The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-04-05
WAR NEWS


On FriCay. March 30, it was stated
that the Beers were concentrating a
strong force at point Is miles north OF
Lord Roberts's army at Bloemfontein.
1t was not expected that they would
give battle there as the country is quite
open. There were reports that the Boer
mounted police were harassing the farm
ers around Bloemfontein who had given
up their arms to the British Gen. Rob
erts took precautions to carefully police
all the districts of the Free State that
he had brought under his control He
announced through correspondent that
he was in no hurry to begin his advance
movement, as he wanted to get his men
and horses thoroughly prepared for the
approaching South African winter. The
same correspondent makes an apparent
ly exaggerated estimate of the assistance
the burghers are getting from outside
sources, saying that fully 10000 foreign
troops have been landed to help the re-
publics. No news was received from
Natal or Mafeking.
On Saturday there was news of a bat
tie in which the head of Roberts col
umn succeeded in occupying a cluster
of hills after stiff fight The British
loss was about 100. The English com
mander reported that the action was
brought ON by the Beers continual
ly harassing the peaceful inhabitants.
Though it was stated that Gen. Roberts
would not make general forward move
ment for another month the feeling was
that this report was blind and that
news of an advance might be expected
at almost any time The funeral of
Gen. Joubert, who died earlier in the
week, was held on the Goth at Pretoria.
The foreign military attaches, in uni
form, were among those present, and
the British officers who are prisoners at
Pretoria sent wreath.
On Sunday, April 1, it was announced
that there had been a brisk fight on Fri
day at Mafetkop, south of Brandsfort.
The British were held at bay for six
hours. Dispatches from the Free State
showed the work Of the press-censor,
and it was conjectured that Roberts had
commenced movement of some import
ance. Later reports of the battle at
Brandsfort stated that the Beers were
leaving their position there and retiring
northward. The British losses were
about $780, The first detachment Of Boer
prisoners destined for st. Helena were
started for that place Saturday. The re-
mainder will be sent on as fast as trans
portation can be provided.
Mondays dispatches stated that part
of Col. Broadwood's commands of Rob
erts' army was entrapped Saturday morn.
ing and captured at the water works
near Bloemfontein. There was practic.
ally no loss in killed or wounded, but
six pieces of artillery with a small in.
fantry convoy were captured, besides a
number of wagons. The affair caused
much modification in England, as it in
dicated relaxation ON the part of the
British army and a recovery OF enter
prise and spirit on the part of the Beers
after their recent severe reverses. A
rather remarkable dispatch was made
public it being message of coincidence
from Lord Roberts to Pres. Kruger on
the death of Gen. Joubert, 1t was as
follows:
Would ask you to convey to Gen Jou-
bert's family an expression of my most
respectful sympathy with their sad be-
reavement and to assure them also from
me that all ranks of her majesty's forces
share my feelings of deep regret at the
sudden and untimely end of so distin-
guished general, who devoted his life
to the service of his country and whose
personal gallantry was only surpassed
by his humane conduct and chivalrous
bearing under all circumstances
The latest news from the front on
Tuesday added little to the public knowl-
edge of the capture of the British artil-
lery convoy. The number of men cap
tured in the affair was $50. A dispatch
from Bloemfontein said that the water
supply bad been cut off. This was the
natural result of the recent Boer success
at the water works. 1t was not known
how seriously the shutting off of the wa
ter would affect Roberts. His dispatch
indicated that a hard fight was in prog
ress at the time he sent it, but he gave
no particulars. The party of Beers that
effected the capture of the battery of
Broadwood's detachment was command
ed by German-American named Reich
man. An account was published of the
escape of two British officers who were
imprisoned at Pretoria, and who sue.
ceeded after many narrow escapes and
much hardship in getting to Lorenzo
Marquee. There was rumor traced to
Pretoria that Plumer's force attempt
ing to relieve Mafeking had been repuls
ed, but it was unconfirmed.
"Wednesday IL WAC raportad that tht