Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-05-05
BRITISH PUBLIC IS
BECOMING IMPATIENT
Failure CT Recent Operations and
Delay in Advance Cause
Apprehension.
FRENCH FAILS TO CATCH Beers
Cavalry Brigade Is Returning to
Bioemfontein--- The Lack or
uorses and Transport
Hampers Roberts.

London, May THE only dis
patch from Lord Roberts published
Yesterday was the usual list of deaths
and sicknesses. The flood OF newspa-
per dispatches today describing the re-
cent operations throws no light what
ever upon the present position of af-
fairs or upon the great question as to
when the main advance is to begin.
The Standards announcement THAT
General French's cavalry are return
ing to BloemfonteIn is clear proof
that there is no further hope OF catch
ing the retrcating Beers and the Lon
don papers are beginning to display
Impotence at the practical FAILURE Oh
the elaborate operations of last week
Without doubt these operations nave
been Of a very e~Xhausting nature, II
will entail further delay.
The Bloemfontein correspondent OF
the Times, writing on March 3, after
the Paardcberg affair, describes LORD
Roberts army as a wreck because
It was without horses n without
transport. .
The BlocmfOntcin correspondent OF
the Post speaks now Of the urgent
need at present and always OF more
horses.
There is very little news from other
quarters. The sudden decision Of the
Bocr peace delegates TO go TO America
is attributed 10 the fact hat the gov
eminent Of the Netherlands, after
sounding all the European capitals,
.I ~ H.. ,I.,. lnl nothing Tn hone
for from Europe.
Colonel Dalgcty's force at Wepener
numbered LOO. Ills losses during the
siege were thirty killed II lio
wounded.
II is reported that there was an ar
tillcry engagement yesterday at ka-
rec Siding, but no details have been re-
CciVcd.
Fight nt ~IsracI's Poort.
London, April 3O.-A special dis
patch from Thaba N'Chu, dated
Thursday, describing the fight at
~lsracl's poort, seven miles west of
Thaba N'Chl, says:
Three hundred Beers were strong
~ ~entrcnchcd on two kopjcs. The
place Of honor was given 10 the Ca
nudians, who advanced very cleverly
under their daShing commanders, o
oncl otter. The Beers reserved their
fire until the Canadians had reached
the wire cntanglcmcntS. Then they
opened with a terrific hail of bullets.
THE Canadians, however, had taken
good cover and were not greatly dam
aged. They were ably supported IN
the assault by the GERMANTOWN
horse. Successive PUSHES brought
them right up to the kopjes, when
Colonel otter was struck twice, one
bullet innicting q nasty wound in the
neck, aud the other tearing the II
ages from his shoulder. But he still
checrcd the men on until the kopJes
were carried. The Iioers boltcd. The
British losses were twenty in killed
and wounded.
"Thc British artillery shcllcd the
kopjcs all day from three positions.
The Bocr positions were extremely
we'll chosen, consisting of a long range
of very PERCEPTIONS hills, with mar
row poorts (passcS) between, com
handing a vast extent Of country.
"The mounted infantry made Il wide
turning movement, while the foot in
fantry advanced within 1000 yards UNI
der good shelter.
During the afternoon the battle be-
came general and extended over Il
frontage of ten miles. The rifle,
maxim and artillery firing was deaf
cning. When the Canadians finally
captured the kopic, the Beers were
seen retiring north and east with
wagons and subsequently, when the
infantry made a dash, the rest of the
enemy fired a few shots and cleared
off.
"On occupying Thaba N'Chu the
stores and hotels were to have been
looted by the Beers. The natives com
plain of having their horses and cat
tie stolen and of cruel treatment. The
English residents were subjected to
tauntS and insults.
~ Photographic message from Pres
idcnt Stcyn to General Botha was
found, saying it was unadvisable to
send more troops 10 Fourteen Streams,
as the fcderals were already too weak
between ~Blomfontcin and K%roonstad
and because there were 10000 British
at Bloemfontcin. The farmers around
here have all been forced to rcjoin the
enemy. Most of them have taken their
sheep and cattle along"