New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-04
LONDON STILL IN THE DARK
DIFFICULTY IN FOLLOWING LORD ROB
ERTS'S PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.
Copyright; 1900: BY The New-York Tribune
Try CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.

Copyright; 1900: BY The New-York TribuneI
Try CABLE TO THE rR1BUSEl
London. May 4. q. ma ustless public
which is weary Of the war. albeit resolved to see
II through 10 the end. finds it difficult to follow
the operations now in progress in the Free State
The military writer's are blind guides because
their eyes are bandaged by the censor and Cen
eral Roberts's reports are not as convincing as
Cssars commentaries. The advance northward
which begun on Monday from Krantz KraaI
and Thaba Nchu does not appear to have been
suspended. although it has not been pushed with
much energy. Boer official reports represent
that the British attack was repused south of
Brandfort, but reasonable explanation of this
version is the fact that the advance from Krantz
Kraal was covered by : movement Of mounted
infantry eastward from Karee for the purpose
Of occupying the attention of the enemy and
that Colonel Henry retired when his share of
the work done. The three lines Of kopjes
seized by MaxwelPs brigade have remained in
possession OF the British.
An official report from General Roberts, dated
Wednesday. shows that General Hamilton has
driven the Beers out OF a strong position occu-
pied by them at Houtnek. about ten miles north
of Thaba Nchu. His losses were small and he
took small number Of prisoners. The Beers re-
treated east and north. and Hamilton's force
under Roberts's orders, halted for single day
serves TO throw side light upon these opera
tons. He refers to the arrival on Tuesday Of
Broadwood's cavalry brigade and Bruce Ham
fton's infantry brigade. These reinforcements
had Joined in the advance Monday from Krantz
Kraal, and were sent east the next day TO as
sist Ian Hamilton.
THE NEW BRITISH LINE.
The British line now extends from Karee on
the railway through Vlakfontein and Schar-
kraal TO Houtnek. and the cavalry is nassed at
the eastern end, where the Beers have been
driven back. There is a slow wheeling move
ment northward with Karee as its pivot and
Houtnek as its outer rim. Maxwelrs brigade
midway at Scharkraal, naturally halts until Ian
Hamilton moves forward at the end of the turn
ing line. and mis- progress depends upon the re-
linquishment by the Beers Of positions east
OF Thaba Nchu. where General Rumble still re-
mains Some military writers contend that the
advance toward Houtnek was undertaken as a.
detail in the operations against Thaba Nchu
and ieny that there has been a general move
ment northward Of Robertss army. The more
reasonable theory is that the line from Karee
% Seharkraal and Houtnek has been taken up
this week the beginning of a turning move
rnent toward the Vet River and Winburg and
Incidentally for the purpose of clearing the Beers
Of their positions beyond Thaba Nchu One
point remains mystery. This is the destina-
ton Of the British force which left Wepener a
week ago. apparently either 10 cooperate with
French or move toward Ladybrand
The press accounts of Hamilton's engage
ment at Houtnek show that the cavalry
fought with brilliant dash; that the Sth Hus-
were actively deployed and that the Cor
dons headed the final charge and that the Boer
losses were considerable in killed and wounded
including several foreign officers. Ian Hamil-
ton. like French and Pole-Carew. is young
officer who has come to the front in
ouence Of good work at Ladysmith. He seems
10 have handled his men with sound judgment.
The public here has not yet begun TO under
stand the magnitude OF General Robertss re-
sources IN mounted troops. He now has much
larger mounted force than the entire Boer army,
and the campaign IS likely TO be conducted TO a
great extent by cavalry. with infantry sup
ports Turning ylovements cannot. however.
be surprises like French's march TO Kimberley.
General Botha will mass his forces against