London, 26th April. Consecutive es from al operations as' consisti rel forward on Mond with ight, seattering and dislodging the enemy from the kopies until the Dewetsdorp road was reached. There a Hussars ed the dron of the Sth stile ridge, but were repulsed. They t hen dismounted, nda fresh attack ed, with the of three squadrons and two ims, who reached The ones the crest simul-who suffered from fire from carbines, were com pletely routed, the mach suns following them The discovered General die, who reported 7,000 of the enemy, with numerous wilderness In, Wwere OCCUPY hillocks in the cerstroom. mit were simile timately urd four mile south of Wepener, ud learned that three successive fights hud take day, Sunday, and Tues a place ea Satur-3 With 22 caytalties, besides the Jammersberg affair, where 33 were killed and 132 wounded. He adds:—*5,000 of the enemy were seen ying towards "Ladybrand "unpur-
Reuter's correspondent with the Boers reports that General do Wet, learning of Generals Kelly-Kenny and' Rundle movements, advanced with the Fick burg commandoes, under Commandants Olivier, Wassels," and Cronje, junior, (the last since reported deal).
The commando met the British to the south-west of Dewetsdorp, the latter benefit fi by Commandant Cronje' lay in. seizing an important kop. were then starting an outflanking mov ment with a large body of horse, but, lack non, they were easily forced he main camp. This was much damaged by shells, and. was removed nightfall behind the hills, Both General Kell flanks were beaten b ing reinforcements 28 of the British were then discov vainly searching for water, and were rested. These are probably a party of the Ist Worcesters which Col. Rundle issing on Monday report continues fare the British he 5,000, whereas they had ed at 5,000. Colonel Enygilbrecht, was killed, and also some artilleryman, any British dead were left on the field. General de Wet has expressed regret at the conduct of Ca the Chief of the German Seow who sent audacious mess to. General Brabant to surrender, otherwise threatening to blow him to atoms, although the Captain was destitute of artillery 1 although 50 per ent of the Free State artillerists had either been killed, wounded, or captured since the be ning of the war."
Rumours of the dissolution of Parliament are temporarily lulled, but party activity is clearly discernible under the surface.
captain Middleton, the Conservative organiser, who presided over the Political Comunittces at the Constitutional Club the Junior Constitutional Club, hax circulated his annual manifesto urging, his party to strengthen its resources to the ut ost seeing, that the General Election is unable distance and is fraught consequences, in view of the sity of extensive modifications in our ry system. The majority of the isterialists, however, are disposed to shelve the question of dissolution for ai other year, hoping by that period that strong Government. in South Africa wi vindicate the Conservative policy On the other hand the tion, which is now dominant, insist on a dissolution immediately the war ends. It is only fair to add they are less sanguine rly conclusion of the war than they, were a month ago.
28th April.
The British Ca and Mounted In. fantry have overtaken a large number of the Fetreating Boers at Thabanchu. Our attack is now developing and hopes are expressed of a great British success.
Practically the whole of the enemy hi pener although fragments still remain been swept beyond the Thabanchw and W
field district, al Louis Botha arrived at Dewetsdorp on Tuesday, and ordered all the Boer fortes to retire northwards. A trek commenced hurriedly at three o'clock that afternoon, the force from Wepener retiring along the Caledon River, and the Des dorp force made for Ladybrand, skirting, Thabanchu and picking up the' garrison Leuuw Kop fugitives.
Commandant de Wet's commando con: tinue their running fight, using their "pompous." Colonel Hamilton reports the engaging of 4 portion of the enemy
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.