New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-15
BOERS STILL UNCONQUERED.
THE TASK YET BEFORE THE BRITISH
IN AFRICA NOT A LIGHT ONE.

downright; 1900: BY The New-York Tribune.l
[BY CABLE TO THE TRIBUSE.l
London June Is. 1 a. m.-The optimism in
luced by General Roberts's dispatches is arti-
acial General Methuen's success in restoring
communications with Pretoria has not altered
the fact that the Free State raiders have taken
over a thousand prisoners at Lindley and Roode-
val and retreated with them and their guns and
that the raids may be repeated. De Vets COM
rnandoes have not been dispersed. and whatever
precautions may be taken there will be danger
OF another raid, since the railway cannot be alb
solutely protected by infantry battalicns nor by
artillery trained all along the line from Bioern-
fontein to Pretoria The conquest of the north
eastern section of the Free State has not YET
been effected. and operations by the series OF
columns from Heilbron, Lindley, Senekal and
Ficksburg are rendered difficult by the transport
problem.
General Butler has cleared Lalng's Mex and
General Lyttelton has received the submission OF
the Wakkerstroom district. but the Boer army
has not been captured. 1t has retired with all
its guns and supplies and will fight again IN
the mountainous district remote from the rail-
way. Botha's army has also Withdrawn from
the positions which It held for two days against
Lord Robertss forces east of Pretoria, but II
has not been dispersed, nor nave the brlllsn
taken either guns or prisoners Boer COM
rnandoes at Errnelo and Middleburg are mutu-
ally helpful, and can be concentrated in the
I.ydenbere district and De Vets commanders
can cooperate with them effectively in the Free
State.
The most encouraging feature Of yesterdays
news for the British side was evidence that the
damage done TO Laing's Mex Tunnel and the
section of railway north of Kroonstad was not
serious and that both lines OF communication
would be in working order in a few days. With
unimpeded supplies for two large armies oper-
ating IN the Transvaal. there ought not to be
any long halt toward Lydenberg either from the
west or from the south. and the resistance OF
De Vets raiders ought to be speedily overcome
by the British forces under Rundle, with help
from Butler.
Military men assert that General Methuen VIII
be left In command OF the forces along the rail-
way from Kroonstad to the Vaal and that Cen
eral Hunters division. after reaching Johannes
burg Will be sent Heidelberg viii open
the railway to Standerton. Evidently De Vets
forces must be dispersed before there can be an
invasion Of the Lydenberg district, and General
Kitchener is likely TO remain at Kroonstad until
the campaign in the Free State has been again
set in order. There have been many stories
about bad feeling and lack Of cooperation be-
tween Roberts and Kitchener, but these are not.
well founded General Kitchener, chief OF
staff works necessarily, and is Roberts's trusted
lieutenant, especially in managing the details of
the transport Kitchener is not liked in the
army on account of his brusque manners, but
Lord Roberts knows how to get with him, as
with everybody else. l. n. F.