The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-04-26
ROBERTS PLAN OF ACTION.
Has His Troops So Disposed That the
Beers Win Not Risk
Battle.

NEW YORK. April 25.-A dispatch
to the Tribune from London says:
The news from the Free State pre-
seuts a clear view OF the situation on
Monday night and partial glimpse
of yesterdays operations.
A portion Of General fuckers divi-
sion remains at Karee Siding with the
Beers intreuched at Brandfort with
their reserves at winburg. One brig
ade has moved eastward. The Sixth
division is encampei at Bloemfontein.
General Pole Carew's division, with
two brigades Of cavalry. has occupied
Leeuw Kop after driving the Beers
from a series Of strong positions with
out meeting with serious resistance.
The mounted infantry, under General
Hamilton. occupied :he water works
and the Beers held the line Of hills
further east. General French sent out
cavalry toward Dewet's Dorp yester-
day and infantry followed, communica-
ton being opened with Sir Henry Run
die during the afternoon. General Run
die was still marking time in front OF
Dewet's Dorp. with the Beers we'll in
trenched. Brabant's Colonials. with
Harts brigade supporting them. had
fianked the Beers position at Bush
mans Kop and forced the enemy to re-
tire.
They had then continued the advance
toward Wepener. having had running
fight with the enemy throughout Mon
day. They were within eight miles OF
wepener at noon yesterday and were
in a fair way to relieve Colonel Dali
gety's plucky Australians. The enemy
around Wepener was apparently pre-
pairing to retreat without waiting TO
meet the relieving force.
These various operations are illus
trated by the diagonal lines OF squares
on a chess board. both armies being
eeheloned at four stations. General
Brabant, in the southeast is ready to
make a move which Will secure Wep-
ener and force the Beers to retire to-
wards Dewet's Dorp nr Ladybrand |
Generals Rumble and French. in the
two middle squares, are preparing to
drive the enemy from Dewet's Dorp
and the water works toward Thaban-
chu. and General Tucker in the north
is threatening Brandfort.
The result of these operations is fav-
orabIe to the British but there is no
decisive success apart from the relief
of Wepener which has virtually been
effected. The military experts have
been hoping that the Beers would be
caught in another Paardeberg, but
there is no proof that the lines Of re-
treat are cut off either from Wepener,
Dewet's Dorp or Korn Spruit, although
one road has been blocked by General
Thicker
The effect Of the British operations
If there be no setback will be the
clearance of the district east Of Bloem-
fontein. Lord Roberts tactics are in
genioUsly devised. He meets the Beers
in their own way but in superior
strength. Their plan is to always have
a series OF commandos in touch with
one another. He adopts the same sys-
TEN. placing. his divisions in echelon
and outnumbering them at every point.
Press dispatches contain some inter-
esting touches. although the fighting
has been desultory and indecisive.
Thousands Of Basutos are following
the forces toward Wepener, looking on
from the edge of the frontier like the
spectators at the paling of bull ring
and adniiring the good points Of the
game. The white races are offering the
blacks entertaining sport, even if they
are not helping to christianize them.
Lord Roberts report at midnight con-
tained lucid summary of the situa-
tion with one or two new features. The
Ninth division had been sent from