The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-11-28
BULLER'S FORCES ADVANCING
From Durham, East London, Port
Elizabeth and Cape Town.
Were Within Forty Miles Of Kim.
berIy, Sunday.

Since our Fridays issue, news OF |
stirring character has come from the
Boer war. Gen. Buffers plans have
developed, showing that his army is
advancing from the south on three
lines.
Lord Methuen has advanced from
Cape Town on the railroad running
north to Kimberly. After crossing the
Orange river, which is the southern
border line of the Orange Free State,
he met a force of 5000 Beers, Thurs
day, at Belmont, fifty miles south of
Kimberly. His force numbered 1000,
and he pushed the Beers back, defeat
ing them at all points, capturing stores
and ammunition. The losses were
about equal. The Beers covered their
retreat so well that they escaped with
out disaster, to the north.
Saturday, Lord Methuen's force over
took the Beers at Gras Pau, ten miles
north of Belmont, defeating force Of
2, 500, and routed them again. This
brought him to within forty miles of
Kimberly, and he will probably raise
the siege of that place today, aud unite
his forces with the British force in that
city.
Meantime, other forces of the Brit
ish are advancing from Port Elizabeth
and East London, ION the coast by diff
forent lines Of railway, that center at
Springfontein, fifty miles south Of
Bloemfontein. A London dispatch of
Monday refers to the advance of these
forces as fallows:
| Important dispatches, which were
captured yesterday at Estcourt, point
to Boer difficulties. The enemy is dis
heartened and alarmed by the re-en-
forcements pouring into Stormberg, and
NaauwpOor, their severe reverses at
Belmont and the hard fighting at Lady
smith"
These dispatches were captured sew
eral days ago, and indicate that the
British forces advancing from the south,
were at Stormberg and Naauwpoor, per.
haps Thursday. BY this time they
have probably reached Springfonteir
which is only fifty miles south of Bloem
fontein. Bloemfontein is fifty miles
east of Kimberly, and two hundred and
twenty miles southwest of Ladysmith
where the main portion of the Boel
army is besieging Gen. Whites forces
|, Being equal distance from the British
, forces on the west. at Kimberly, an6
Spripgfontein on the south, it will
probably be the next point of attack at
ter Kimberly.
Another British force is advancing
from Durham to the relief of Ladysmith
Gen. Butler is with this force, and it,
advance relieved Estcourt Sunday, ant
! pressed forward toward Colenso, thu
, same day, the Beers falling back be
fore them.
| This is the latest we have OF the po
sition of the contending forces up t.
, Sunday. The news indicates that live
{ ly times are near at hand, but no on
; can tell where the heaviest blow will
t fall. 1t looks as if Gen. Buffers fra
r object was to relieve,t the beleaguere'
: cities, by marching strong force to tn
relief of each. But the Beers hold tn
inside line, and should have the advan
+ tage. 1t looks as if Butler had made
4 mistake by dividing up his forces. Blu
: his two columns marching on Kimberl
r and Bloemfontaine, united, may b
/. strong enough to meet any force tina
4 may be sent against them, and they ar
e near enough to form union in tw
days. If they are not strong enough t
meet the united Beers, they may wal
into trap, for the Beers having tn
inside line, can concentrate easily
leaving Ladysmith besieged by smal
: force, and overwhelm Lord Methuen'
+ force at Kimberly or Bloemfonteir
: The latter place is in the center Of tn
t Free State, which has espoused tn
y cause of the Boers and it is on lin
|. of railroad that runs north to Pretoria
the capital of the Transvaal, and shoul
be defended at all hazards. The worl
of this week Will probably see the Brit
ish defeated or the Beers driven out O
the Free State, across the Vaal rive
: into the Transvaal.