The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-05-09
BOERS
AGGRESSIVE
Roberts Still Lingers at
BIoemfontein.
REASONS FOR THE DELAY
Wepener Relieved Mafeking Still
Holding Out : An Arsenal at
johannesburg Blown Up.

NEW YORK, May IA dispatch to
the Tribune from London says: A sig
nificant item Of intelligence has been
received from Cape Town. The. Ex-
press correspondent in that city saws
IL Is asserted on good authority that
General Hunter has been sent to kim
heriey to command strong column in
tended for the relief of Mafeking. II
VIII include Bartons Fusileers Brigade
which has lately been brought round
from Natal and strong contingent of
horses and guns.
The Times correspondent in Bloem-
fontsin gives some interesting partic-
ulars respecting the manner in which
many Free Staters have abused the
leniency and clemency hitherto shown
to them by Lord Roberts in the capital
ltseIt A secret society was formed to
maintain communications with the
Boer commandos and to promote the
re-armament among the bughers. The
existence OF the conspiracy was grad
ually brought to lighC, and the field
marsha has made up his mind that in
the Iutufe conspirators must be pun
iShed.
Inc mobility of the Boer forces must
be something uncanny if al accounts
are worthy OF credence, for they are re-
ported as arriving at Brandfort on
Friday night from Wepener and Dew
etsdorp; as retiring to Ladybrand and
returning to Thaba Menu on Satur-
day and as holding their ground in
strong forces in front of General
French on Saturday. The British ma
neuVeIS are equally mysterious A
general advance northward is dsscrib-
ed as impending yet French is alter
nate4y described as haraseIng the enc
my with artillery fire and cavalry
skIrmlshing and as thwarung General
DE Vets efforts to turn the British
Hank. General French has four in
fantry brigades and a large cavalry
force and c-eariy must have some mo-
eve for halting at Thaba N'Chu and
playing with the Beers instead of Wig
oIously attacking them.
The advance nortnward cannot he
undertaken until the force east of
Tnaba NChu has been dispersed. vet
Ior three or four days there has been
skirmishng with the Beers rear
guard, until it has been re-enforced
from LadybraLd. If Genera.s braoant
AID HART are moving norGhward from
NepeLer TO Ladybrand these dllatory
edcLcS are lntelIglD4e, since General
french In that case would have an
Iuequdte mouVe tor hO.nlng and anus
ing the Boer force at Thaba N'Chu.
Inc distance is h1ty miles and there is
.edson TO believe that this march has
been undertaken, although there is no
direct proof With Ladybrand occu-
pied by General Hart, General De
vets S retreat eastward wou.u De cut off
and General French would be in posi-
uon for attacking De Vets COM
mandos and following them northward
The situation as TAR as IL cou.d be
made out at midnight was essentially
unchanged. Three divisions OF Lord
oirect advance upon Brandfort by the
railway from Bloemfontein; two cav
airy brigades and the mounted infan-
cry divisions were at Tnaba N'Chu
with the Eighth and Ninth Divisions;
me Third Division was within support
ing distance of De Wetsdorp and Gen
erals Brabant and Hart were either al
Wepener or on the way to Ladybrand.
The indications still seemed 20 point
to turning movement from Thaba
Menu northward to the Vet rIySr, with
with the Sixth, Seventh and Min
Divisions cooperating near the al
way line. Lord Roberts secrets, how
ever, are SO well kept tha, forecasts
are Of little value.
Experienced soldiers say that Lord
Roberts will secure the southern sec
ton OF the Free State against raiding
operations by drawing a Gordon across
the country and permanently occupy
ing Sannan's Post, Thaba N'Chu and
Ladybrand, and that he will then push
on as rapidly as possible for the Vaal
river, knowing that Steyn's men will
not fight in the Transvaal and that the
OF the Dutch forces will be
heavily reduced.
The Boer army is we'll led and shows
no sign of abandoning the struggle.
It's generals have recovered from the
panic caused by Paardeberg and have
demonstrated their ability to impede
the advance of the British army and
harass it on the flank without expos
ing their commandos to serious risk
IF capture.