The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-07
GEN. BRABANT AT D0RDRECHT
WHITES GARRISON MOVING SOUTH
FROM LAYDsMITH.
Many of the Men III and Emaciated-
Gatacre in Possession OF Stormberg
Queer Rumor About Rhodes.

sLONDON, Marcn " STU a. m.-IOru
Roberts still pauses In the neighborhood OF
Osfontein, while stores. remounts and
fresh troops stream toward him from the
Cape. The British position also contin-
ues to improve In the minor spheres or
the campaign. Natal is clear of Beers and
Cape Colony is nearly so.
The Beers seemingly are pursuing the
course commended by the strategists and
are concentrating to resist the British main
army. Various messages from corre-
spondents with Lord Roberts report that
the enemy is increasing continually on his
front, extending. as one correspondent
wires, eight miles. and as another says
eighteen miles. The lowest estimate or
their numbers gives the Beers from about
5000 to 0,000 men, with smaller bodies NOV
ing north and south of the British lines
Each army is on both sides OF the Mod
der river Although the Beers have mount-
ed eight guns On the tops of kopjes and ap-
pear to be too far away for inspection,
the British scouts report that they are
diligently using pick and shovel. Military
opinion is that their present position
merely screens more easily defended ones
deeper in the region.
One Oh the iuinAdiy CAPthto tN1N%fO@~@
TO fathom Lord Roberts's plans. but II is
suggested that he is quite willing to give
the Beers time 10 assemble all their men
in order to deliver a smashing blow more
effectively.
Spencer Wilkinson, In the Morning Post,
to-day, confines his review OF the military
situation to a mere record of events and
concludes as follows: 1T almost seems as
though Lord Roberts wished to let the
Beers assemble much Of their army as
they can before beginning 20 try conclu-
sions with them"
A dispatch TO the Standard from Osfon-
tein. dated March L. says: General Jou-
bert is reported to be in supreme command
of the Boer forces here"
A dispatch from Osfontein says that, ac-
cording to the Boer prisoners, another im-
portant British success will cause Presi-
dent Steyn to fee to Pretoria, leaving a
provisional government at Bloemfontein.
which is likely to make peace overtures.
those Free Staters not wishing for peace
trekking into the Transvaal and there
helping TO make stand which. most OF the-
British military critics now point out, Will
constitute the most difficult and deciding
feature of the war.
A dispatch to the Daily News from
Modder river. dated March S. and describ-
ing the Boer position in front of Lord Rob-
erts, says: 'The Beers seem TO like TO
be so busy intrenching. They have mount
ed eight guns on high kopjes 1t is mar
velous how they drag these weapons into
such positions. 1t is reported here that at
a recent emergency meeting OF the Free
nj
ference Of opinion developed. the majority
favoring peace at any price. but the minor
ity, including President Stsyn. advocating
a fight TO the end"
The position gained by General Brabant
at Dordrecht is reported to be exceeding
ly strong. According to the Times cor
respondent the Boer numbers alone en-
abled them 10 retreat from Dordrecht,
practically unhindered. He also reports q
violation of the white flag by the Beers
and that they deliberately fired at close
range on a stretcher. party.
General Whites garrison had begun to
leave Ladysmith and is arriving at the
Mooi River Camp, where the troops will
remain several days. after which they will
go further south They are emaciated
and exhausted and say the road 20 Coienso
presents scenes that exceed I'm horror those
depicted In Dante's Inferno" Dead men
and animals are lying, mutilated and putre-
fed. in the trenches formerly occupied by
the Beers and I'LL the air with sickening
stencil. In cases where hurried burial had
been attempted the rains have washed the
earth away and out OF the earth stick
CHASTITY legs and arms OF dead burghers-
A. G. Hales. the Daily News correspond
ent who was captured by the Beers on
Feb. 3. was released at Bloemfontein and
put through the lines near Sterkstroom.
He telegraphs that the Beers are demoral-
iyed. but adds that they have been treat
ing the British wounded splendidly.
Surgeon Treves cables from Ladysmith
that the condition of the town is most de-
plorable. and that there are 500 cases OF
typhoid fever Large supplies OF comforts
are now In the place. however.
The House OF Commons. IN committee Of
the whole. last evening adopted resoiu-
ton to authorize a loan or EsSeoo.0o0. The
vote stood l6i 10 26
A dispatch from Cape Town says: sNeer-