Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-03-03
ANOTHER BATTLE EXPECTED.
British Forces Nearing tho Beers
Position Roberts Moving For

Position = Roberts Moving Tor-
ward
London, March 3.First Lord Roberts
scored. then Gen. Butler and now Rob-
erts is about to begin operations again.
He has already moved his camp 10 os-
fontein. six miles TO the eastward Re
newed fighting can be expected any
day, as some 1000 Beers are said 10
haze been located in the vicinity. 1T is
not thought that these burghers intend
10 offer serious resistance to the British
advanec.but rather TO seek to retard and
hamper the march on Bloemfontein.
The main Boer army from Natal is
said to be concentrating at Winburg,
seventy miles northeast Of Bloemfon-
tein, and here there is ground for fa-
vorable defensive tactics.
The Beers at colesburg have already
crossed the Orange river and arc now.
moving north to assist in the effort to
oppose Lord Roberts. There is consid-
erabe uncertainty. even among the
best Informed men i'll London. touching
the future movements III the western
theater of war. Field Marshal Lord
Roberts has shown himself Il general in
absolute secrecy as regards his OWN in-
tentions. Ii is not expected that he Will
now depart from his usual custom. II
is thought probable that the advance on
Bloemfontein has already begun. Strong
Boer forces are reported TO be lowering
around Paardeberg ut a distance Of fiji
teen miles therefrom. These may be at
tackled next.
IT is certain that there will be more
fighting in the Orange Free State in the
near future. If the enemy has already
evacuated Bloemfonten a stand viii
probably be made in the neghborhood
of winburg. Lord Roberts probably
will attempt to outfank the Beers from
the west, as the mountainous country
east of his present position is unfayor-
able to cavalry movements. upon which
much depends. ItSis predicted that the
whole line of country along the Orange
river will pass into the possession of tbs
British within a few days.
The impression prevails that when
the general advance begins Lord Rob
erts Will have three large armies muv-
ing on Pretoria Gen. Buffers from
Natal. Lord Kitchener,s from tbs
Orange Free State and another from
the direction of Mafeking~ This means
that Col Baden Powel's force vii
have been relieved before the fina
operations begin
The war office gives out the following
from Lord Roberts: "Osfontein, Marcf
9 AIS p. MI have just returned from
paying Kimberley hurried visit
was much gratitied at finding the en-
thusiasm among the Kimberley people
regarding the care of the sick ans
wounded. All The houses had beer
converted into hospitals and the mel
n a hi
II was struck with the friendly man
ner in which the wounded Beers an.
our ipen chatted together upon the ex
periences of the campaign. Ii delight
ed me to see our soldiers sharing thei
rations and biscuits with the Boe
prisoners before they commenced thei
march for Modder river. Some of tn
poor fellows were very hungry afte
having been half starved in tn
laager."
The war Office also received the fol
loving dispatch from Gen. Butler:
.Ladysmith. Friday. March ., $50 /
MI find the defeat of the Beers MOI
complete than / had dared To antic
pate. This whole district is completed
clear of them, and. except at the top {
Van Reenen's pass. where several wac
them. Their last train left Modde
Spruit station about l o'clock yestel
day, and they then blew up the bridg
They packed their wagons six daysag
moving them to the north of Lad,
smith. so that we had no chance of ii
tercepting them: but they have lie
vast quantities Of ammunition OF a
sorts. herds. grass, camp and lndivid,
al necessaries. They have got ava
with all their guns except two
Gen. Joubert's army, according
unofficial advices. is making its va
northward as rapidly as possible, pu
sued by British flying column. 1t
not believed that the British will NAL
determined effort JUST now to drl'
the Beers thru the passes of the Dral
ensberg to the Orange Free State al
the Transvaal. Much difficult COUNT
lee 70 the north Of Ladysmith, and