The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-10
REMARKABLE FEAT OF THE Beers
They Capture This Force and Retire So
Quickly with Their Prisoners that
Their Whereabouts Is Unknow, IN
General Roberts-Boers Nearby the
British Headqua rters-Methueu Cam
lures Il Parry o" B~oers-Bosrs Losea
Valuable Officer.

Another unfortunate occurrence has oc-
CURED, resulting, 1 fear, in the capture
of a party of infantry consisting of
three companies of the Royal Irish
Fusiiiers and two companies of the
Ninth regiment of mounted infantry,
near Reddersburg, a little eastward
of Bethany railway station, within a
few miles OF this place. They were
by d stronger force of the
enemy with four or five guns. The de-
tachment held out from noon April 3rd
until 4th at 8 a. m. and then, appar-
emily, surrendered, for it is reported
that the firing ceased at that time. I'm
mediately after l heard the news, dur
ing the afternoon of April 3rd l order
ed Gatacre to proceed to Reddersburg,
from SpringfOntein. his present head
quarters, with all possible speed and L
dispatched the Cameron Highlanders
hence to Bethany. He arrived at Red
dersburg at 1920 yesterday morning,
without opposition, but could get no
news of the missing detachment.
There can be no doubt the whole party
has been made prisoners"
BRITISH LOSSES AT SANNAS-POST
1t is officially announced that the
British casualties in the Boer ambush
near Sannas-Post totaled up $50, They
4IiCtOuC IIlbSS1HS no., "OuI1ucu o., hllleu
4. The missing include 1874 artillerists,
% Life Guards, % men of the Tenth
Hussars and 81 of Lord Roberts horse.
The others are divided among numer-
Gus regiments.
BOERS NEAR BLOEMFONTEIN.
Bloemfontein. April 5.-Small bodies
of Beers can be seen in the vicinity of
his town and the Beers are still in
the ~neighboThOod of the waterwOrks.
Lord Roberts is taking steps to meet
the activity Of the Beers.
STRICT CENSORSHIP.
London. April !. 4:3O a. m.-Not &
word regarding the disaster at Red
dersburg has been above to come
through except the dispatch of Lord
Roberts. The latest disaster, more
particularly illustrates the heavy task
involved in holding the railway. This
body Of some 500 British troops, with
OUT guns. which disappeared so COM
pleteIy within thirty-five miles of the
great British amy. had for its bus
ness to guard a section Of nearly ninety
miles Of railroad between RloeEf0n-
tefn ard SpringfOntein. If it could BE-
thus spirited away, how is Lord Rob
erts to ensure his continually extend
inS communications?
1t is asserted that 1000 rebels SHY
rendered during General Clements
~nOrthward march. The Beers will do
their utmost to hold Ladybrand and
Ildbd - III JUN III ~ 'SA
producing districts. Increased precau-
items are being takin in patrOl.ing the
= railway.
1t is said thai most of the prisoners
captured at Boshof are foreigners.
TEN TEUUSOND HORSES FROM
SOUTH AMERICA.
Ten thousand re-mounts from South
America are due to arrive during the
coming week at ports of Natai and
Cape Colony.
Another Boer version OF the fighting
with Colonel Plumer's force says that
four officers and thirty men were taken
prisoners at Ramathlabama.
TO BE NO EXCHANGE OF PRIS-
ONERS.
The exchange of prisoners was moot
ed in the house of commons last even
ing but ELECTED a reply that the gov
ernment had no intention of proposing
an exchange
spOndent of The Daily Mail telegraph
ing Thursday. says: Colonel Plumer's
regiment is returning north"
A BOER COMPANY CAPTURED.
London. April 6.-The Daily Tele-
graph has the following from Boshof,
dated Thursday:
Lord Methuen's Mafeking relief
force was concentrated here today. The
Beers are in force a few miles distant
on the Vaal river. This town is prac-
ticalIy deserted, all the men being with
the command under Commandant
DupIessis. who controls the district.
Lord Methuen commanded in a
spirited action nine miles to the south
east. where he surrounded seventy
Beers on a kOpje. Not a man escaped.
We took ifty-four prisoners, sixty
horses and a quantity of baggage. Cen
eraI ViIIebois was killed during the ac-
ton. a Boer hoisted a white flag and
then fired Immediately afterward,
killing an officer. The murderer was
instantly shot.
London. April 6.-The war office has
received the following from ROBERTS
dated BiOemfontein, Thursday, Aprii
5th. Nethuen telegraphs from BoShol.
Gin the Orange Free State, a little
northeast of Kimberley as follows:
Surrounded General Villebois Ma
reuil and a body Of Beers today. None
escaped. Villebois and seven Beers
killed, eight wounded, fifty prisoners.
Our losses were: Killed, captains
Boyle and Williams, both of the Yeo-
manry. and two men of the Yeomanry.
Wounded, about seven men.
The attack lasted four hours. The
corps behaved very we'll. Our force was
COMPOSED of Yeomanry, the Kimberley
mounted corps and the Fourth battery
of artillery
\ SOLDIER OF FORTUNE.
London April General Villebois
Mareuil. who was killed in the engage
ment in which General Methuen has
just scored a splendid victory, was the
most notable OF all the soldiers OF Tor
tune serving with the Beers. In ms
death the Beers lose the best instruct
ed soldier on continental metnods OIL
warfare. He devised the Beers de-
fences against General Buffers ad-
vance to Ladysmith, and he Is glVe1
credit for many of the Boer successes
in Natal, Cape Colony and the south'
ern part of the Orange Free STATE
He is supposed to ave chosen the gu1
positions and to have laid dow ths
covered trenches. He disposed tne
Beers at the center, from which tneA
were massed to the defense OF any par
of a wide arc. He was 90 years Ole
and had served through several cam