Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-07
British and Beers Will Soon
Be Engaged.
GEN. ROBERTS POSITION
Has Been Greatly Strengthened and
He Is Preparing to Strike Decisive
Bio -Dutch Are Rising Through
out the Country. n

CapetOwn, March 6.-Nearly the WnOle
of the Dutch population of the Prieka
and Kenhardt districts are in rebellion.
Many Of the Dutch from neighboring
districts are reported to have Joined
them, notably Pet Moolman, who will
lead the rebels to Brandbles. Lucas
Steinkamp, commanding the Beers, is
reported marching on Carnavon. Il is
believed that Gordonia and Victoria
West will rise. 1t is thought that the
total lumber of men in arms vii! ex-
coed 5000 men. The general opinion of
loyalists is that a strong force Of Brit
ish will be required, as a reverse would
spread the rebellion.
London, March 7.-4:10 a. m.-Lord
Roberts still pauses in the ncighborhood
of Oslo ntein, while stores, remounts and
fresh troops stream toward MIN from the
Cape. The British position also contin-
ues to improve in the minor spheres OF
the campaign. Natal is clear Of Beers
and Cape Colony is nearly 50.
The Beers seemingly are pursuing the
course commended by the strategists
and are concentrating 10 resist the Brit
ish main army. Various messages from
correspondents with Lore Roberts report
hat the enemy are increasing contin-
uously on his front, extending, as one
correspondent wires, eight miles, and, as
another says, IS miles. The lowest esti-
mate Of their mum Der gives the Beers
from 5000 to 10000 men. with smaller
bodies moving north and south Of the
British lines. Each army is on both
sides OF the Modder river. Although the
Beers have mounted eight guns on the
tops of kopjes and appear to be too far
away for inspection, the British scouts
report that they are diligently using
pick and shovel. Military opinion is that
their present position merely screens
more easily defended ones deeper La the
REGION
None of the military experts endeavor
to fathom Lord Roberts plans, but it
is suggested that he is quite willing to
give the Beers time to assemble all their
men in order to deliver a smashing blow
| more effectively. ~. VI,
The round robin in favor of the an
neXatipn of the Transvaal n the Free
! State, which is being promoted among
the supporters of the government in
the house of continues to re-
ceiye signatures. The signatcries Of the
memorial to Mr.. Balfour affirm that the
time has arrived for plain speaking in
side and outside of parliament, and that
Lord ~Salisbury's words are construed
into a pledge against annexation, and
Lord Roberts proclamation into a prom
Use Of no c%onfscation of Boer property.
The Transvaal agenc at Brussels
threatens a rising of the Cape Dutch in
the event Of annexation, though why tbs
Dutch should rise then rather than now
is not explained.
Mr.. A. G.. Hales, the Daily News cor
respondent, who was captured by the
Beers on February o. was released al
Bloom fontein and put through the lines
near Sterstrona. He telegraphs that the
Beers are de,noralized, but adds tina,
they have been treating the British
wounded ~splendidly.
Orange River, Cape Colony, March g.
The recent British victories have had {
wonderfully qujeting effect upon tn,
rebel Dutch, many of whom in TIL,
neighborhood of Douglas are reported
dlsheartened and about returning tt
their homes.
The commando in the neighborhoed o
Britistown has been given carte blanch,
by President Steyn to- raise as many re
cruits and to do as much damage a
possible.
The rebels in the neighborlload of Ken
hardt are particularly aggressive, actin,
on the supposition that the trocps O
Lord Roberts are fully occupied in tn
Free State.
London, March IA dispatch to tn
Daily News from Modder river. date
, Monday. March 5, and describing til
: Boer position in front of Lord Roberts
says: The Beers seem to like to be $
/ busy entrenching. They have mounte
! eight guns on high kopies. 1T is mar
. velous how they drag these weapons int
such positions.
Tt Is reported here that at a recen
emergency meeting of the Free Stat
raad at Bloemfontein, a radical diffrenc
of opinion developed, the majority favor
ing peace at any price, hut the minorit,
including President Steyn, advocating
fight to the end.
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