The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-17
REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.



LONDON. March IL. 40 a m.-with the
railway communication to the Cape intact.
Lord Roberts will in a very few days be
In a position TO begin the advance on Pre-
toria. His deep political intuition. COM
bined with his bold strategy. is having
the result desired in the southern sections
of the Orange Free State, which are rapid
ly calming down.
Mafeking is now the only point for ankle
ty and as il is known that force has left
Kimberley, its relief may be announced
before many days pass. The efficiency OF
the relieving column is heightened by the
fact that it is partly composed OF regulars.
In the Hobbies OF Parliament last even-
ing it was rumored that Lord Roberts is
about 10 issue proclamation announcing
that the former system Of government I'm
the Orange Free State is abolished. and
promising Free Staters who Immediately
surrender due consideration.
1t is understood that all the continental
powers. with one exception. uncompromis-
ingly refused to intervene. The exception
was Russia. whose reply was couched I'm
less firm language. although. like the
others, she declined to interfere. 1t is said
thC Lopo was aioo dPPcdAc0 tos oul tnd[
he declined TO do anything beyond writing
a letter to the Queen. appealing to her TO
stop the further effusion of blood. DIR.
Leyds's efforts with King Leopold were
quite futile.
The possibility OF the destruction OF
Johannesburg is still discussed here, but
it is believed that the French and Ger
man shareholders would offer a strong
protest.
The latest advices respecting the surren-
der of Bloemfontein show that the ap-
proach of the British caused a stampede.
Thirteen trains. each composed OF forty
cars. and all crammed with Beers. hurried
Dorthward just before the line was cut
Mr. Steyn would have been compelled TO
surrender, but he pretended that he was
going to visit one OF the outposts. and at
midnight took a carriage which was wait
ing for him outside the town and thus
escaped. The Beers got the bulk OF their
wagons and military stores away.
General Prettyman has issued a procla-
nation stipulating that the arms OF Free
staters must be delivered by noon on Sun
day, March Is. IL is safe 20 say that the
Beers have completely collapsed In the
Ctdle SOutu Oh biotullDnltlu ne
British cavalry patrols going as far as the
Modder river. have found no sign of the
enemy. The bridge IS untouched. Alto
gether four hundred Beers have come n
| TO surrender.
Spencer Wilkinson, I'm the Morning Post
says: "The difficulty now Is TO imagine q
satisfactory plan OF operation for the Boer
commander-in-chief. At an outside esti-
| mate his available forces can hardly b
forty thousand men. The Boer positions
will always be turned before a frontal at
tack is made To await the attack viii be
TO risk capture. The only plan TO avoid
il will be a hasty retreat" Then proceed
ing TO discuss various possibilities for The
Beers. Mr.. Wilkinson arrives at the follow
| ing conclusion; THE best thing the Beers
can hope for 10 TO gain time. There IL
| chance OF their being able again to re-
store the equilibrium and 20 turn the
balance In their own favor. BY gaining