The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-04-06
| AIKEN \ K FROM Beers i'll
CLUSTER OF HILLS WON AFTER a
STIFF FIGHT.
Now Occupied by the Head Of LORD
Roberto Army-Boers Must Have
Been I'm Considerable. Force, az
Lord Roberts Sent 5000 Infantry
and 5000 Cavalry Against Them
Lord Roberts Progress to Pre-
:,toria VIII Probably Consist Of =
Series of short Forward Move
ments.

London, April 1. = The. head of the
army of Lord Roberts is now about
twenty-one mi les north of Bloemfon-
tein. 1t occupies a cluster of hills won
from the Beers after stiff fight, in
which the British lost seven officers
and 100 men. The Beers had been u.s.
ing these kops as a base for maraud-
ing bands that have been working on
the country adjacent to Bloemfontein
for supplies, driving off cattle and
forcing nonresident Free Staters into
their ranks again. The enemy must
have been in considerable force, as
Lord Roberts sent 5000 infantry and
5000 cavalry against them. Lord
Roberts progress to Pretoria will
probably consist Of a series of slor.
forward movements in which Boer
positions will be attacked by portion
of the army advancing rapidly with
out transport, the main army coming
up as the railway is repaired. Lord
Roberts is stripping the forces in the
minor spheres of operations of their
wagons and transport animals in order
to hasten the advance. This is UNDER
stood to be the reason he recalled
Methuen from Barllly West to Kim
berley. Lord Roberts had to have
Lord Methuen's transport. The reason
why hot chase was not made after
Commandant Olivier. is that Lord
Roberts cid not wish to wear out the
cavalry transport. Gen. French lost
5000 hcrscs in the relief of Kimberley
and in the pursuit of Gen. Cronje.
Lord Roberts lost 5000 transport cat
tie at Watervale drift, and it is esti-
mated that he has lost 1000 other ami
mails since the forward movement be-
gan on Feb. 13.
The advance beyond Bloemfontein
is through bare country, and supply
officers foresee an increasing difficulty
in providing for great army moving
along a single line of railroad, even
when the latter is working smoothly
and With ample rolling stock.
The Canadian mounted rifles were
part Of the force that occupied Ken
hard yesterday. The rebellion through
Colony is almost suppressed. The Goth
Helena to guard Gen. Cronje and 1000
prisoners.
Crushed ny Kitchener.
L.
tein correspondent of the Morning Post
says: lord Kitchener and his staff
crossed the temporary bridge at Nor
vaIs Pont last night. He had 5000
men under his command and he left
100 at Prieska. He considers the re-
bellion srushed, although the fire may
shoulder for some time.''
Clements Unopposed.
All, k~l
the Daily Mail from Koffyfontein,
ents' flying column. after a forced
arrived here unoppcsed.'
England and Portugal Friendly.
London, April l. - The Madrid cor
respondent Of the Daily Mail says:
'From Lisbon l hear that with the full
authorization of Portugal stores for
the British forces in Rhodesia have
been passed over the Biera Umtelt
railway. Very amicable relations exist
and some political changes are expect
ed to fouEow the announcement of the
Delagoa Bay award"
Warned by Kruger.
London. April /. - The Bloemfon-
tein correspondent Of the Daily Clron-
icle, telegraphing Thursday, says:
president Kruger's latest prcclama-
ton warns the women and children to
leave Bloemfontein within five days,
as he intends to lombard and destroy
the city and shoot the burghers whom
he captures there. Vigorous measures
have already been taken by the British
to harrass marauding bands of Trans.
walters. The latter are reported to
be operating chiefly against Free
Staters who refuse to Join them"
Reported by Lord Roberts.
London. April 1. - The war office
has issued the following from Lord
Roberts, dated Bloemfontein, March
80. 2:25 p. m:
''Owing to the activity of the enemy
on our immediate front and their hos
tile action toward the burghers who
surrendered under the terms of my
proclamation, found it necess ~ to
drive them from some kopjes they
had occupied near the Karee siding
station, a few miles south Of B7and-
fort. The operation was successfully
carried out by the Seventh (Tucxers)
division, assisted by the First and
Third cavalry brigades, under French,
and lie Calais regiment of mounted
infantry. The enemy retreatad to
Bradfort AID our troops now hold the
kopjes."