The evening times., 1900-03-02

here from South Africa indicate that the
"On to Pretoria" march will not be a dress
parade. Dispatches show that fifty thou
sand Beers are az Winberg, sixty miles to
the northeast OF Bl0emfontein. and dcs-
perate fighting is ahead OF Lord Roberts
army. Seven thousand Beers are now on
his Immediate front and another force is
reported 20 the southwest.
Fighting On a small scale has already
begun. toe British cavalry having come
into touch with the larger force TO he
eastward. Lord Roberts. who. with Lord
Kitchener and staff. visited Kimberley
yesterday. started for Paardeberg again
today, and the advance on Bloemfontejn
will probably begin Immediately. II is
likely that as soon as Roberts approaches
Bloemfontein the Beers will eyacuate the
place. They viii not il is declared make
any real attempt to repel the British there.
as the country is not suited to their tac-
tics.
Anxious for News From Roberts
Now that the wave Of rejoicing over the
raising of the seige Of Ladysmith has ex-
pended itself. interest is transferred to
Roberts, and news from the main British
army is anNiously awaited. 1t is recognized
that the real work OF the war is beginning
that the invasion OF British territory has
been rolled back. There is not the slight
est sign Of yielding on the part Of the
Beers. On the contrary they are prepar-
ing to make a desperate stand against the
British. The two republics. it is said. have
1900 men in the field. They have a big
force Of the best modern artillery, and the
supply Of cartridges for their Mauser rifles
is ample for q year. With this army they
can hold the mountain ranges and passes
which make the Transyaal a great natural
fertilization against a very big invading
force.
The figures as TO the number Of men in
the field are given by Colonel Albrecht.
the German artillery officer captured with
Cronje, who is well acquainted with all the
details Of the Bocr army matters. The
army concentrating at Wmberg is under
General Joubert himself This announce
ment is made by Or Leyds, the European
representative Of the Transyaal.
DR.. Lcyds does not say what the remain
der OF the republican forces viii do while
Jouber, is meeting Roberts. but it is like
ly that a large part OF them viii guard
the passes or the Drakcnsberg range to the
n0rthward at Laing's Mex and TO the
northwestward at Ward Van Reenen's 10
prevent Butler from breaking through from
Natal It is thought that Butler will not
be able TO attempt any advance in that
direction for some time. Not only are
Whites forces exhausted by their terrible
experience through the four months siege.
but his own men need recuperation after
their series OF battles. and besides. il is
said, he is handicapped by want OF proper
transport.
SkirmiShinG Be=inS.
This is the despatch just received from
Paardeberg, reporting the concentration of
the Beers In Roberts immediate front:
1T is understood that some 1000 Beers
are concentrating on the British front. The
British cavalry is in touch with them to
the eastward and skirmishing began this
morning. The Beers are also spread in
force to the southwest The British are
well and cheerful"
The country in which Joubert IS assem-
bling his forces is said TO be admirably
suited for defence II resembles that
around Ladysmith. so that Roberts may
have a taste CT the sort Of work that Bull
Ter has been doing since December. Ridges
and kopjes are everywhere. and on these
Louberts men are working like beavers.
throwing up entertainments. getting guns
INTO position. and preparing traps fo- the
British soldiers.
Other dispatches from Paardeberg this
morning state that the Bocrs. despite
Cronie's capture, are still active in the
southern part of the Free State. The
force Of 1000 presumably under the com
mand Of Dewet, who attempted TO joir
Cronje. but was held back by Roberts. is
operating east Of PaaIdeberg and south OF
Bloemfontein with artillery. General
French has been hurried with his cavalry
division to engage the Beers, and by this
time has probably had a fight To the
southwest Of Paardebcrg, also. the Beers
are reported In large numbers. and a po--
tion OF Kelly-Kenny's force has been sent
TO strengthen General Roberts line OF
communication south. The Remington
scouts have been active in locating the
Beers, and report they are stin in large
numbers to the south, west, and east.
Roberts Flying Column.
General Roberts will not attempt an i'm
mediate advance on Bloemfontein in force
but will send forward a stray flying col
umn 10 make a formidable reconnaissance.
The report that JOubert has picked Win
berg. sixty miles northeast of BIoemfon-
tein, makes military experts wonder if
Roberts will allow the Boer commander Ia
again pick his own battle-ground. There is
strong belief here that Mafeking will be
relieved very shortly and that a march "a
Pretoria viii be begun from that point.
a despatch from the Boer Headquarters
at Bloemfontein, dated March 1. says: Ia
a fight south OF Rensburg It is reported
that 500 Port Elizabeth volunteers were
completely routed. Two hundred were
Killed and wounded and thirty were taken
prisoners, including one officer.
The British cavalry and artillery are
again advancing in the direction of Co1es-
berg The Orange River is running tiob >,
Under todays date General snvmap 70
ports as follows from Molopo. ..colopo,
Plumer's flying column attempted last
week 70 approach Mafcking from The
northwest, but has again returned 10 Ca
oerones. The federal trenches are now
within 250 yards OF the besieeed town in
side OF which much fever IS reported
All the cnrroeuouTcufr f.,rr,..gt..--