Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1900-03-10
The WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.
NO BIG BATTLE IMMINENT
A RumOr That the Beers Opened
Peace Negotiations Denied-Gen-
craI Butler Makes Statement
War Interest Declining.


New York, March 6.-The Tribune's
cable says:
London, March 6.-There is no con-
frmation of the Lorenzo Marquee rumor
that President Kruger has Joined Presi-
dent Steyn and is on the point of opening
peace negotiations. The Times in its at
ternoon edition yesterday announced that
Kruger has left Pretoria for an unknown
destination, and that it was coniectured
that a conference between the presidents
of the two republics would take place.
There was no official information respect
ing overtures for peace. Members of par
Lament were not disposed to attach i'm
portance to the rumor, and military men
said that the probable object of the pres
idential conference was the adoption of
measures of defense against the advance
of Roberts army.
Bloemfontein can not be defended but
there are lines of hills at Vet and Walsh
rivers where a strong stand can be made
and passage of the Vaal river can be con-
tested on the way to Pretoria.
Colesburg district has been entirely
abandoned by the Beers, and Clements
scouts are now near Orange river
Gatacre's forces are moving toward
Stormberg, and there has been renewed
skirmishing near Dordrecht. Fighting is
reported to be imminent in the Free State
on the line of Roberts advance, but the
extent of Dutch concentration is I'M
known.
Leyds denied that he had received any
news to the effect that the siege of MAIZE
king has been lifted by the Beers, or that
Bloemfontein has been occupied by British.
Roberts is at Osfontein, preparing to
continue his advance eastward 1t is gen
orally understood that his first objective
will be Bloemfontein, but he keeps his
own counsel, and his plan of operations
may prove to be quite different from that
fixed upon by popular opinion.
The Beers are apparently rallying with
their accustomed ability to repair tenn
porary reverse and Great Britain has yet
to test their force as a defensive power
Outside the meeting of the presidents
there is no new indication of any change
in the situation. Telegraphing from Os-
fontein today, thanking the lord mayor OF
Liverpool for his congratulations in behalf
of that city, Lord Roberts says:
81 trust her majesty's soldiers in this
country will gain sneh further successes
as will speedily restore freedom and pros
perity to South Africa"
Beers Left Two Guns Behind.
New York, March GA dispatch to the
Tribune from London says:
General Butler in dispatch from Lady
smith makes it clear that the Beers de-
cided to raise the siege of that town i'm
mediately after General Cronje was at the
mercy of Roberts at Paardeberg. The ad
vance in the Natal was then only opposed
to allow time for the big guns and ammu
milton and stores to be safely removed
north and west. That the Beers were not
completely successful in carrying out this
intention was owing to the fact that they
were more or less demoralized by Buller's
victorious attack on Tuesday After that
battle, orders were evidently given for a
hasty retreat to the passes with the result
that large quantity of ammunition and
two guns were left behind. Virtually
speaking, the Natal is now clear of the
republic forces.
Public interest in the war is already
declining since the end is considered a
foregone conclusion. Tedious as may be
the process by which it will be reached,
the relief of two garrisons and complete
collapse of the Dutch plan of campaign
leaves Roberts at liberty to concentrate
his forces, with transportation the chief
difficulty to overcome.