The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-27
Did Not Succeed in Heading on Gen
Olivier with His Fifteen Guns
and Wagon Train.
WARNING FROM WILKINSON
WHO REMINDS BRITONs THE WAR Is
NOT YET OVER.
A Long Distance from the Free State
Capital to PretOria-The De-
Iagoa Bay Award.

LONDON, March 81 Ais a. m.-Military
observers here and even those in close
affiliation with the War Office. are con-
siderably confused as to what is being
done for the succor of Mafeking. Some
5000 or 5000 men are engaged with Lord
Methuen at Warrenton and Fourteen
Streams and now another column is about
leaving Kimberley. IL it has not already
started, for Griquatown, loo miles west
ward. Its ostensible purpose is to drive
out the Beers. The force is described as
"a strong one.'' and the expedition as
''lilsely to attract much attention"
General French is reported from Bloem-
fontein on Sunday as returning from
Thatba Nchu without apparently having
headed off Commandant Olivier. with his
fifteen guns and miles of baggage.
Boer horsemen are i'm contact with the
British outposts from Blggarsberg to War
renton. General Buffers patrols had a
sharp skirmish Sunday at Waschbank.
Lord Roberts's infantry have now been
quiet for fourteen days and news of an
advance is hourly expected at the War
Office. Spencer Wilkinson, i'm the Morning
Post to-day, warns the public against
binding itself to the magnitude of the
task which has yet to be performed in
South Africa. He then refers to the fact
that an immense distance has to be trav-
ersed and points out that only the smaller
portion of the Free State has yet been
touched by the British advance. "It is
quite possible" he says. that the Beers
may be able to prolong the campaign for
several months and the British advance,
though it must have a crushing effect can
be carried on only by the persistent exer-
tions of those in the field and those at
home. Another task which does not ap-
pear to grow easier on nearer acquaint-
/ ance is the settlement of the districts dis
turbed by rebellion. The pacifcation of
these must be difficult, owing to their vast
extent. Little can be done until Sir Alfred
Miner is authorized to announce the gov
ernments decision as to how rebels should
be treated and how loyal colonists are to
be compensated for losses. There should
be, of course, no policy of revenge, nor
will the government forget that its first
duty to itself is to vindicate it's authority.
The sooner these decisions are announced,
the sooner will the troubles diminish
Messrs. Wolmarans, Fischer and Wes-
sells. the peace ENJOYS from the federal
forces, are due at Naples I'm a few days.
After visiting two or three European capi-
tails they will go to New York by way of
Antwerp. 1t is understood at The Hague
that they are invested with large powers,
and are prepared to agree to anything
looking to Intervention.
The Times prints a statement from Cape
Town to the effect that the Beers, after
deducting losses. probably unable now
to put more than thirty thousand men on
the fighting line.
Winston Churchill, I'm a dispatch this
morning from Cape Town, again urges a.
generous and forgiving policy toward the
rebels, instead of yielding to the demands
of the loyalists for severe treatment. He
says: "The Dutch traitor is less black
than the renegade British-Boer burgher,
but both are the results of our own mis-
takes and of crimes in Africa in former
years. Unless actually caught fighting,
rebels should be treated with the utmost
leniency and generosity"
The Bloemfontein correspondent OF the
Morning Post telegraphing Saturday says:
Il learn that Mr.. Steyn fled against his
own Judgment and on the pursuasion of
Mr.. Fischer that duty to his country re-
quired that he should remain uncaptured
as long as resistance was possible"
The government buildings at Cape Town
narrowly escaped destruction by fire last
night. The state papers, after being much
damaged. were removed.
A Lourenzo Marques special says the
Transvaal authorities are evidently re-
cruiting actively and large numbers of
French, Dutch and Belgian volunteers are
constantly passing through that place TO
join the Boer forces.