Abilene weekly reflector., 1900-03-15
BRITISH-DOER WAR.
Lesd Roberts Forces the Enemy to
Retire In Confusion.
INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT STEYN


aged to Persist-A Commando OF
5000 Beers Offers TO surrender.
London, March S.-Lord Roberts
wired yesterday morning from 0sfon-
fein and in the evening from Poplar
Grove, IA miles eastward. BY an ap-
plication of the elementary principle
OF strategy the Boer positions, l'
miles long across his path, have been
emptied and their holders have been
Obliged to retire in confusion upon
hssty withdrawal. Fifty British fell
when the cavalry came in contact
with the Beers. The correspondents
differ as to the enemy's strength. The
Daily Mails representative thinks the
Beers number something more than
1000. The Daily News man estimates
them at 10000. As these figures come
from observers at headquarters. it
A. clear that Lord Roberts force was
overwhelmingly superior lie can
scarcely have fewer than $4,000 imme-
diately available, as the guards bri-
gade reached him from Lord Methnen
Tuesday
The Beers do not appear to nppre-
ciate the mobility of Lord Roberts
corps, which was able to strike so
swiftly in this affair that the enemy
had to abandon u gun, much forage
and a large quantity Of camp equip
ment.
The Dutch risings in the north
western district of Cape Colony are
the only cloud visible in the sky Of
British prospects.
The military authorities have d.
eided that Gen, Cronje and the other
Boer prisoners shall be sent imme-
: diately to the island OF st. Helena,
there TO remain until the end OF the
war.
interview with Pre.ident stsyn
london, March s.--Mr. A. g. Hales,
the correspondent OF the Daily News,
who was captured by the Beers and
released few days ago at Bloem-
lcntein, telegraphing from Sterkes-
trocm Tuesday, says: "While was
. prisoner at Bloemfontein ! had an
isferesting interview with President
eteyn. Tie said the burghers were
determined to fight to the last man
md that the struggle in the Free
etste would be child's play compared
WITH what would follow in the Trans.
vssl President Steyn predicted that
Ehe capituation Of Pretoria would
n preceded by events which would
Astcnish Europe. He appointed q dep
Hty president to remain at Bloem.
1ontein during his absence at Pre-
torfa In the interests Of the Free
etste."
4 British Force Enters the Transvsah
y london, March ga special dis
patch from Durham says flying col
simn Of British troops from Zululand
has entered the Transvaal and has
been daily skirmshing with small
parties of Beers. The force consists
Of mounted infantry, Natal scouts and
artillery all commanded by Maj. Prem
dergast. The column first crossed the
border on February 2s. II now oc-
eupies an entrenclIed position on
Catasn hill, nine miles within the
Transvaal.
Decentralization In the Burgher Rank.
London, March s.--The Times pub
fishes the following dispatch from
Lourenzo Marques, dated March .;
"President Kruger's precipitate jour-
ney to Natal was due to Gen, Jou-
bert's urgent representations that
the operations of Lord Roberts had
10 alarmed the Free Sta.frs that thev
nau become uncontrollaDle. inrrr ~
every indication of chaos and demor-
aiization in the burgher ranks. The
Free State Rad has been summoned
10 meet in April"
Dpera Encouraged to Persist.
london, March S.-A correspondent
Of the Morning Post at Osfontein,
teiegraphing March O. says: "Thc
agitation by the peace party in Eng
land and the hope that the conserv-
stive government may be defeated
are neutralizing the effect Of the Brit
ish victories, because they encourage
the Beers to persist in the struggle"
4 Uo~r Commando Offers to Surrender,
London, March s.--A dispatch to the
Times from 0sfontein, dated March 6,
says: "A commando of 5000 Beers
hss offered to surrender but on i'm.
possible terms. Gen. Cronie's losses
were greater than he admitted. Sixty |
bodies Of Beers have been found in
one grave"
London, March 0.-The following
dispatch was received from Lord Rob
erts yesterday: