The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1900-04-14
TIDE OF BATTLE TURNS TOWARD
THE BOERS.

When the historian shall write
the achievements of the Beers In
South Africa, he will dip his pen
deep IN the ink-well of praise.
! Theirrecuperatiye powers seem
to keep pace with their courage.
Both are amazing! .,
! When Cronje and his intrepid
followers surrendered to Roberts,
to many it looked as though the
beginning of the end had come.
| There was jubilation galore IN
! London and Chamberlain betook
! himself to the task of formulat-
/ ing peace terms.
! But the magic wand Of indmlt-
able pluck has shifted the scene
of gloom from the laager of the
burghers to the tents Of the British.
Gen. Roberts with his COM
mand is practically at standstlll.
The Gordon he attempted TO esta-
bIish between BlOemfOnteln and
BasutoIand is now a rope of sand.
He has lost in the neighbour
hood of 1000 in killed, wounded
and captured since his victory at
Paardaburg.
Since his relief of Kimberley
he has lost over 1900 horses
through sickness.
Fever and Pneumonia are decl-
mating the ranks of the British
regiments.
Gen. Buffers army in Natal is
equally as inactive as that of his
Commander-in-Chief. He can
only leave his anchorage on receipt
of transports, which will not reach
him until after Gen. Roberts
wants have been supplied.
1t is reasonable to suppose that
the aggressive Beers will now ad-
vance South in Natal. Already it
Is reported that they are posting
heavy guns within four miles of
Elandslaagre.
When the intelligence shall
have been cabled to London that
the central reaches of the Orange
Free State once more res0und to
the crack of the Beers rifles,
Chamberlain and his coterie will
be in a condition of Semi-panic.
Gen. Bladant, with about $500
Colonials, occupies an isolated
and dangerous position at Wep-
ener, on the BaSuto border. The
very latest reports stated that he
was engaged in battle, with the
outcome a matter of grave doubt
for the British. His command
was placed in this position, which
invited annihilation, because of
the enforced retirement of the
Irish Rifles from RouXville to
AliWal.
Meanwhile nothing can be done
for the relief of Mafek;ng. 1t IS
speculation of the chimerical or
der to hope for anything III this
direction by reason of the opera
tions of troops sents into Rhode
sia from Beira across Portuguese
territory.
To intensity the British picture
news comes from London that the
tailors declare it will require two
months to complete the winter
uniforms for the South African
troops.
This means untold deaths from
pneumonia and severe winter
campaign.
Turning the shield around, it is
discovered that Roberts may be
credited with a victory in the
death of Col. De Villebois Ma
reuil. This eminent tactician and
strategist was Of great service to
the Transvaal cause. ''Bobs' .
has also been reinforced by a large
number of remounts and two ca
valry regiments. He can, more
over depend on his good right
arm, Gen Kitchener. to keep the
road from Naauwport to Bloem-
fonteid clear of the enemy. so that
reinforcements and supplies az
irving at Cape Town can be hur-
ried to the front.
Military experts are not so
much astonished at the altered ST.
tuation as they are astounded at
the marvellous mobility and irwin
cible spirit of the Republican
soldiers.
The strategy of the Boer leaders
is still brilliant.
a winter campaign awaits the
unacclimated British regiments.
Protracting the conflict favors
the fighting farmers, while it will
prove injurious to the English.
There is no seeming nor report
ed impairment Of the Boer COM
missary.
Viewed as a whole, the Boer
cause has showh a wonderful
Improvement.
Their final triumph is again
heading the list OF, probabilities.
The Rev. T. DeAVitt Talmage
recently uttered the following:
"A newspaper whdSse columns
overflow with adve Gtisemnnto of