The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-08
wILKINsoN's REVIEW.
How the Situation Appears to the
Military Writer.


LONDON, April 7-Spencer Wilkinson.
Africa for the Associated Press at mid
night, says: 'The position in the Free
State seems to be that the British cavalry
and mounted infantry have used up the
horses in the heavy marches from Modder
river station to Kimberley and from Kim
berley to Bloemfontein; that the lack of
remounts, coupled with the exhaustion of
the transport service, has compelled Lord
Roberts to withhold his advance and that
during the halt the Beers have recovered
from their depression and have resumed
the offensive. The action at Karee siding,
followed by the move of General French to
Sanna's Post, has doubt given extra
strain to the mounted troops. The need
of remounts has become urgent Dis
patches, however. that have been received
lately, indicate that a fresh supply OF
horses is beginning to arrive at Cape
Town. Lord Roberts seems anxious, so far
as he can. to avoid partial movements and
he will await quietly whatever the enemy
may do until he is again ready for a con-
tinuous movement and decisive action.
Meantime the Beers are making the
best of this period of inaction. With a
force of 10000 or 1900 men they are said
to be moving south from Thaba Nchu
and other forces have shown themselves
along the Basuto border where General
Brabant's division of colonials is said to
be confronted by strong Boer force near
wepener. Brabant's force. however. prob
ably is able TO take care of itself.
1.-THE surprise and destruction of a Brit
ish detachment near Redderburg suggests
that the Boer plan may be to break up the
railway between Norvars pont and Bloem-
fontein by means of which Lord Roberts
secures his supplies and reinforcements.
Such move, if successful, would cause
Lord Roberts some embarrassment and
might draw him into making strong
counterstroke towards the south. 1t
proves at least that the Beers have now
discovered that their best course Is to re-
ly upon strong raiding parties moving
rapidly rather than upon a war OF posi-
tions, wherein they must always in time
be overborne.
But the effect of the new Boer policy
will be merely to hasten the development
OF the mounted portion OF the British force.
Lord Roberts is forming at Bloemfontein
a strong division Of mounted troops to be
commanded by Colonel Ian Hamilton, one
of his best officers. AS soon as he has a
good supply of horses Lord Roberts will
be ready to reply with interest to the an
noyance the Beers now causing him.
''The return of the Beers into the dis
tricts where the burghers made submis-
sion must have the result of increasing
their embitterment, that there is now
a probability of the war being fought out
to the end, as was the war of secession. In
that case many months must elapse before
the close Of hostilities.
1.-THE most disagreeable feature of to-
days news Is the uneasness of the Basu-
tos. The situation In the Free State is one
of some difficulty and may cause tenn
porary anxiety, but unless a serious blow
be struck at the communications of the
British army, the Boer raid will have little
effect. Even the temporary destruction of
the railway would cause no more than a
diversion"