The free press. (Southern Pines, N.C.) 1898-19??, 1900-04-07
viii Probably be Resanea early
Next Week
GEN. JOUBERT'S SKILL PRAISED.
One Hundred and Tilirty-five Miles
to be Covered by Lord Roberts Be-
fore He Reaches the Boer Position.

London, Cable.-General French
who has arrived at Bloemfontein from
Thaba 'Nchu, says that Conmandant
Olivier has 5000 men and is north Of
Iadybrand. Immense quantities OF
stores have now been accumulated at
! Bloemfontein, and Lord Roberts in
fantry is seemingly about to move. An
Impression, which can be traced to the
War Office, is abroad that the advance
will begin next Monday. Boer obser-
walton parties are towering near
Bloeanfontein, but Lord Roberts has
135 miles to cover before reaching the
great position which the Beers are
preparing at Kroonstadt. Moving ten
miles a day is probably the best he
can do with field transports. There
fore he can hardly engage the Beers in
force fer two weeks. The RECONSTRUCT
tion of the railway behind him may
even delay an invasion OF the Trans
vaal until May. Meanwhile, all the
important towns in THE Free State,
within Lord Roberts reach, are being
garrisoned. Tra'ba'Nphu, Phillipolis,
Fauresmith, and Jagersfontein are
thus held. Sir ALFRED Miner is tour
ing in the distlrbed newly acquired
territory, Investigating conditions and
arranging the administration. He is
understood to be getting materials for
a reDsrt te Mr. Cliia77zbea iYafn nUeerrs4z,s
plas u civil i7viil government.
All the London morning papers
print singularly kind editorials con-
corning General Joubert They praise
his military skill, uphold his chiyal-
rous conduct and regret that SO strong
and moderate mind should be absent
from the final settlement OF the dis
pute. Although some OF the younger
commanders thougEht- the old soldier
wanting in dash and enterprise, his
raid into the country south of the
Tugela is considered the best piece OF
Boer leadership during the whole war;
1t Is now known that he crossed the
Tugela with only 5000 rifemen and
six guns, but SO bold and rapid were
his movements that the British COM
manders Thought 10000 Beers were
marching ON Pietenmaritzburg. For
few days, although din the presence Of
greatly superior forces, he isolated
General Hildyard's brigade at Esteourt
and at the same time Threatened Gen
eral Barton's camp at Mool river. Then,
as British e-enforcenrelpts were push
ed up, Joubert re-crossed the Tugela
without losing q prisoner, a wagon or
a gun. General Whites estimate of
him, pronounced on Tuesday before he
died, as a gentleman and brave and
honorable opponent, STRIKES the tone
Of all British comment.
The Foreign Office, according to the
Portugal for some thousands of Bri-
tish troops ito be landed at Beira and
sent nv the Rhodesia railway from
Massi-Kesse to Umtali. A permanent
arrangement is understood to exist
for the use OF this route to transfer
the Rhodesi'a police The possibility
Of foreign protest is suggested by the |
Daily Chronicle. Among the items Ca
,b1ed from Pretol,ia is a statement that |
prominent residents there object to "a |
defense of Pretoria and desire that !!
President Kruger should retire to !
Lydr'berg. 1t is expected the principal |
BUILDINGS at Johannesburg had been
undermined by order of Kruger.