The Topeka state journal., 1900-04-07
MORE MEN FOR ROBERTS.
When Re-enforcements Reach Him
He is Expected to Move.

New York, April IA dispatch to the
Tribune from London says: The game
of counter stroke has been played on
both sides with success. General
Methuen has entrapped a small body of
Beers rear Boshof surrounding them
and taking "a prisoners, after a four
hours fight. His force included the I'm
perial yeomanry. whose exploit will be
a popular one in England, where great
interest has been taken in this body of
rough riders and crack shots. The cas-
ualties We're nearly equal on both sides
apart from the prisoners.
This episode throws little light upon
the mysterious operations which General
MethIen has been conducting north of
Kimberley. 1t indicates the facility
with which the British commanders can
fare into which the Boer tactics are rap
idly degenerating. General Villebois
Mareuil, who was killed on the Boer
side, was Joubert'S military adviser in
the outbreak of the war. His record in
the French army was brilliant, and DR..
Leyds made an excellent investment in
securing his services. He had been in
the French war office and staff college
and was chief of staff in the Algerian
army. French officers have considered
that his abilities were OVer-rated, bat
he had evidently been most useful to
the BOer generals in Natal in showing
them how they could adapt their tactics
to new conditions of warfare. He was
the best foreign expert on the Dutch
side, and his death is a serious blow,
especially as the Beers have lost two of
their best men-Joubert and Cronje. If
he suggested the new policy of counter
attack upon the lines of the British COM
municatiOn, as has been reported, he
has fallen victim of his own tactics
The Beers have followed up their sue
cess at Kornspruit by a similar stroke
aimed against General Roberts line OF
communications.
The new tactics followed by the Beers
have a dispiriting effect upon the
! thOughtlesS observers who had fancied
| that the war was virtually over, but
| veterans in the service are not diScOn-
! Absurd estimates, printed by sensational
| newspapers of the strength of the Boer
/ raiders are rejected in official circles as
/ unworthy of credence. Instead of having
! 10000 men and being in readiness to in
| vest Bloemfontein, the Beers are not be-
| heved by cautious experts to have more
/ than 5000 or 600 burghers. Inaction in
| the north was fatal to them, and thew
were forced to adopt new tactics and at
| tempt a series of counter attacks. Vet
! Grams are surprised that this has not
! been done before and that General Rob
ertS', General Methuen's and General
Buffers lines of communication have
not been repeatedly raided. They add
that the Beers having discovered how
! effective these tactics are, will continue
to make use of them in swooping dowr
here and there upon isolated garrisons
and stations. 1t is readily admitted
that they have the power of harassins
/ General Roberts army in this way an6
of retarding it's advance, but the view
taken il official circles is that the rein
forcements which have been pouring in.
to South Africa during the last two
months will speedily enable the British
army t. take the offensive and draw
off the Beers from the southern section
of the Free State.
General Buffers inaction is not under
stood by military men here and tn,
opinion is expressed that Warren's di
vision will be ordered to the Free State
The Ashanti outbreak is considered
inopportune. but not of serious magni
tnde