The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-16

tier by a road sxirting the Ca.edon
river, which energies south Of Wcpe-
ner. The Basutos are excited. As
s!stant Commissioner Grifiiths, with a
force Of police, left Maseru Friday, go
ing where the Beers are about TO tres
pass, and the Kaffirs engaged for rail-
road work at Bloemfontein are de-
sorting TO protect their villages. Ad-
vices reach MaSeru almost hourly OF
Boer activity In the Orange Free
State.
The latest unofficial dispatch from
Bloenfontein, dated Thursday, says
The Beers continue to show great ac-
tivity and numbers of British troops
are arriving daily"
The alleged ill-treatment OF the
farmers who gave up their arms has
called to the front the Friend OF the
Free State, published by the cores
pondents under military supervision.
| In its comments, IL says:
When the question OF settlement
comes, those who are responsible for
the outrages will be called TO account.
| We show leniency and tolerance to-
| ward rebels and we expect our ex-
ample to be followed by those direct
ing the enemys affairs. We shall ex-
act from the two presidents full repa-
ration for cruelty and inhumanity."
The army people at Bloemfontein
are depending ON water drawn from
the wells.
The afternoon papers are unsparing
in their criticism of che military dis
positions permitting 500 men 90 be
isolated and captured.
The St. James Gazette and Globe
dwell with sneering emphasis on the
unfortunate occurrence"
in England" says the Gazette,
I'VE can but sit still and wonder what
will next happen"
Sergeant Major Brocker. who IL now
appears, escaped from Pretoria, with
Captain Haldane and Lieutenant lie
Meseur1er, has reached Lorenzo Mar
aues. He lost his companions AZ
Glands river. obtained a situation as
Tar man at a railroad station and
eventually made his way TO the from
tier
A small contingent of gunners from
the Britieh battle. hip Monarch left
Cape Town for Bloemfontein Friday
Though Lord Roberts lost nearly a
, thousand men this week. ne Is strong
, er relatively. as four times as many
/ men have been landed at the Cape.
: CAPE TOWN. April Ga determin-
5 ed attempt TO escape was made today
by the Boer prisoners at Simon's Town
E and fourteen OF them succeeded In get
; ting away.
} In the confusion one OF the prison.
; lers was killed and another was wound
led. One man was re-captured. Sentries
= have been placed at different parts OF
hn nd hn esa fo lar mil |.
! ltary supervision.
Review Of the Situation.
NEW YORK. April 7.-(AfterDoon
Service.)-A dispatch TO the Tribun,
from London says:
= The game OF counter-stroke has
I been played both sides with success
= Gen. Methuen has entrapped smal
. body of Beers near Boshof, surrounding
. them and taking fifty-four prisoners
D after a four hour fight. His force in
: cluded the Imperial Yeomanry, whose
exploit will be a popular one in En-
; gland. where great Interest has been
taken in this body OF Rough Riders
, and crack shots. The casualties were
, nearly equal on both sides. apart from
, the prisoners"
! The dispatch in regard 10 Methuens
success throws little light upon the
mysterious operations which that COM
mander has been conducting north Of
Kimberley. II indicates the facility
with which the British commanders
] can adapt themselves to- the guerilla
warfare into which the Boer tactics are
rapidly degenerating. General Villebois
Mareuil. who was killed on the Boer
side. was Joubert's military adviser In
? Natal. and was engaged by DIR. Leyds AT
! the outbreak OF the war His record In
. the French army was brilliant and DR.
, Leyds made an excellent investment In
securing his services. lie had been in
the French war Office and stan college
and was chief OF stan in the Algerian
army French officers have considered
! that his abilities were overrated. but
he had ever been useful TO the
, Boer Generals In Natal showing them
how they could adapt their tactics "a
: new conditions OF warfare. lie was
the best foreign expert on the Dutch
side and his death is n serious blow,
especially as the Beers have lost two
OF their best men-Joubert and Cronje.
II he suggested the new policy OF coun-
ter-attack upon the lines OF the British
communication. as has been reported,
he has fallen a victim OF his own tao
. tics.
The Beers have followed up their
: method at Korn Spruit by similar
= stroke aimed against General Roberts
! line OF communications.
: The new tactics followed by the Beers
} have a dispiriting effect upon the
! lthoughtless observers who had fancied
that the war was virtually over. but
veterans in the service are not dlscon-
certed by them nor are they alarmed.
Absurd statements printed by sensa-
, tional newspapers OF the strength OF
, the Boer raiders are rejected In Off
, clal circles as unworthy OF credence.
, Instead of having 10000 men and being
in readiness 10 Invest Bloemfontein.
the Beers are not believed by cautious
experts to have more than 5000 or T.
600 burghers. Inaction was fatal 10
them and they we're forced TO adopt
other tactics and attempt a series OF
counter attacks. Veterans are surprised
that this has not been done before and
that General Roberts. General Meth
b uen's and General Buffers lines OF