The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-17
Lord Roberts still ImnobiIe.

In England there are strong Indications
OF a hope that stirring and encouraging
| news will come from South Africa before
| the week is over. 1t may be realized, al
| though not altogether in the way expected.
| The fact that Winston Churchill has been
| allowed to pass the censor with cable
gram plainly stating the difficulty Lord
Roberts is having in securing horses for
| his cavalry is significant of the British
generals desire that his home people
should understand why he delays his adj
vance. 1t is now permitted to be known
| that the cavalry, on arriving at B.oem-
fcntein, was dead on its feet" and, CT
course, the field artillery was in like
plight. Remounts have been coming on by
thousands; stili net fast enough. The
| ocean voyage and the hardships of railway
transport from the Cape DO not leave many
OF the animal re-eGforcemeIts in condit on
for early service; white the nece ssity for
putting them at work almost at once re-
suits in much sickness and heavy NOR
tally. Churchill is not optimistic on this
or another important subject. He asserts
that the Government will have TO pro, lie
far more literally in the matter of horses
than it has and, further. that, in his opin-
ion, force OF two hundred and fifty thou
sand meE must be put in the field to
end the war;. Such opinions are not oalcu-
lated to excite enthusiasm in Great Brit
ain, nor to increase the prestige OF TIE
British Army abroad.
The immediate situation in the Free
State seems favorable to Lord Roberts
Major Dalgetty at Wepener was holding his
own at latest accounts. and force of three
thousand Basutos was on the Basutoland
frontier to prevent the Beers from violat-
ing its territory. General Chermside was
at Reddersburg, and General Brabant adj
yancing from Aliwal North. These dspo-
sitions and movements may render it pos
sible to corner and capture the Boer esm-
mandos in the southeast. Such a result
would be serious blow to the burghers
and would leave the British rear practical
ly clear of organized menace, for the pres
ent at least.
Lord Methuen's column is reported at
BOshof. This news conflicts with the re-
cent statement that it was moving east
ward and had reached point eighty miles |
west of Kroonstad. The British opera
lions from the Kimberley base have been
shrouded in mystery for some time. The
official dispatches convey an impression
that the Beers still hold Methuen in check
above Boshof and that nothing is being
done to relieve the garrison at Mafeking. |
We are inclined to the suspicion tnat Off !
cial news in this particular is Intentional
ly misleading; the more so since, aside |
from succoring Baden-Powei and his !
WORKOUT troops, possession of Mafeking |
in force would be OF strategic Importance /
as threatening Pretoria from the west In |
this connection il is worthy OF note that !
Lord Kitchener has disappeared from the |
earth for three wec-s. Such a movement |
as one from Griqua Land west to Mafeking |
would be very apt TO happen under his |
command, being of the sort in which he |
has had more practical experience than /
any OF his colleagues. 1t would not sur
prise us TO hear of his turning up to raise |
the siege at any hour However. this is
guesswork. The military conditions in Ma
tai apparently have settled down TO a
waiting game. Butler viii not attack and
the Beers do not appear strong enough to
take the offensive.