The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-09-05
British Operations in
South Africa.
.BULLER DOES GOOD WORK
He Occupies Machadadorp and
French Gets Into Glands
fontein.

NEW YORK, August PA dispatch
to the Tribune from London says:
There is much inclination to believe
that the operations in which Lord Rob-
erts is now engaged against General
-Botha are destined to form the final
stage of the South African war from a
Pretoria report cabled to the effect that
the Beers in the Transvaal capital be-
lieve that Botha will abandon the con-
test if beaten on this occasion and that
Presidents Kruger and Steyn will
then flee to Delagoa Bay. But these
rumors have been repeated and
proved fallacious frequently enough be-
fore and it Is impossible to pronounce
definitely that the Boer leaders believe
the limit of resistance to have been
| reached. The temperance Of De Wet
in the Orange Free State and the activs
| ity of the Beers on Buffers communica-
ton in Natal, would rather point the
other way. If it had been determined
| to stake everything. on the result of
Botha's stand in the eastern Transvaal,
it would hardly seem worth while to
revive the campaign in other quarters.
So far the operations between the
! Boer and British main armies have
/ been somewhat indecisive. Movements,
as Lord Roberts says in his dispatch on
Monday eve, are necessarily slow on
account of the great extent and diff
cult nature of the country which forms
/ the scene of the battles. He, however,
considers his advance going Oh salts
ifactorily and regards General Buller's
engagement of the 9th as an important
success. The result of the days fight
ing was that the Beers withdrew their
line by some two miles, allowing Butler
to capture a strong position within
their outer semi-circle of defenses west
of the Dalmanutha Railway station.
The question now arises whether the
British will be able to force the fighting
so as to hold the enemy in position and
compel him to accept the defeat which
superior numbers and more powerful
artillery should be able to infiict or Is
the nature of the country such that Gen
Botha, though driven back from one
: vantage ground to another, Will even
tually be able to retreat in time to save
his guns and transport. If previous ex-
| perience is a guide the Beers viii delay
the British advance as long as they
can do so safely, but will then retire at
: leisure before the invaders can secure
a decisive victory.
5 Charles Williams, the well known
. military expert, believes Lord Roberts
has the present intention of returning
] to England in the course Of October,
f so as to be ready to relieve Lord VOL
: seley on November 1st, as commander
in-chief of the British army. In such
event General Butler may be asked to
resume command of the forces in South
Africa.
81 General Warren writes to the Times
to say that various statements which
D have recently appeared in the press
i purporting to be views expressed BY
= him as to recent events in South Afri-
( ca have been made entirely without his
: authority; that he has not expressed
e any opinions with a view to publica
), ton and that some of the statement:
: attributed to him are contrary to fact
: BULLER IN MACHADoDoRP.
LONDON, August 29-Lord Roberts
g under date of Belfast, Aug. 90. tele
Il graphs:
e "Buller's advance occupied Macha
:. dodorp this afternoon. The enem.
: made poor stand and retired north
l. ward, followed by Dundonald's mount
: ed troops who could not proceed be
$ yond Helvetia on account of Difficult
nature of the country and the enem
taking up a position too strong TO
dislodged by the mounted troops. j
appears that Buffers casualties wer
70 very few.
French continued the movement to
day as far as Elandsfontein, fror
e which he turned the enemy out with u
: difficulty. The latter retired, leavln
~ quantities of good cooked foo6 behine
General Buffers casualties Aug.
as were: Kflled-One officer and fiftee
ie men; wounded, seven officers and fifty
. seven men.