The Bowbells tribune. [volume] (Bowbells, Ward Co., N.D.) 1899-1969, 1900-04-13
EOOkS LIKE LORD ROBERTS WAS
IN FOR III.
End of the High Hopes Based Upon
Lord Roberts Brilliant Dash to
Kimberley and BlOemfOntcfn-
RemOunts and Winter Clothing
for the Troops Necessary Before
the Advance to Pretoria Can Be-
gin Preparations for Holding
BloemfOntein Against Surprisea-
Brabant and Gatacre Mt Stand
still.

London, April 11.-Britons are now
beginning, though reluctantly, to real
ize that Lord Roberts is in for winter
campaign lasting several months. This
is the end, in a few words, of the high
hopes based upon Lord Roberts bril-
liant dash to Kimberley and Bloemfon-
tein. Preparations are bein gnade to
hold Bloemfontein against surprises.
Lord Kitchener has been given an i'm
portant duty, being responsible for
the protection of the railway, While
Lord Roberts is waiting for remounts
and winter clothing for the troops,
whose thin cotton khaki uniforms and
boots are worn out. Gen. Brabant ana
Gen. Gatacre are both at stand-stlu.
Lord Roberts will probably for some
time confine his operations to clearing
the Free State behind him of raiders
and to relieving Mafeking. for whlch
purpose the entire Eighth division,
now arriving ut Cape Town, has been
ordered to Kimberley. Lady Sarah
Wilson and other. Mafeking cores
nondents send diaries Of the doings
there, showing that the Beers nave
tried by withdrawing from their
trenches, to lure the besieged into a
mined ambush. Fortunately the Brit
ish engineers discovered til. mine. cut
the wires and unearthed $50 pounds of
dynamite and war gelatine.
What the chances are for an ad-
vance to Pretoria may be judged from
the facr that only 5000 to 10000 horses
are on their way to the Cape, and from
the further fact that the military ta1l-
oring departments only within the last
three weeks began the manufacture Oh
woolen khaki uniforms. 1t is said 1t
will take at least two weeks to proVlde
100000 uniforms.
Some Ontpost Firing.
Aliwalnorth. April 11.-Small bodies
of tlt enemy have been seen across
hsGle river near the town Of Odendent-
stroom. The pont 0erry) has been de-
Srroyed. There is another commando
of COO at Rouxville. A larger one has
left Smithteld for Wepener. There
are two commanders around Wepener,
but thus far there has only been out
most firing. A lieutenant of Brabant's
horse has been captured at Rockville
by Beers who had previously surrcn-
dered. The landrost is also said to
have broken it's oath. A detachment
of Cape artillery with three guns and
squadron of Queenstown mounted
volunteers arrived yesterday. Many
Beers who had already taken the non
combattant's oath are rcjoining their
old commanders.
MysteriOus Movements.
London. April 1.-THE Bloemfontein
correspondent of the Morning Post
telegraphing Sunday. says: The move
mcnt Of troops continues with bewil-
dering frequency. brigades and divis-
ions appearing and disappearing ut
brief intervals. No specific accounts OF
such movements are permitted. Some
rcmounts were fired on yesterday on
the railway while on the way from
the south. The enemy are reported to
be in considerable numbers to the
southeast of the line. The Beers are
also apparently feeling their way fire.
uuently to the west of the line. A
party has been thrown forward and
has reoccupied the laager at Paarde-
burg, probably to search for buried
arms and ammunition.
Railway and Telegraph Working
Well.
. London, April 1.-The Dloemfontein
correspondent of the Daily Mail. tele-
graphing Sunday, says: The railway
and telegraph are working well. Works
and trenches have been prepared in
suitable positions around Bloemfon-
ten. The greatest vigilance is eXer-
cised. Some of the troops sleep in the
trenches Confirmation has been re-
ceived of the reports that the Beers
are in laager in considerable force
with ten guns at Donkersport. eighteen
miles southeast. The British scouts
report another body still closer. The
Bocr patrols have grown very daring,
yenturing much nearer out tents.
Only Fifty Remained Un,voundcd.
London April 1.-THE Bloemfontein
correspondent of the Times. telegraph
ing Saturday. says: Two captured
Beers agree that only fifty men re-
nlained unwOunded out OF the whole
British column captured at Redders-
burg. Gen. Gatacre and his staff We're
fired on from Enclosures while tenn
porarily occupying Reddersburg. Con-
siderable movements of troops have
occurred here with the object OF pre-
venting surprise.
Wepencr Garrison Isolated.
London. April 11.--The Times pub
IisheA the following from Wepenel
dated Sunday: The Wepener garrison
is practically isolated. However, the
lines are enormously strong and the
force fully provisioned. Desultory
firing between OutpOsts continues. y
commando estimated at 1000, with
four guns, went into laager last night
five miles from here in the direction OF
DewetsdOrf.