The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-12
IN sOUrH AFRICA.

Lord Roberts ~telegraphins on THURSDAY Iio'I
hietspruit. just north Of the Zand River. 49,
a general outline OF the operations conneoses
with the crossing At the time his despatoh we.
sent the cavalry and mounted infantry ~erea ~
Eentersburg Road station on the railway
another similar force was making across
country for the town OF ventersburs east
OF tho railway. and q division OF ih'an.,v
was at Deelfontein a short distance to the
south OF 1t. with Lord Roberts there "ere
u division OF infantry. a brigade Oh 'aV""y
ana mounted infantry. and a or.'e'' VI
artillery. Other brigades with arunery "u'
AZ unnamed points. win '"e eA0D
ton OF u stubborn resistance maze 10 wv
mounted infantry advancing on 'en'erSoo,S'
the Beers do not seem to have cohtes'cu no
British advance seriously at any point ~ ""o
same time their retreat 50 Tar mas peen inaue
s~ktlfully and without confusion Inc n''usn
casualties reported have been inslghihcaht
though Lord Roberts anticipated some loss III
the fighting toward Ventersburs' -.
The position, as reported. TO tho eastward OF
Thaba N'Chu Is a curious one. Evidently WIN
the intention Of barring an advance IRON
Bloemfontein TO Ladybrand and Ficksburg, the
Beers have taken up a line from the northeast
TO the southeast OF Thaba NChu covering the
roads leading to the northeast along the
Basuto border. Tie decision 10 hold TINS line
was taken. 80 It is said, after consultation
among tho Boer leaders. Tn force Is
said TO be about TO- 1000 strong and extends over
some twelve miles OF a strong position. That so
small a forco should DO left In such q SITUATION.
almost in the air. argues singular commence IN
the leader, and may be taken Us giving some
indication OF the resistance that Is expected to
be- given to the main body Of the British army
under Lord Roberts. A serious check. say at
Kroonstad. would cause q call for reinforce
ments. which would give the Beers who have
returned south a chanc, TO repeat their recent
descent on Wepener and the adjacent country.
From the way In which Lord Roberts speaks
of the difficulties at the drifts and the quanti-
ties of baggage still coming up. ii Is quite clear
that those who speak of a rush on Pretoria have
very little conception Of what moving so large a
force means in such a country. In reality an
army cannot in the end move faster than Its
slowest part. and as that is always the indis-
pensable one of supply. the fighting force is re-
stricted in practice TO its rate of progress In
the present circumstances Lord Roberts cannot
afford to repeat the reckless sacrifice of his
cavalry and transport animals he made in the
rush between Paardeberg and Bloemfontein
and overstrain his men. for TO do so would be TO
hand victory over to the Beers, He is there
fore bound to husband his resources OF which
he will have fun need. If. IA seems TO be now
anticipated. the passage Of the Naal when
reached is going to be contested stubbornly.
The reported arrival at Nryburg Of a column
5000 strong on the march to Maieking solves
the mysterious minors that have been afoat on
the subject. As the news comes from Pretoria,
it is presumably correct. The stin skirmishing,
reported going on In Natal on Thursday near
Pomeroy at the southeastern extremity of the
Biggarsberg. is probably the result of British
patrols feeling the Boer positions.