Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-29
NOT READY TO MOVE
General Roberts Taking His Time
Preparing for An Advance.
ALL ENGLAND IS WATCHING Him
Dutch Ministers Petition Schrener
Regarding Prisoners.
OBJ ECT TO ST. HELEN A

LONDON, March 29.-Conjecture as to
Lord Roberts advance from Bioemfontein
is the topic of the day and is likely to
continue so if the British commander in
chief in South Africa conceals his move
ments as carefully as he has done in the
past. April Is set by various critics as
the probable date of the departure of the
main army from Bloemfontein. 1t is point
ed out that there will then be over
weeks hard marching before Kroonstadt
is reached, though there seems no certain
ty that KroonStadt will entirely occupy
Lord Roberts attention. The advance,
when 1t does occur, will probably be made
by parallel columns along a broad front.
The movements of the cavalry force and
part of the infantry toward Glen can
scarcely be construed as an actual ad-
vance, though they undoubtedly point to
the imminence of such step. But only
a small part of General Gatacre's forces
has Yet arrived at Bloemfontein, and In
til that movement is completed it is not
iokeiy Lord Roberts will start for Pre-
tOria-
Against Premature Advance.
The latest news from Bloemfontein, con-
tanned in dispatch published in the sec
ond edition of the Times and dated We'd
nesday. March IS again dwells upon the
necessity for not making a premature ad-
vance. This correspondent, who on sew
cral occasions. seemed to have been chosen
as the mouthpiece of Lord Roberts, cables:
1T should be clearly understood that the
present halt in the vicinity of Bloemfontein
IS absolutely necessary a military pre-
caution. 1t should be borne in mind that We
are about 10 enter phase of the
operations with the main communications
through a recently occupied hostile country,
and that the recent successes neceSsitated
great expenditure of horse power. Here
N1ra h1I ha
mencement Of the South Africsa winter and
must be prepared to face the e1Iects of the
first frost upon such animals as may be
affected with horse sickness. II would be
suicidal to push troops forward till they are
equipped TO meet the exposure Of winter.
Horses. clothing and food We must have.
The correspondent adds that the Boer
forces have been re-equipped and he says
he is fully convinced that 15o.O0o foreign
troops have been landed to aid the repub-
lies.
From this dispatch the inference might
be drawn that the London critics have
been premature in p~Ophesying an imme-
date advance as at Kimberley and Paarde
berg The best based conjecture is we'll
nigh worthless 10 when Lord Roberts
Contemplates moving.
A deputation of Dutch church ministers
had an audience with Premier Schreiner
at Cape Town today
Ministers See Schreiner.
The ministers urged the separation of the
sick and well Boer prisoners and asked that
the sick be not sent to ST. Helena.
Mr.. Scbreiner replied that he had no
power in such matters. but would use his
friendly offices. He added that he had
made strong representations to the i'm
perial government against sending any of
the prisoners 10 ST. Helena, but without
success.
1t is reported that the prison transports
will sail for St. Helena at the End of this
week.
From Natal and Mafeking there is no
further news as this dispatch is sent.
At Chelsea barracks today the Prince of
Wales inspected battalion of sharpshoot-
ers organized by Lord Dunraven for the
Imperial Teomanry. He complimented
them their appearance and said:
Il sincerely hope that you may shoot
s:raisht WHEN the necessity arises