The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-18
SOUTH ArRIcA's EvENTFuL WEEK

SOUTH AEBtCA'S ENENTfuL WEIn
For more than FIVE months the South
African war has been writing. In strategy
and blood. its fascinating contribution to
military history. Great Britaln's initial
confidence that her designs to rear a SUI
perb South African empire upon the ruins
OF the Dutch republics, where British pres
tlge In all its resourceful power would
stand unchallenged, has long since given
way under the amazing and heroic re-
slstance OF the Beers.
The tremendous consequences OF the
tempestuous issue each side feels more
profoundly now than at any time since
the first Boer rifle spoke its audacious de-
fance on the invaders territory. Aroused
by long and rapid succession of Beer
victories. the British parliament has come
to understand that Great Britains SUI
premacy as world power swings in the
balance OF the South African struggle.
Therefore 1t Is, that the war strength OF
the United Kingdom has been concentrated
Ia all its vast entirety in supreme de-
termination 10 crush the fighting farmers
OF the African republics whose military
genius. resourcefulness and leonine cour-
age constitute at this tense hour the as
constituent Of civilization.
During the week just closed. perhaps the
most portentous Of tho campaign, almost
the entire British force has been put in
motion and British plans revealed. In
their development they do not seem to
have caught tho Beers unawares KIM
berley has been relieved. 1t is true, but
1t is significant that the relieving army.
meeting with practically no resistance.
found General CronJes besieglng forces
in ~fuli retreat
Whether the occupation o, Kimberley
is an advantage 10 Lord Roberts Is not
quite clear TO any one save the exultant
British censor and the London EXPERTS
BESIDES the garrison. Kimberley has a
population OF approximately rs, 900 and all
on the verge Of starvation. These. to-
gether with his rescung army. 10000
strong. Lord Roberts must victual and
care for from his hhse OF supply at Deaar.
In Cape Colony, more than 400 miles away
and connected with Kimberley by a rail-
way line that the Beers have cut at Mod
der river. Before communication can be
re-establishcd between Kimberley and
Deaar Junction fhis break must be re.
paired In the meantime the Beers. MOVING
under Commandments Delary and Goeblo-
are lighting their way toward the ralrond
with the view Of cutting Lord Roberts
connection With his base at a vital point.
In this accomplishment they have driven
the British troops commanded by General
Clements from Rennesberg 10 Arundel and
outilanked them. Should the Beers sue
coed, as they are bent upon doing, the re e
lief of Kimberley may yet prove the most
gigantic and fateful bunder OF the cam.
paign. Lord Roberts big army, already
exhausted by tho fatigue and heat OF long
and rapid march, must protect It's base or
face an appalling situation.
From the British dispatches IL is we'll
nigh Impossible to figure out the mystery.
so far as the relative positions of the on
posing forces are concerned II is known
that General French Is at AIexandorston.
tein the abandoned Beer trenches in front
OF Kimberley. and is securing the country
to the north, while Methuen's cavalry
commander is probably executing a similar
movement towards the south. but where
General Cronje's retreating force is. or
what is its purpose. not even the British
censor seems to dare speculation. Cronje
has retreated but no one seems 10 know
anything beyond this fact. II is held
that he is cut of from Bloemfontein. his
supply base In the Orange Free state. but
the fact that Lord Roberts long and ad-
mirably linked lines. ourving in a huge
seml-eircle from Kimberley 70 the Modder
river crossings. thence to Jacobsdnl and
Modder river station, have failed to de-
termine his route of retreat. very clearly
indicates that General CronJe has mastered
Lord Roberts plan and is now endeavoring
to counter with rapid and strategic move
that will enable him to cut tho British
communications at such point as he may
select or. worse stlll, decoy the enemy into
one OF those deadly traps into which Il has
so frequently fallen.
While these decisive events are transpir-
ing In the Orange Free State. for the re-
suits OF which the country must almost
exclusively rely on British censored no
ports 2oO miles away at Gadysmith. near
iy due west of Kimberley, General Ion
perts army holds Butler at arms length
while hammering away at the belsaguered
British garrison. One day the dispatches
announce that the Beers are relaxing the
siege In order 10 march to the defense OF
the now invaded Orange Free state ana
the next that they are reconcentratiug IN
the neishborhood Of General Whites inn
prisoned forces.
As yet neither the British censor on
the theater OF war nor the military ex-
pert, immersed at London in the study Of
his maps aud the movements of the i'm.
perisi army. has been able to tell what a