New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-21
COLENsO oNCEMORETAKE
Continued from first page.
fire every day when General Frenchs cavalr.
brigade galloped into the town.
THE REAL, LINES OF DEFENCE

THE REAL LINES OF DEFENCE
Military men agree that Bioemfontein is not
a point of strategic Importance, and that the
real lines of defence are the ridges between the
rivers all the way up the Transvaal border, es-
peciaIly the Ventersberg-Senekal line, but South
Africans tell me that the occupation of the
capital will have a great moral effect in the
Free State. Bloemfonten is not, like Pretoria
a dismal town. which even the Beers them
selves avoid. 1t is a pleasant, well built town
Of which the Free Staters Justly proud It's
occupation by a British garrison will have
disheartening effect upon the Free State troops
who will lose their interest in the war when
they perceive themselves doomed TO a long de-
fensive campaign across the Vaal River and in
defence Of the Boer capital
South Africans contend that whatever may
be the strategic points of the campaign the
rapture Of the Free State capital will be a stag
gering blow 10 the Dutch cause They assert
that il was from their anxiety to defend their
own beloved capital that the Free staters threw
commanders into Cape Colony to hold the
stormberg and Zuurbergen ranges, and that
they planned a stubborn resistance to the pass
age Of the Orange River and a determined stand
az every bowlder strewn ridge on the way to
Bloemfontein.
EFFECT OF ROBERTS'S MOVE
Lord Roberts's advance has been at once
turning movement for the relief of Kimberley
and banking operation on large scale for the
avoidance of all these lines of defence The eff
feet OF it has already been to compel the Free
State authorities 10 recall the bulk of their
forces from Cape Colony Colesberg, Rensburg,
storrnberg and Burghersdorp are now lightly
held, and Generals Clements and Gatacre will
speedily be working their way toward the Or
ange River.
The Natal campaign has also been trans
formed by Lord Roberts's success in the West.
Sir Redvers Butler was enabled to report yes
terday that General Harris brigade had entered
Colenso after the capture of Hlangwane Hill by
Barton's brigade and that his advanced guard
had crossed the Tugela- The entire southern
bank Of the river was cleared Of the enemy,
who offered slight resistance at any point and
seemed TO be in full retreat. The position,
which was impregnable last December, has been
taken without serious struggle, and there is
only a feeble rear guard holding the railway
leading TO Ladysmith.
Nearly all the morning journals have detailed
accounts OF the storming of Hlangwane and the
occupation Of Colenso. but the Boer guns had
been removed and the trenches were lightly held
these were sham battles. General Butler is
within twelve miles of Ladysmith. If the Dutch
forces are in full retreat for a concentration
against Lord Roberts in the Free State General
Butler is likely to reach Ladysmith before the
last horses eaten.
DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT.
Parliament was enlivened yesterday by strik-
ing debates in both houses. A motion for
modified form Of CONSUMPTION defeated in
the House Of Lords by small majority, and
Mr. Chamberlain made a spirited reply to his
accusers on the proposal for full inquiry
speeding the origin of the conspiracy Of 1895
against the Transvaal Government
James Bryce finds fault with The Tribunes
contrast between the passages in his impress
sions Of South Africa and the following words
reported to have been used by him in the Com
mons on February .: The fusion of the two
races in the Transvaal was proceeding salts
factorily until checked by the jameson raid"
He writes me: Il never used these words, which,
indeed. would have been absurd and contrary to
the facts Of the case, and if have been so re-
ported the error is the reporters. What l did
say was that the fusion Of the races was pro-
ceeding satisfactorily in Cape Colony until the
raid which is true The rest of The Tribune's
leader contains matter of argument too long for
me to enter on. but 1 may add that L have not.
so far as I know said anything during these last
few months in the least degree inconsistent with
what is stated in my book" l. n. +.