Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1900-03-09

Beers Plan to Concentrate All
TheirFOrces TO Resist Lord Roberts
London, March 4.-4:10 a. NIT is
evident that a strict censorship is being
exercised over the news at the seat OF
war, as the night has not added any
thing to the scanty dispa tches received
during the day, most Of which re-
ferTed to matters preceding the recent
stirring events.
The War Office intimated at midnight
that there was no prospect OF news
until something definite shall have been
done. This is quite in keeping with the
complete silence which Lord Roberts
has hitherto observed while his plans
were III progress of accomplishment,
and until hc is in actua. grip with the
Boers it is probable tEa the public Will
h ar little or nothing Of his doings.
Lor41u. March 3.--President Kruger
is said 10 have left Pretoria with the
intention Of meeting President Steyn.
The place where they win meet is not
mentioned, but it is believed to be
sorneW here in the Orange Free State.
Those in South Africa who are con-
Vcrsant with the effect the recent re-
verses have had on the Beers express
the opinion that the meeting Of the two
Presidents is preliminary to sugges-
ton Of negotiations for peace.
But the closest observers do not an
ticipate any sudden cessation of hos
tilities, and, certainly, the reports from
fro Of n n n
courage the advocates Of immediate
peace. the Eo@Is are {! Earenuy rally
Ing with jl-,r &lc-s- J2C.d ability - re
pair q ten. rCru"y reverse, and CI-1C
britain has yet 10 test their force a. a
defensive power under the new cOnQi-
lions Of warfare. Outside the meeting
of the Presidents there is no news in
dicatiVe Of any change in the sltua-
ton.
Telegraphlng from Csfontein to-day.
thanking the Lord Mayor Of Liverpool
for his congratulations IN behalf of the
city, Lord Roberts says: Il trust her
NajeSty's soldiers in this country VIII
gain such further successes as Will
speedily restore the freedom and pros
pcrity of South Africa"
London, March 4.-GpenCer WillIin-
son, reviewing the situation in South
Africa for the Associated Press at mid
night to-riGht, says:
General bul!er seems 10 have been
Grrr1ia.l to E.G t.-at ~ f@d beaten
the Doors On ELrsJ.,-. Nothing Is COM
none. in n ar than TO an amy, after
hard f;cltf0g TO tt & ultEul 81 tie cX-
tent II JUS success. i'-U. ; meals learn,
IS Grant Gid - lis G1st com. ana. that
the enemy Wae Z much frightened Of
me IS / was OF HIM The question now
is as to the future course of events.
There cannot be much doubt as to the
issue provided no foreign powers or
power interfere.
Lord Roberts can either order Cen
eral Butler, with the 10000 men Of the
united Natal army to advance on Pre-
tOria while he himself moves by BlOem-
fOntein and the Free State railway, or
he can bring round most Of Buffers
force to reinforce his own army. In
either case the Beer stratogist3 viii
have a hard task TO make & promising
plan Of campaign.
THE best E0er plan Is, perhaps to
leave Ihe rear guard to cover the passes
from Natal and to concentrate all the
rest Of their forces to resist Lord Rob
erts. In this Way they might in week
from now meet Lord Roberts, W. tn,
perhaps equal numbers, but Roberts
will be reinforced from week to week,
while the Beers cannot be for the mo
ment.
THE position seems to re that there
are six thousand or seven thousand
Beers within striking distance Of Rob
erts & Osfonteln. II this is the case he
will either disperse or capture the
small Beer force unless T. retreats
rapidly until reinforced. Lord Roberts
will probably contrive to push forward
q small force on the Mafe<ing line ana
raise the siege while he is drawing the
principal Boer army onto himself
London, March 4 A special dispatch
from Brussels annOunC that DR..
Leyds authorizes IN abs ,v.o denial Of
the report that he had lived news
that Mafeling had hs"G V93
J,.lon. March t. q. m.-Nafeking
(. t. .- relieved as soon as the British
-u~ce already On the way to Kimberley
can raise The siege. This force is de-
5cribed vaguely as strong" The kim
berley Light Horse is mentioned as a