The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-02-27
B0ERS ASSEMBLING AN ARMY
TO DIsP UTE FURTHER INVASION By
lord ROBERTS.
Forces fastening from All Quarters of
the Two Republics-Conce
Near Bloc m f0ntein-No News to Indi-
cnte CrOnje's CoIInpse-Roberts Hold
Ing OFF Through Motives of Humanity
-BulIer Takes GrObIer's Kloop, the
Key to Ladysmifh.

London, Feb, 27.-4:2O a. m. The
Beers are assembling an army near
Bloemfontein, with which to dispute the
invasion OF Lord Roberts This intelli-
gence comes from Pretoria by way Of
Lorenzo Marques. The commands
are described as "hastening from all
quarters of the two republics" No es-
innate is made of their numbers, but
the withdrawal of the Beers from most
contact with the British except the
district near Ladysmith may raise the
resisting force to 10000 men. This fig
ure assumes that the Beers have be-
tween $4,000 and 10000 men in the
field.
The gathering of this army across the
path of Lord Roberts gives significance
to General Cronjes steadfast defense.
He has engaged the corps of Lord Rob-
erts for ten days now. and whether he
is relieved or not, he has given time for
the dispersed Boer fractions to get to-
SGLuef anu " pIepdIe pOollIoI5 W iC-
ceive the British advance when Cronje
is overcome, and Lord Roberts moves
forward. 1t is difficult to conceive
that that the Beers are strong enough
to take the offensive and to rescue Cen
eral Cronje from his precarious situa-
ton The war office had nothing after
midnight. to indicate his collapse, and
he may hold out for few days. The
correspondents seem to have no exact
information respecting his resources.
Some say that he has plenty Of food,
but is short of ammunition. Others
assert that he abandoned his food sup
plies, but kept abundant supplies OF
ammunition.
General Butler on Saturday faced
the last and strongest positions of the
Beers who bar his way to Ladysmith.
The strenuous fighting indicates bat
tie between armies rather than rear
guard actions protecting retreat. On
Thursday and Friday he lost forty-three
officers killed and wounded, represent
ing probably total of from 400 to 5OO
General Whites guns worked on Sat
urday upon the Boer positions and
heliogram from Ladysmith reported
that the Beers were retreating and that
larger rations were being issued in
view of the fact that relief seemed at /
hand Nothing has been heard from
Mafeking since February II.
The movement on the veldt away
from the railway is becoming increas-
ingly difficult for large bodies of troops,
as the grass is burned up. General
French has to wagon rorage for his
horses, and even the infantry finds the
long marches harder than before, for
forage for the transport of animals
must be carried. This requires the for
nation of garrisoned depots The ordi-
nary campaigning season is over and
the sickly season for both men and ami
mails has set in.
Technical military writer's take these !
things into consideration in forecasting !
events.
The Daily Chronicle says it learns |
from private letters that British rifles
and ammunition have been landed on |
the southern coast of Cape Colony, pre-
suma bly, for the Butch colonists.
Lord Roberts has recently received
additional pieces Of artil-
lery. Whether all have been sent to
Paardeberg is not known.
Probably the Eighth division will
leave England next Monday.