Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1900-03-16
NEAR BLOENF ONTEIy.
The British, Under Lord Roberts,
Only a Few Miles Away.
Dig Battle Is Expected to De
Fought, as the Eocrs Have Eigh-
teen Guns in Position-Lntest
News From the Front.

London, March 13.--Thc war Office
has received dispatch from Lord
Roberts, at Neters Welt, announcing
that, after a fight with the Beers,
Gen. French reached station on the
railway six miles south of Bloemfon-
TEN. There were 321 men wounded
and 60 or 20 killed or are missing.
Col. Umphery has died of his
wounds. Lieut.. Pratt, of the Essex
regiment, is wounded severely. The
wounds are, as Il rule, of a most seri-
Gus and unusual character, owing to
expansive bullets, which are freely
used by the Beers.
London, March 13.-Lord Roberts
telegraphs from Nenters Wei ut $500
O'Clock this morning as follows:
Il directed Gen. French, if there
were time, TO seize the railway sta
ton at Bloemfontein, and thus secure
the rolling stock. At midnight / re-
ceived report from him that. after
considerable OPPOSITION, he had been
able to occupy two hills close to the
railway station which commanded
Bloemfontcin.
"A brother of President Steyn has
been made a prisoner.
"The telegraph line leading north
ward has been cut and the railway
broken up.
Il am now starting With the Sd cav
airy brigade, which i called up from
the seventh division near Petrusberg
yesterday, and the mounted infantry
to reinforce the cavalry division. The
rest of the force will follow as quickly
as possible"
Nenters Wei, Orange Free State,
March 12-Evening.-The British
forces, which since the fighting at
Drefontein have been marching rap
idly hither, have turned the Boer po-
sition. Our cavalry are ahead. The
Beers were reported this morning
about $4,000 strong, with Is guns in
position, on range of kopjes COM
handing the direct road to Bloemfon-
tein, which is distant Is miles.
London, March 13.-In the house of
of the treasury and government lead
er, replying to question as to
whether, consistently with public in
terests, he could state the essential
conditions on which alone the gov
eminent would entertain peace pro-
posals from the South African repub-
lies, promised that papers in this con-
nection would shortly be presented to
the house.
Being asked if there was any foun-
dation for the report that President
Kruger had addressed communica-
ton to the government, Mr.. Balfour
reiterated his promise that papers
bearing on this subject would be pre-
.:nted TO the house within short
time.
1t is learned that the papers prom
ised Ivy Mr.. Balfour will confirm in
every respect the news cabled Friday
last, that the peace rumors were
founded on the fact that President
Kruger had appealed to Lord Sails
bury for cessation of hostilities,
setting forth at length by cable the
terms which he was willing to ac-
cept, and also that the cabled dis
patch to the premier was signed by
President Steyn as well as by Presi-
dent Kruger.
The advances met with an emphatic
rejection at the hands of Lord Sails
bury, who said that no attempt to re-
tain the independence of the Trans
vaal could be considered for Il mo-
ment by the British government.
Paris, March 13.-The Gaulois pub
fishes the following from it's London
correspondent:
According to good authority, Pres
ident Kruger and President Steyn
have not made a formal proposition
of peace, but have asked the British
government through the United
States the conditions it would accept
for the opening of negotiations on
the basis of the independence of the
republics. President Kruger is al
legged to have said that he would ac-
cept mediation, but the United States
government, in transmitting this
taTy of the interior has decided that
communication took care to declare
that it did not assume the RESPONSE
bility for the initiative in mediation"
The London correspondent of the
Matin says: 81 learn that United
States Ambassador Choate has re-
,eived long and important cable
from the United States government
relative to South Africa, which he
will communicate to Lord Salisbury"
Alleged Indian Prince Arrested.
New Haven, CT, March 13.-An al
legged Indian prince and Bombay in
nd