Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-05-22
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR
THIRD STAGE OF THE GREAT
CONFLICT BEGINS.
Cord Roberts Army Now Advancing
Toward Pretoria-Boers Fight Stub
born1y, but Are Gradually Forced

The third great stage of the South At
rican war began when Lord Roberts be-
gan his advance from Bloemfontein to
Pretoria. The first stage may be said
to extend from the beginning of the war
last October TO the arrival of Lord Rob-
erts in South Africa. The second in
Guides the relief of Kimberley the cap
ture of Cronje and the occupation of
Bloemfontein. And now after a long
rest at the Free State capital Lord Rob
erts has entered upon his third stage,
which has as its goal the capture of Pre-
toria, the capital of the Transvaal.
Before the present British advance the
Beers are falling back in good order to
some point where the nature of the
ground will enable them TO oppose their
forces to greater advantage to the army
of Gen. Roberts. Just where the Beers
have elected to make their stand Is UNI
known, but it is practically certain that
from that point on to Pretoria they will
dispute every inch of the way with Lord
Roberts. Meantime there is no news
from Natal. Gen. Butler might as well
be in India or England so far as active
operations are concerned, but doubtless
1le Is QdSStNe DN 15OIu hODGIlS WISH uuu
will wage an aggressive campaign when
the proper time comes. The situation at
Mafeking is unchanged apparently. The
Beers are still besieging it, while the
plucky garrison still holds out
The crossing of the Zand river by the
British appears to have been effected
sooner than even the most sanguine ex-
pected. Lord Roberts advance force.
consisting of from 10000 to 1900
mounted men, besides infantry, artillery
and the naval contingent, appears to be
sufficiently powerful to overwhelm any
opposition the burghers can offer.
London finds pleasant reading in the
details Of the forcing of the Zand and the
chase CT the Beers in the direction of
Kroonstad. The series of turning move
ments devised by Lord Roberts seemed
to strike CONSERVATION into the hearts
of the burghers as wing after wing of
their army was shattered by the charges
of the British cavalry and mounted in
fantry. The Boer line was flung twenty
miles across the country, but the best
defensive execution was done by the ar
tillery section of six guns. The East
Lancashire and Sussex regiments, under
Gen. Tucker, made dash on the Boer
artillerists, and in the face. of a raking
fire from the battery compelled the burgh-
ers to retire. This charge completed the
rout of the Beers Their main trench
was captured and all their positions on
the ridges commanding the advance fell
into the hands of Lord Roberts men.
The censorship makes it impossible for
London war experts to figure with GER
tainty what may be Gen. Buffers pro-
gram. Gen. Hunters advance north of
Fourteen Streams with the Mafeking re-
lief column has been uninterrupted. 1t
will not be surprising to learn that there
has been an important engagement at
Thabanchu, where it is reported that
President Steyn is in command of 10000
Beers. Gems. Rumble and Brabant are
facing this force.
1t is said that Steyn's division is at
Mequatling's mex. This army has been
raised by drawing men from the north
eastern part of the state and from Har-
rismith. He is also reported to have got
men from the Ladybrand district The
Beers evidently consider it important to
check the advance of the British into
Senekal, Ficksburg and Bethlehem dis
tricts.
The South African Review asserts that
a member of the legislature Of Cape Col
ony offered money to man to shoot Sir
Alfred Miner, the British high commits
sioner