New-York tribune., 1900-05-10
BOERS RETIRE NORTHWAPD.
LORD ROBERTS'S RAPID ADVANCE
THREATENED THE COAnIANDOES.
Copyright 1870 By The New-York TrtbuneI
[BT CABLE 70 TIE TRIPUSE1

i0opgrtFht- 1900. By The New-Tork Tr1bune,l
[BT CABLE 70 TIE -R1gUSEl
London Nay 10. l a. m.-Runlors that the
Beers are retreating are definite from Basuto-
land and vague from Zand River. Olivier has
abandoned Ladybrand. and the commanders are
also described as retiring from Ficksburg in
consequence Of rumors that the British have
occupied SenekaL These withdrawals are the
direct result Of General Robertss rapid advance
Horthward. since the Beers are compelled 10
concentrate all their available forces for q final
stand in the Free State General Robertss
own judgment is vindicated in ordering the ad-
vance without assaulting the Dutch positions
ar Thaba Nchu and without following the Beers
n Ladybranc. He has cleared his eastern flank
IN most effective way without bloodshed or
loss n time The Boer positions at Thaba Nchu
have been found 10 be wellnigh impregnabIe.
and bundles men have been protected against
useless burchery. The Beers ara also reported
70 - retiring from Zand River toward the VaaI
bur IT IS more likely that they are choosing the
best possible position Of defence south Of Kroon-
ztad
There has been no important change in the
military situation during the last twenty-four
hours. General Roberts Is calling up reinforce
menrs and arranging his transport, and the
Beers ara raassing their forces and intrenching
their position somewhere north Of the Zand
respecting the direction and extent Of the Boer
lire # defence but South Africans tell me that
The hills are high and positions behind the Zand
The strongest n the Free State There is a
general belief among military writer's that Cen
eral French, with the Sixth Division, viii ap-
pear AZ the right moment somewhere west Of
che railway 70 flank the Boer position al Ven
rers5UrE and threaten Kroonstad- There are no
facts n the dispatches II support Of this theory
hur Lhe temperance Of French's TWO cavalry
brigaGes and d portion Of the mounted infantry
or rhe advance line is q sign which seems TO
Imply an approaching turning movement, and
The Sixth Division can hardly be required IN the
rear for the protection OF Bloeufontein. a
turning movement VIII be made toward Bethle-
hem Z portion Of Buffers force IS 70 be
brought into the Free State, but the more nat
ural direction is westward.
LORD Salisbury made yesterday a most un-
compromising speech al Albert Hall, before the
Primrose League. condemning 8lr Gladstone's
Home Rule policy both in South Africa and in
Ireland He took the grace out OF the recent
rlslr & the Queen 10 Ireland by the vehemence
With Rhicn he warned Irishmen that recent
events in South Africa proved that there could
no. De practical independence anywhere in the
empire with opportunities for arraying hostile
forces against the Imperial Government. II was
Z t-euchanr but acrid speech. and was not well
timed
-l-- Barton made another logical speech al the
dinner of the Imperial South African Association
n defence Of the Australian Commonwealth bill
ard rs High Court Of Appeal for Australian
questions There vas nothing in his speech
Indicate that Mr.. Chamberlain has succeeded in
arranging q compromise of what has become
the burning question OF Imperial politics. Colo
nel Deuison delivered q stirring address on be
halt of Canada. laying stress upon the necessity
tor ar Independent British cable system around
he world safeguards for a food supply and the
sGEnuloning OF an Imperial Council after the
Close OF The var decide the Issues OF peace
and the ernrjre ! y. z.