The sun., 1899-12-10
BRITISH NOW ON BOER SOIL
GEN. METHUEN's Plan MAI BE TO
1uREA TEN BLoEMFoNTEIN.
Thu, Avoid Battle ns spytfontein, Draw the
Beers From Kimberley aud Do the
Necessary Fighting In the opsn Country
More Favorable to the British-Ad-
vance Of the Three British Forces
sp,da, Cable Ds,poteA 10 Tnr sus.

vance OF tho Tnres brtthh Forces
Crisis Of the Campaign Reached.
specai Cable Ds,poieA TO Tn. sus.
LONDON. Dec e.--Ths crisis OF the war has
now been reached. rather earlier than was gem
orally expected. Simultaneous aggressive I'D
yances are now being a sde against the Beers
from east south and west by Gens Butler,
aatacrs and Methuen respectively and news OF
heavy fighting Ia momentsrily expected here.
The movements OF Gen. Butler and Gen. Cat
acre will be what the Beers had proba bly,
anticipated. but Gen. Methuen will give them .
genuine surprise II he folio ws the plan OF which
TuE SUNS London once has lust received
private Information. Gen. Methuen's column n
will. II It follows the original design. now
turn sharply east from the Modder River and
march toward Bloemfontein,, capital OF the
Orange Free state.
Nearly the whols Boer force In the neighbor-
hood 4. strongly entrcnched at Sp ytfontein
midway between the No lder River and Kim
berley. ready TO make the last stand against
Den. Methuen's I'D vance to the relief Of tho
belssgueret city II Gen. Msthusn would give
battle there. It would undoubtedly prove the
bloodes, light OF the war.
TuEsuy's Pretoria corr 'Ipondent visited Gen .
Cronia., force In front OF Gen. Methuen this
week going also to Jacobsial. which is tbs
frst point the British troops will reach In the
Orange Free State II they march toward Bloom
fontein
A brief censored despatch. which he sent on
returning to Pretoria yesterday. gives nothing.
OF course. about the Boer plans, but Ii indicates
that Gen. Cronje expects great battle at
Bpyt,ontein. Dispatches from the British sid .
indicate that at last British soldiers have set
foot on Boer territory. Gen. M-thuen's scouts
have crossed,ths border near the Moddsr Rivcr
and penetrated close TO Jaoobsdal It 10 quit .
probable that q larger forso has followed bat
the news OF Cen Methusn's column II still
meagre.
The reported intention OF the British CON-
mander to march on Bloemfontein is really
excellent taotios. He will leave the difficuli
country where he 10 compelled to light In
positions OF Boer choosing and enter the
broad plains OF the Orange Free State where
the battles will be fought In the open. which
will be greatly to the British advantage. More
over the reliet OF Kim bcrley will be fully accom-
plished because the greater part OF the Bosi
force will DO compelled to abandon the selgs
and hasten To the defence OF the Free Stat
capital. Kimberley IL In far less danger than
Mateking and Ladysmith. II the Beers are
unable to capture the two latter they have lit.
tie chance against the Kim berisy garrison.
On th. whole. therefore, the British posltiou
and pro- poets have m uch I'm proved during the
week and the indications arc that the fortune,
Of war are now changed Gen. Buller's task h
tho most difficult. He 10 taking no chances
but the relief OF Ladysmith will probably be
teartuly costly To the British arms. A des-
patch from The SUrs correspondent at Frsre
Camp under to-day's date. indicates that an
advanc, IA about to begin. Another week.
therefore. should carry the British throurh
the crisis OF ths campaign. and thereafter We
can expect comparatively unevsntul operations
until the Investment Of the Boer capitals q
month or more lat or.
IL II stated tonight that the dovernmeni
has decided on the form alton OF the voiu nteei
reseryeA II 10 expected that half . mllllol
sx-voluntsers will toin the new organization.