Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1900-04-20
THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.
NO BIG BATTLE IMMINENT.
a Humor That the Beers Opened
Peace Negotiations Denied-Gen-
eral Butler Makes a Statement
War Interest Declining.

New York, March 6.-The Tribune's
cable says:
London, March 6.-There is no con-
hrmatlon of the Lorenzo Marquee rumor
that President Kruger has Joined Presi.
dent Steyn and is on the point of opening
peace negotiations. The Times in its af-
ternoon edition yesterday announced that
Kruger has left Pretoria for an unknown
destination, and that it was conjectured
that conference between the presidents
OF the two republics would take place
There was no official information respect
ing overtures for peace. Members of par
Lament were not disposed to attach i'm
portance to the rumor, and military men
said that the probable object of the pres
ldential conference was the adoption of
measures of defense against the advance
of Roberts army.
Bloemfontein can not be defended, but
there are lines of hills at Vet and Walsh
rivers where strong stand can be made
and passage of the Vaal river can be con-
tested on the way to Pretoria.
Colesburg district has been entirely
abandoned by the Beers, and Clements
scouts are now near Orange river.
Gataere's forces are moving toward
Stormberg, and there has been renewed
diminishing near Dordrecht. Fighting is
reported to be imminent in the Free State
on the line of Roberts advance, but the
extent of Dutch concentration is un-
known.
Leyds denied that he had received any
news to the effect that the siege of MAIZE
king has been lifted by the Beers, or that
Bloemfontein has been occupied by British.
Roberts is at Osfontein, preparing to
continue his advance eastward 1t is gen.
orally understood that his first objective
will be Bloemfontein, but he keeps his
own counsel, and his plan of operations
may prove to be quite different from that
fixed upon, by popular opinion.
The Beers are apparently rallying with
their accustomed ability to repair tenn
porary reverse and Great Britain has yet
to test their force as defensive power
under the new conditions of warfare.
Outside the meeting of the presidents
there is no new Indication of any change
in the situation. Telegraphing from Os
fontein today, thanking the lord mayor o.
Liverpool for his congratulations in behalf
of that city, Lord Roberts says:
81 trust her majesty's soldiers in thi:
country will gain such further successes
as will speedily restore freedom and pros
perity to South Africa"
BOers Left Two Guns Behind.
New York, March Ga dispatch to tn
Tribune from London says:
General Butler in dispatch from Lady
smith makes it clear that the Beers de
cided to raise the siege of that town i'm
mediately after General Cronje was at tn
mercy of Roberts at Paardeberg. The ad
vance in the Natal was then only Opposed
to allow time for the big guns and ammu
milton and stores to be safely removed
north and west. That the Beers were no
completely successful in carrying out thi
intention was owing to the fact that the.
were more or less demoralized by Butler
victorious attack on Tuesday, After tina
battle, orders were evidently given for
hasty retreat to the passes with the result
that large quantity of ammunition AM
1.-TWO guns were left behind. Virtual.
speaking, the Natal is now clear of TIL
republic forces.
Public interest in the war is alread.
declining since the end is considered
foregone conclusion. Tedious as may b
the process by which it will be reached
the relief of two garrisons and complet
collapse of the Dutch plan of campaig1
leaves Roberts at liberty to concentrat
his forces, with transportation the chic
difficulty to overcome.