New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-14
THE BOER CAUSE WANING.
GERMAN PRESS CONSIDERS THE FATE
OF THE TWO REPUBLICS SEALED.
tcopyrlght; 1900: By The New-York r,rIbune.l


lBY CABLE TRIBUNEl
London, May i, i a. infect Street received
last night several versions of the occupation Of
OIivier's scattered forces. but these dispatches
merely repeated the essential facts of General
Robertss previous bulletins. The Dutch allies
have been impressed with the overwhelming
power of British resources and with the hope
lessness Of resistance when they are outnum-
bered and Outclassed. They have begun with
reproaching each other with lack of co-opera-
ton, and have ended by separating their forces
Strong lostions have been abandoned in the
North. and Kroonstad evacuated. and there is
no probability that another stand Will be at
tempted south Of the Vaal, and Dutch opera
tions on the eastern flank are no longer menac-
ing. While General Roberts's army is we'll sup
piled by the railway and prepared TO advance
in the course Of few days, the Dutch COM
mandoes are discouraged and hopeless. Their
attempt TO thwart the British advance by raid
ing southwark and by hanging on the eastern
flank has failed, after involving a dispersion of
their forces and the wearing down of their
ponies and transport.
General Roberts has an army Of two hundred
thousand men for guarding his communications
and operating front virtually two hundred
miles wide. from Fourteen Streams TO Big
garsburg. Against this army the Beers have
twenty thousand burghers in the Transvaal and
Natal. and President Steyn has perhaps five
thousand burghers under in the Bethlehem
district. The Dutch have fought bravey and
made wonderful defence but the day of mira
cles has passed.
There was sharp skirrnishing on Friday on
the road 10 Kroonstad. and Gordons cavalry
brigade acted with gallantry in the final onset.
The town formally surrendered by the
LandrOst after the Transvaal burghers had
moved the bulk Of their stores blown up a
bridge wrecked the railway STATEN and done
other damage. There were groups Of British
sympathizers in the streets when General Rob
eTts entered the town al the head of hts troops,
and the scenes enacted at Bloemfontein under
similar conditions were repeated. The troops
halted yesterday, after their long march, the
two columns which had been forty miles apart
al the outset. having been massed at Kroon-
stad This town viii now be converted into an
advanced base Of supplies for operations in the
Trausvaal
The German press considers the fate Of the
Dutch republics sealed by the capture Of
Kroonstad and praises General Roberts's north
ward advance worthy to rank with his march
u Kandahar.
burghers has retired TO the Vaal River, Presi-
dent Steyn with the remnant Of the Free State
army. is making feeble stand in the northeast
err corner. Heilbron has been abandoned. be
cause il lies on the line OF General Robertss
march northward. but Lindley. the Valsch
River north Of Ficksburg is held by small
Dutch force as q temporary capital, with Beth
ehem and Harrismith places of refuge. Oil
FieT's commanders have been operating against
Rundle's division from Mequatling's Mex from
which the line of retreat leads through Ficks-
burg 10 Bethlehem General Brabant's scouts
reported Saturday that the Beers moving
north. What remains Of the Free State force
could be easily dispersed If General Hildyards
division were sent from Natal over the noun
tains 10 Harrismith. but Runde's division. with
cavalry, seems entirely competent to deal with it
without assistance.
General Roberts's plan of campaign, unless all
signs fail viii not include operations a large
scale against Bethlehem and the scattered Free
State commanders on the eastern flank He
Will make fresh start for the Vaal after a brief
halt, and carry the bulk of his army into the
Transvaal leaving Steyn's burghers at liberty
10 retain control of a small section of the coun-
Try around Bethlehem where they Will gradu-
ally disperse under pressure from Rundle.
There was little news at midnight from either
Natal or the Mafeking- -Warrenton line
]. y. F.