The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-02-13
IN SOUTH AFRICA.


dispatches. Rumors have been in cir
culation that Mr. Chamberlain had con-
sidered his South African policy and
was contemplating round table con-
ference with John Morley and Sir
William Vernon Harcourt and the re-
call OF Sir Alfred Milner. The Daily
Mail, however, says it is able to assert,
| on Mr.. Chamberlain's authority, that
the whole story is fabrication and
that the government retains the most
absolute condolences in Sir Alfred Mil
ner.
Lord Roberts dispatches are not re-
garded as giving any further light on
the conduct Of the war, but they are in
teresting as proving that throughout
the campaign he never had sufiic ent
men, horses or supplies to cover such
vast field OF operations. Looking at
all the circumstances Lord Roberts says
the campaign is ''unique in the annals
of war; and he pays the highest tribute
to the gallaniry and worth of the
troops, declaring that, mo finer force
ever field under the British
flag"
LONDON, Feb. 9.-Rumors are per-
sistent that the government has finally
determined to abandon the policy of
determination, substituting policy of
Cancellation in South Africa. Since the
Queens death rumors of move toward
peace have been afloat but it has been
impossible to pin them down to re-
liable source. IT is now stated on what
appears good authority, that Sir Gen.
Evelyn Wood, adjutant general of the
army, is going to South Africa on a
peace mission.
| The rumor that Gen. Wood is to sue
coed Lord Kitchener is denied by the
former and ia doubtless incorrect,
Gen. Wood will not take the field in q
military capacity, it is said, but will &c
ostensibly to assist the administration
in the Boer territory, His real mis-.
sion however, is believed 10 be treat
ing with Botha, DeWet, and Other
! LEADER in arms, offering them liberia
terms to cease hostilities.
, LONDON, Feb. "a Pretoria des
patch to the Central News agencysays a
train with civilians, refugees and nurses
was held up by the Beers near Heidel-
!, burg. The Beers wounded nine pas
sengers and robbed every one on thu
, train.
BLooMFoNTEIN, Feb. IL. - Msjo
, Crewe has had severe battle with the
. Beers at Tabaksberg mountain. Th,
! British column was just touching tn,
southern point of the mountain wher
a a terrific rifle fire opened from a larg
q force OF Beers who were in ambuscad
4 on the mountain. The fight soon b.
: came general. The Beers outnumberet
the British five to one and were attack
ing on both TANKS and the rear. Tn
. British "pom-pom" was jammed and be
= came useless. Major Crewe graspe,
: the situation and by brilliant NOV,
= got the convoy into safe position.
r Between seven and eight in the even
!, ing the Beers charged the position an
- turned both TANKS, The British am
muniton became exhausted and Maio
Crewe was obliged to retire nd aban
don the "pom poms" after the advance
u party had endeavored to save it an
j had sustained severe losses. A rea
q guard action was fought by Majo
4 Crewe into the camp, where the wagon
had been laagered. He pers onall
- superintendent the retirement, the Boer
q harrasslng him throughout. Entrenct
q ments were thrown up during tn
:, night
h CAPE Town, Feb, 1.-The buboni
4 plague which appeared st week,
: spreading. Stringent measures hav
been taken by the port and city author
;, tiles.
q LONDON, Feb. 11.-Lord Kitchene
reports from Pretoria as follows: 9Th
O columns working eastward occupiet
q Ermolo with slight opposition.
large force OF Beers estimated at 700
q under Louis Botha, retired eastward
:, About 800 wagons with families passet
- Ermolo on the way to Amsterdam ant
= very large quantities of stock are bein.
q driven east. A peace delegate unde
!; sentence of death and other Boer pris
oners were taken away by the Beers
. All the reports show that the Beers ar
q exceedingly bitter. Fifty Beers SUI
y rendered"
CRADDoCK, Cape Colony, Feb. H.
A detachment of South African ligh
horse encountered the Beers Februar
8 near Klipplaat on tue midland line
IF The British loss is two killed, 6v
wounded and fifteen wounded.
PRETORIA, Feb. 12.-It is reporte
t, that General Dew ct crossed the Orang
d river into Cape Colony, north of MOI
walls Pont, on Sunday. He is said to b
ia going to Phillipstown. Norvaps
where the railroad from Pretoria t
Port Elizabeth and Cape Town crosse
the river and is a favorable point TO
g entrance into central Cape Colony.
h DeWet was in the vicinity of Smith
field at last report. 1t is repeated
rumored that he contemplates joinin
I. the invasion of Cape Colony. Hi
q commando is said to number $500 men
CAPE Town, Feb. 12.-Col. Delisl'
= is closely pursuing large body o.
Beers in Great Riet Valley in north
western Cape Colony with the inten
ton of striking one of the severes
y blows of the campaign.
The Britishers recently marched sew
!. enty-two miles in forty-eight hours.
+ PRETORIA, Feb. 12.-General DeWe
is pursued by Generals Paget, Plumer
Knox, and Bruce Hamilton.
LONDON, Feb. -, - Kitchener re
ports that Gen. French, operating il