Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-21
(By Telegraph to virgInian-Pilot)

(By Telegraph to virglnian- Pilot)
London, April 1.-4:20 a. m.-General
Chermslde and General Rumble are
moving over the sodden roads. Rain
was still falling when they went into
camp Thursday afternoon eighteen
miles west of Dewets Dorp. They hold
the railway and the southern frontier
OF the Free State with twenty thousand
men.
How many are going with the Gen
erals who will engage the Beers at
dispatches from Oorlogspoort, where the
British bivouacked Wednesday night.
The field telegraph ends there.
Thursday the Beers still had Colonel
Dalgety closely penned.
The governments reason for publish
Ing Lord Roberts SDion Kop dis
patches was explained last evening at
Hull by Mr. Walter Hume Long, presi-
dent OF the Board of Agriculture. who
said that the country was entitled 10
receive all the information the govern
ment could give.
The Government is told" continued
NJ. Long. that, having published the
dispatches, 1t is bound TO deal immedi-
ately with the generals affected but, i'll
following such Il course, the Govern
ment might have to dismiss every gem
eral the moment he made a mistake
Had such IL policy been pursued in the
past many most glorious deeds would
not have been performed.
The Government used its discretion
In publishing the dispatches. From the
beginning of The campaign Her Majes-
tvs ministers have not swerved from
the rule of leaving the conduct OF the
operations to the discretion and judg
ment of the COMMUNICATIVE chief
General White. if not required in
South Africa. will go as Governor OF
Gibraltar toward the end OF May.
London. April 20.-A special dispat ch
from Bloemfontcin. under yesterdays
date. says firing is reported 10 be in
progress south OF karee Siding, six
miles north of Glen. The strength of
the Beers is not known. The British
infantry. supported by artillery, held a
strong position OH q large dam.
FIRST NEWS OF ADVANCE.
London, April 20 Q:50 p. m.)-Thc re-
port of the fighting at IIaree Siding six
miles north of Glen, may be the first
news of the progress of the British ad-
vance on Pretoria, but even If this were
only an unimportant skirmsh. there
are many other indications that Lord
Roberts Is either starting or has al
ready started for the northern goal.
a dispatch from Cape Town. under
to-day's date. says: The censorship
restrictions have been greatly increa sed
owing to the movements OF the troops"
All the dispatches bear traces of the
strenuous efforts OF the correspondents
to give their papers an linking OF what
is afoot
The Beers south of Blomefonteln are
reported to be retrcating. Large COM
mands were seen April 10 near Tina ba
Menu, moving to the north. Their
progress was slow. however, owing 10
the terrible condition of the country.
FEVER DECORATING GARRISON.
BY way of Pretoria comes n report
that fever is decimating the Mafeking
garrison, and a letter from the Mayor
OF Mafekng says Lord Roberts asked
Colonel Baden Powell to hold out until
May 20.
CECIL RHODES RETURN
Cecil Rhodes returns to Cane Town
tomorrow. The announcement of his
departure was unexpected. Never has
a man so prominently connected with
the vital questions of the day paid
such n quiet visit to London. 1t is
learned that the so-called Empire
maker" came TO England purely on
QuSllltSS CpIlhSSlSu Win me BrltlSn
Chartered South Africa Company and
the De Beers Mines Company He has
accomplished his objects, and, hating
inacton and not wishing to meet peo-
pie or freely express his views has
suddenly determined to return to South
Africa, where he will watch the inter-
ests of these two companies. Mr..
Rhodes has absolutely refused to be
interviewed, though privately he has
expressed scathing comments on sew
eral of the Generals still holding COM
mands at the front. Lady Gatacre will
be a fellow passenger of Mr.. Rhodes.
Che Ia going as far as Madeira to meet
her husband. the British General, who
has been sent back to England
JOUBERTS SUCCESSOR,
Pretoria. April 2O.-Major General
Sohalk- Burger has been gazetted vice
president Gn succession to the late
General Joubert), and General Louis;
Rotha has been gaZetted acting com
mandant general, succeeding General
Joubert in command of the Transyaal
forces.
LORD ROBERTS DENOUNCED.
Cane Town, April 20.-At a meeting
OF the Volksraad of the Drainage Free
State at Kroonstad to-day President
Steyn denounced Lord Roberts procla-
nation as "treachery," and declared
that as Great Britain's object was
their destruction, their last hope Was