The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-29

oner Cen whites estimate Of him. pro-
nounced on Tuesday before he died. as
gentleman and a brave and honorable op-
ponent, strikes the tone OF all British
comment.
Roberts Preparing to Advance.
LONDON, March p. a. m.-Lord Rob
efts has sent 1000 troops 10 glen ten
miles north OF BloemfOutein, on the rail-
way. This is preliminary TO the gem
eral advance.
Immense quantities Of stores have now
been accumulated al Bloemfontein and
Lord Roberts infantry IS seemingly about
TO move. An impression, which can be
traced 70 the war office Is abroad thar
the advance Will begin next Monday. Bocr
observation parties are lowering near
Blocmfontoin. but Lord Roberts has 49,
miles 10 cover before reachlng the great
position which the Beers are preparing at
kroonstad. Moving ten miles a day Is
probably the best he can DO with field
transports. Therefore he can hardly en-
gage the Beers in force FOR two weeks
The reconstruction OF the railway behind
him may even delay an invasion Of the
Transyaal until May
Towns Are Being Gsrrisoncd.
Meanwhile all the important towns In
the Free state within Lord Roberts reach
are being garrisoued. Tbaba Nehu. Phil
oppolis, Fauresmlth and Jagersfontein are
thus held.
Miner In the Free state.
Sir Alfred Miner is touring in the dis
turbed newly acquired territory, investi-
eating conditions and arranging the adj
minisiraton. He Is understood TO be get
ting materials for a report to Mr. Cnam-
berlain concerning a plan Of civil gov
eminent
VIII send Troops Via Beira.
The foreign office. according to the Daily
Chronicle, is arranging with Portugal for
some thousands Of British troops TO be
landed at Beira ana sent by the Rhodesla
railroad from Mass-Kesso to Umtal.
A permanent arrangement IL understood
10 exist for the use Of this route to trans
fer the Rhcdesia police. The possibility
OF foreign protest Is suggested by the
Daily Chronicle
Wish 10 Abandon Pretoria.
Among Items cabled from Pretoria is a
statement that prominent citizens there
object to a defense OF Pretoria, and desire
that President Kruger should retire to
Lydenburg. II Is alleged that the princi-
pal buildings at johannesburg have been
undermined by order Of Kruger
Miners visit to UIoemfontein.
The British high commissioner. Sir AL
fred Miner. arrived at Bloemfonteln last
night and was met by Roberts and his
stan. According to a dispatch from
Bloemfonteln published IN the second
edition of tho Times the high com
missiOncr's visit is OF a private nature
IL Is thought this can be scarcely any
thing but an official subterfuge, the ques-
ton OF the paclncation OF the Free State
doubtless being discussed between Rob
erts and Miner.
Rains Make Marching Hard.
Heavy rains made Gen. Clements
march hard and caused much sickness
among the troops
dispatch from Masoru, Basutoland,
dated March a, says tho apparently re-
liable reports that tho Beers are re~en-
tering LedNbrand, cause the presump-
ton that British troops have crossed the
line OF the Boer retreat towards Kroons-
tad and that a fight or surrender near
Ladyhrand is imminent.
All Wen AZ Mafcking.
Further advices from Mnfeklng dated
March 10. reitcrate that all was well there.
and that the Gordon was not 80 tightly
drawn. the Beers allowing natives to pass
through their lines, which they had pre-
vlousy forbidden The native refugees
are reported too stupid and lazy 70 work
or take cover from shells. They gather
IN crowds around the soup kitchen. and
have 20 be driven away when the warn
ing bell rings The bomburdment just pre-
uous to the dispatch being sent had been
unusually vigorous. and II was added
that probably before long rations would
be sttl further reduced
Docrs Hecapturc Lndyhrand.
KRoONSTAD O s. March Ga
Ccmmandnnt Crowther who commands
the Tmusvaal firing llnc IN the south, re
ports that ho has letaken Iadyfhraud aft
or tho British had been there am hour lie
adds thtt t@ndroRt ION o'orkum and Field