The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-14
IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Gen, French seem, TO be steadily elbow.
ing his way toward the Orange River al
NorvaPs Pont. pushing tho Beers back nrst
from his left and now from his right. Having
occupied positions 10 the west and north Of
Colesberg covering tho roads TO the north.
ne Is now reported to be engaged in trying
to envelop their left Hank and. drive them
up the road toward Norval's Pont. or cu,
their communications. About hall way
between Colesbera junction and Achtertang
station there Is a range OF hills through which
tho railway passes. the principal positions on
which are held by the Beers. and 1t Is to dis.
looge them from these positions that he has
begun the movement reported from Cape Town
against their left flank. From the report OF a
reconnaissance made toward Achtertang II
would appear that the Beers have decided TO
make a stand at that point. as they were found
TO have guns In position. and their deienccs
are said to be surrounded by wire entangle-
ments.
As to the situation on the Modder River and
In the neighborhood OF Sterkstroom. there IL
complete silence. for the reason probably that
there are things going on which the British War
once desires to keep close. There ia equal
retlcence with regard to affairs on the Tugela.
$50 SH'y Hc"N lTOUl tnhL uutTtcT Dtlnk DuD-
lished In q Vienna paper on the authority Of a
telegram from Brussels. probably apocryphal,
that tho Beers had stormed all the positions
round Ladysmith. which was expected 10
capltulate at any moment.
Meanwhile 1t Is interesting TO learn that
among the papers left behind at Dundee by
the British when they hurriedly evacuated
that place in October. were a number Of docu-
M A - ~ "a. "a ..-. l-.-l
value. They are now In the possession OF the
Transvaal Government and unyeil u thor.
oughly worked-out scheme to attack the inde-
pendence OF both the republics as far back as
1885, notwithstanding constant assurances OF
amity TOWARD tho Orange Free State.
Among these papers there are portfolios OF
military sketches OF various routes of invasion
from Natal into the Transvaal and Free State.
prepared by Major Grant, Capt. Melville and
Capt. Gale. Immediately after the Jameson
raid. A further portfolio, marked secret.
styled Reconnaissance Reports Of Lines Of
Advance Through the Free State.' was pre-
pared by Capt. Wolley. in the Intelligence
Division OF the War ONCE. in 1897; and It is
accompanied by a special memorandum
signed by Sir Rcdvers Butler. to keep It
secret. But both the Transvaal and Free
state Governments seem either 10 nave
been well served by their agents. or their mill
tary leaders OWNED the Intentions OF the
British Government. for It became known to
them soon after Gen. White arrived In Natal
that he had orders not to wait a declaration OF
hostilities but to seize the Van Reenen's Pass
whenever he considered himself strong
enough TO act. So soon as the Free State
Government was warned Of the premedi-
tated aggression OF the British Government
It determined to ~forestall 1t. and before
Gen. White could act the Free State forces
had occupied and fortified the pass.
thus blocking the main avenue by which the
British had proposed making their principal
advance against the Trnnsvaal, These facts
throw considerable light on much that was OBJ
scure In connection with the decision taken by
the Transvaal Government not to wait for tho
British to make the first move, but 10 anticipate
them and carry the war into the British terri
tory. They also go to explain the confusion
into which the whole British plan OF campaign
was thrown when 1t was found that the advance
from Ladysmith through the Orange Free state
was no longer practicable. Copies Of the docu-
ments captured at Dundee have. 1t Is said,
been submitted to the Governments OF the
great European powers.
A brief telegram from the Modder River
Camp states that heavy cannonading was
heard In tho direction OF Kimberley on We'd
nesday. but beyond that nothing was known.