The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-11
NO NEWS FROM ROBERTS.
Pretoria Dispatches May Refer to the
Reddersburg Affair.

Pretoria Dispatches May Refer to the
Reddersburg Affair.
LONDON, April II, a. m.-But that the
War Office has issued no news from Lord
Roberts during the last three days there
would be little disposition to place any
credence in the Boer reports of another
British disaster. The unexpected raIlying
of the Free State commanders, however,
leaves the public in a nervous condition.
fearing everything.
Dispatches from Pretoria, as late as Mon
day, did not mention any further Boer
victory. On the contrary, they said all the
commanders were quiet, and, as Lord Rob-
erts has hitherto never failed promptly to
report mischances as well as successes, or
to allow the newspaper correspondents to
report them, until some confirmation is re-
ceived there is justification for regarding
the Meerkatfontein rumor as only an exag-
gerated account of the Reddersberg affair
AT the same time Boer reports have so
often proved correct that the greatest
anxiety will be felt.
The Boer attack on General Brabant's
forces at Wepener was resumed again at
dawn yesterday. The enemy's attack on
two or three sides on Monday lasted until
2:30 o'clock in the afternoon, when firing
ceased. and it was believed that the enemy
had been beaten off; but it was announced
yesterday morning from Aliwal North that
the fighting had again begun. General Bra
bant's force, numbering from two thousand
to three thousand. hold positions in a rough
country. 1t is not known what the numer-
ical strength of the Beers is, but what
ever 1t may be it is being rapidly aug
mented. A body of two thousand Beers is
marching toward Springfonten from Smith
field. between Wepener and Springfontein.
The detonation of heavy guns was heard
at Maseru on Monday. Sir Godfrey Lag
den, the British resident commissioner of
Basutoland, has left Maseru for the border
The events in the southeast portion of the
Free State have caused the Eighth Divi-
sion, which had been ordered to Fourteen
Streams, to be diverted to Springfontein
Mysterious movements Of troops at Bloem-
fontein are proceeding. The newspaper
correspondents are not allowed to telegraph
their destinations, and the presumption is
that Lord Roberts is making dispositions
to cut off the raiding Boer forces when
they try to withdraw northward from the
pursuing British columns.
The temperance of the Beers in the
occupied country has caused a revival of
warlike feeling among the Free Staters Of
the Fauresmith and Philippolis districts.
The federal agents are busy getting details
of the surrendered Beers, and, owing to the
brit fS-l
these districts, the British residents are un-
easy and sent delegates to Springfontein
TO ask for help. They were told that steps
for their defense would be Immediately
taken.
No further news has been received of
lighting. either at wepener or in Natal.
1t is said the Beers near the railroad
have ventured south of Biggarsburg and
are posting heavy guns four miles south of
Elangslaagte. They are also said to have
fortified the vicinity of Wesselsnek.
In connection with the resumption of
hostilities in Natal an interesting rumor is
current that General Butler has obtained
command OF one of the Drakensburg
passes, whereby he hopes to take the Beers
in the rear. In the event OF his being sue
cessful General Butler has enough troops
to leave 10000 men 10 hold Natal while he
advances by way of Harrismith, whence
he would be able TO threaten the Boer po-
sitions at Bethlehem and Kroonstad.
Boer reports seem to indicate that Lord
Methuen is advancing from Boshof toward
| Hoopstad. 1t is a bold and apparently a
dangerous move, since. although il turns
the right flank of the Boer position at
Brandfort. IL puts Lord Methlens force
between whatever garrison there may be at
Bloemhoef, in the Transvaal. and the
Brandfort force.
The Boer peace commissioners at Naples
do not conceal the fact that they have no
hope of obtaining peace with independence
for the republics. but they will endeavor
to save their amour propre or to secure a