Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-03
ROBERTS, PLAN
Is to Establish Posts Across
the Free State.
Hence Efforts to Drive the Beers from
Thaba NChu District.
Advance Preparations al kimterIey-Pst Of
Beers Leave MaIeking.

London. May 3-410 A. M.-The i'm
mediate objective of Lord Roberts is
to establish a line Of British posts from
enc frontier Of the Free State to the
other at right angles win the railway.
thus preventing B0er raids southwark.
1t is essential, therefore, that the
Beers should be expelled from the
rugged Thaba N'Chu district and be
forced to retire to Lady Brand. AS
the result of the desultory firing, Mon
day and Tuesday. the Beers were
pushed back a few miles but nothing
decisive appears to have been yet at
tanned
The Beers continue to follow their
harrassing tactics. One well-horsed
commando, operating in the neighbor-
hood Of Sannas post, interferes with
the British conveys going from Bloem-
fontein to Thaba N'Chu. The enemy
nearly captured a convoy, Tuesday.
but they We're driven off after a brisk
fight
Preparations for an advance con-
tinue al Kimberley Sir Alfred Miner
has written to the mayor Of Kimberley
assuring him that the relief of Mafe-
king has not ceased to occupy his at
tention and that of the military au-
thorities and that nothing will be left
undone to raise the siege at the earli-
est possible moment.
The British garrison along the rail-
way to WarrentOn have been strength
ened and supplies are going forward
A mounted force has gone to Barkly
West in consequence Of the Beers hav-
ing occupied Windsorton. A thousand
Beers threaten the communications be
tween Boshof ard Kimberley.
Malala, chief of the Taungs. has in
formed the British that the Beers are
preparing to resist their advance at
Bhokwani
y correspondent at LourenzO
Marques cabled Tuesday, that a large
part If the investing force at MAIZE
king had been withdrawn. Gen. Butler
continues quiet. The Beers assert that
they are delaying an attack upon him
in the hope that all the horses of the
British will die Of horse sickness.
According to a correspondent Of the
ally Telegraph with Lord Roberts
President Kruger is again asking for
peace terms.
The departure of the Boer delegates
from Holland for the United States and
what they have said Of their purposes
and hopes draw British attention to
American views of the war. The Daily
Chronicle slys: The men who count
in the United States are not likely to
acc pt the views which Messrs. Fischer
and Vessels intend to place before
them"
The Morning Post has the following
dispatch from Winston Churchill.
dated Thaba N'Chu, April %: When
Gen. Dickson retired in the circum-
stances related in my last telegram, his
own mess car and the brigade water
carts fell into the hands Of the enemy
and his rear guard was heavily fired
on. This retreat compromised Gen.
Hamilton. who. therefore, collected his
forces and fell back warily into Thaba
N'Chu after sharply checking the ad-
vancing enemy with musketry and ar
tillcry fire. Although much ammuni-
ton was expended on both sides. the
losses We're insignificant. the fighting
being at great ranges. The result is
that the Beers are willing to retreat.
but ii is not in the power Of the pres
ent force To interfere with them or with
their wagons"