Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1900-04-04

Will Probably be Resumed Earh
Next Week.
GEN. JOUBERT'S SKILL PRAISED
One Hundred and Thirty-five Miles
TO be Covered by Lord Roberts Be.
fore lie Reaches the Boer Position.

London, Cable General French
who has arrived at Blosmfonten from
Thaba'Nchu. says THAI Commandant
Olivier has G,00O men and is north o.
ladybrand. Immense quantities oi
stores have now been accumulated n
Bloemfontein, and Lord Roberts in.
fantry is seemingly about 70 move. All
impression, which can he traced to tn,
War Office. is abroad that the advanc,
will begin next Monday Boer obser
walton parties arc lowering near
Bloemfontein. but Lord Roberts has
l35 miles TO cover before reaching the
great position which the Beers are
preparing at Kroonstvdt. Moving ten
miles day is probably tho best he
can do with field transports There
fore he can hardly engage the Beers in
force for two weeks. The rcconstruc-
tion OF the railway behind him cnay
even delay an invasion OF the Trans
vaal until May Meanwhile. all tho
important towns in the Free State.
within Lord Roberts reach. arc being
garriSoned. Traba'N HUI, Phiilipolis.
Fauresmith and ,Iagersfontein are
thus held. Sir Alfred Miner is tour
ing in the disturbed newly acquired
territory, investigating conditions ana
arranging the administration. He +,
understood 10 be getting materials 70.
a report to M Chamberlain concerning
plan OF civil government.
All he London morning papo-s
print Singglarly kind editorials con
corning General Joubert Thcy praise
his military skill. uphold his chival-
rons conduct and regret that so strong
and moderate a mnd should he absent
from the final settlement OF the dis
putc. Although some uf the younger
commanders thought the old soldier
wanting in dash and enterprise. his
raid into the country south OF the
Tugela is considered the best piece OF
Boer leadership during the whole war.
II is now known that he crossed the
Tugcla with only 5000 rinemen and
six guns, but so bold and rapid we're
his movements that the British COM
manderS thought 10000 Beers were
marching on PietermaritzburS For a
few days, although in the presence Of
greatly superior forces. he isolated
General liildyard's brigade at Estcourt
and at the same time threatened Cen
erTll Barton camp at Mool river Then.
as British re-enforcemcnts were pusn-
cd up. Joubert re-crosSed the Tugela
without losing prisoner. a wagon or
II gun. General Whites estimate of
MIN, pronounced on Tuesday before he
dIed. as gentleman and a brave and
honorable opponent strikes the tone
OF all British comment
The Foreign Office. according to the
Portugal for some thousands OF Bri-
tish troops 10 hc landed at Beira and
sent ty the Rhodesia railway from
Massi-K -Kessc To Umtali 4 permanent
arrangement Is understood TO exist
for the use OF this route to transfer
the Rhodes.a police The possibility
OF foreign protest IS suggested hv che
Daily Chronicle. Among tho items ca
bed from Pretoria IS a statement that
prominent residents there object to =
defense of Pretoria and desire that
I'"siaent Kruger should retire to
Iyd'herg. II lis expected the principal
buildings at Johannesburg had been
undermined by order uf Kruger.