer
battalion yesterday on their arrival at
IBloemfontein. They are in fine form
and look very worwmanlike.
II also inspected the first company OF
the Imperial Yeomanry. which has ar
rivea here. The men turn out smart and
their horses are in an admirable c.,ndi-
ton"