The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-22
ROBERTS MAKES NO MOVE.
BoERS RILLrING At kR0ONsTAD 70
AWAIT MS ADVANCE.

oatacre and Brsbant stiii Engaged Near
N. orange River B~order-some Delay
In Getting Heavy Supplies Forward to
Observation-Disclosures News of Col. Piumer's
Fore. for the Relief of MafekinG-Pian
to Combine tho Boer Republics.
Special CaM. p,,pa,A to rns Sun.
LONDON, March 22.-Tho lull In South Africa
continues. A correspondent Of the Daily Mol.
who has Just arrived at Cape Town from
Bloemfontein says he was informed
before he left the Free State capt.
tai that no further movement was
probable for three weeks. as some neaotia-
tons we're proceeding. He was unable. how
ever. to learn the nature OF these negotiations.
or whether Gov. Miners departure for Bloem-
.on,rin was connected with them. The cor
respondent suggests the possibility OF the war
suddenly collapsinR. but he does not seem TO
have anything on which to base the idea,
All reports from the Boer side concur
with THE SUNS despatch from Pretoria assert
ing the determination OF the burghers to resist.
President Kruger. who returned to Pretoria on
sunday from Kroonstad, said he had never
70 md the Beers more resolved. He was con-
Nln'fu tUht tno nknSihB I" 'o
would he desr erate.
Various correspondents dwell upon what
they term the rapid pacifcation OF the Free
State and state that hundreds Of the burghers
are surrendering their arms. but the extrava.
gance If the language often employed raises o
suspicion Of the trustworthiness OF the reports
and indications ara not wanting that the prog.
re, of the British In the southern part OF the
Free State may be checked for a time.
The Standards correspondent at Bloemfon-
tein, cabling under date Of Tuesday, reports
that 1000 Transvaal Beers from ColesbcrR
treKked nortkward from Dewetsdorp
on Saturday and Sunday. apparently
hoping to escape BY huRging the
Rasutoland border. The Landdrost at WEEP
ener. refused on Sunday to receive copies OF
Gen. Roberts's proclamation. 1t Ia stated that
there il a Boer commando in that district.
whore a fight is reported TO have already oc-
cured.
Gen. Gatacre and Gen. Brabant are repre-
sented a. sweeping the country In all directions
with flying columns. Gen, Brabant has
occupied Rockville and Zastron. 1t now
transpires that the repairs to tho
railway bridge at Norvels Pont will
occupy two months, and. though the pontoon
Ia available for arIal way construction.
the heavy stores. which are necessary TO COM
p!ete Gen. Roberts, supplies. are likely to ar
rive slower than vas hoped.
Their Is no news " hatever from Mafekins or
Col. Plumer, nor is the advance OF the KIM
berley force beyond WArrenton reported.
Quantities OF supplies ara continually being
forwarded from Durham to Ladysmith and the
intermediate camps. but the repeated predic-
tons OF Gen. Buffers advance have not yet
been fulfilled.
The correspondent OF the Daily Ne,rs at
Sprlngiontein asserts that one OF Gen. Bra
bant's raids resulted In the capture OF valuable
Boer documents. including an official record
of their killed anJ wounded, showing that they
have lost a great mum BEL.
-Pte correspondent adds that the record also
shows that a false system has been adopted BY
the leaders in regard to informing the Dutch
people OF their losses.
A despatch to the Times from Rockville.
dated Tuesday. says that that town was
occupied without oppo sltion. Large guam
titles Of rifles, ammunition and stores
were found. The Landdrost consented
to act as Magistrate under the British
flag. A British trooper who was captured at
Allwal rth on March IL and taken to Smith.
field has arrived at Rouxville. He reports that a
bTltlsu lNlNc iIOIn Npl lukIoutcih hus oSNuplcu
Smithfeld. The Boer commandos from Aliwal
North. Bethulie and Rockville have Joined
forces. Their total number Is 1000. with
sixteen guns. They retired toward San River
Sunday night.
The Times correspondent at Lorenzo Mar
ques gives a version Of the rumor that
the Transvaal had annexed the Orange Free
State. He says II Is reported from Pretoria that
q scheme has been arranged for the amalga-
nation OF the Republics. Paul Kruger will
become the first President OF the federated
States. President Steyn Of the Free State will re-
csivs the appointment Of Com mandant- General
OF the Boer army. The flag OF the Federation
will be- the same as that OF the Transvaal. with
the addition Of the orange color. The corre-
spondent is unable to confirm the report,
but says he IL convinced that
such a proposal has been considered.
He thinks. however. that It is improbable that
it will be effected. He adds that IL Ia notorious
that Commandant-Gener Joubert has lost the
confidence Of the burghers because from the
FIRST he refused to shut his eyes to the inevi-
table result OF the war.