Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-05-03
ENGLAND STILL
IN SUSPENSE.
Conflicting Reports Of Fight at Thaba
NChu Leave the Result in Doubt.
POSSIBLE BOER CONCENTRATION.

Will Unite at LadJbrand-Dutch
Foreign Minister is Reported to
Have Sounded the Powers
on the Subject of In
teryentiOn.
London, April 30.-The earliest accounts
of the fighting near Thaba N'Chu are con-
frmed and conflicting. One version ls
that the Beers were in laager ten miles
east of the town and that there was
slight engagement during the afternoon OF
Friday, which was hardly more than an
affair of the outpoets, followed by the re-
tirement of the Beers toward Ladybrand'
Another despatch states that there was
sharn fiphtinp. IN which Smith-Dorrien
brigade of the Ninth Division was engaged.
Another bulletin describes the Beers as
strongly intrenched on the line of kopJes,
from which they were driven after sharp
fighting the Canadians especially dlstln-
gushing themselves, and Colonel Otter
being slightly wounded.
DOUBT As TO TIE OPERATIONS
Fleet Street was left in doubt at mid
night respecting the nature If the opera
tions, the most optimistic view being that
French had crossed the Boer line OF re-
treat, and might succeed in capturing
several commanders, and the more rea-
sona6e theory being that the Beers had
sent ON their wagons toward Ladybrand
and were following with dellberation and
an occasional rear guard action. The DIS
tance between Thaba NChu and Lady
brand is forty miles and the veldt leads
into hilv. and even mountainous, dis
trict. At the edge of Basutoland, Lady
brand is the natural point of concentration
for Olivier's and De Vets forces, and can
only be approached by a British army Of
strength.
General Roberts plans are not revealed
by the dispatches. He can either follow
the Beers toward Ladybrand and then re-
sume his advance northward to Spnekal,
or he can make narrow wheeling move
ment from Thaba N'Chu and throw the
bulk of his forces between Winburg and
De Vets and OGvier's commanders. The
conditions of his transport are unknown,
and the direction Of the next movement OF
the BRITISH forces cannot be forecast with
any degree OF confidence. General Rob
erts has cleared his eastern flank, but may
be- compelled to halt until lis transport l.
in order.
The War Office gave out short death
list at midnight, including the names OF
five officers, but offered no explanation of
the operations around Thaha n Chu since
Friday morning. The natural inference
was that the Beers had retreated toward
Ladybrand and that General French had
not succeeded in surrounding them or
blocking the road.
ROBERTS BRILLIANT PLAN.
The brillance of General Roberts ma
neuvers is generally recognized by well
informed military men, hut the Aldershot
group is ready TO critcise his strategy and
tactics, which have not involved the cap
ture of several commanders. These crOak'
ers are bent upon having a Paardeberg
every time, but this Is hardly reasonable,
especially when the Boer forces are mobile
and handled with exceptional caution
and ability.
General Roberts results are accomplish
ed without serious losses. His campaign
is very different from the battle at Colenso
az described bv Sir William MacCormac,
in which the British casualties were 1850
and the Roer losses 30, an astonishing ex-
hibit, which has ndued sober reflection
here upon the Aldershot methods of train
ing and field prac tice and similar deduc-
tions might be drawn from the record OF
General Methuen and Magersfonlein The
war has not ended, but seems likely to be
prolonged for many months; but General
Roberts has redeemed the military pres
tlge of the Empire from r proach and re-
stored the prestige of the British army.
Dispatches from Berlin affirm that Nj
de Beaufort has sounded the powers re-
spectng the possibility of mediation in the
South African war; aud has not met with
encouragement in any quarter.
Notwithstanding the manifestations OF
Dutch sympathy, the mission of the
peace delegates is pronounced cou'
plele failure at The Hague, where it is
not believed that the Minister of Foreign
Affairs has proposed intervention, since
that procedure would he contrary to the
accepted policy Of the little Dutch King
d oni, which hae renlalk kabIe talent for
attending to its own affairs and abstain
ing from meddlesome activity in dlplo-
macy.