Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-07
THIS MORNING IN
SOUTH AFRICA.
Situation There Seen from Various
Points Of View
LONDON AGAIN ALARMED.
War VIII Not be Finished by June
Late Capture Of 500 British Troops
Discussing the Campaign.
IEarly plspatehesl

new l0fki April IA NiHpaNNh W NiS
Tribune from London says:
The game Of counter stroke has been
played on both sides with success.
General Methuen has entrapped a small
body OF Beers near Boshof, surrounding
them and taking flfty-four prisoners,
after a four hours fight. His force in
eluded the imperial yeomanry, whose
exploit viii be a popular one in Eng
laud, where great interest has been
taken In this body Of rough riders and
crack shots. The casualties were near
ly equal on both sides. apart from the
prisoners
ABOUT GEN. MAREUIL.
This episode throws little light upon
the mysterious operations which Gen
eral Methuen has been conducting north
Of Kimberley. II indicates the facility
with which the British commanders can
adapt themselves 60 the guerilla war
fare into which the Boer tactics are
rapidly degenerating. General Nillebo5
Mareuil, who was killed on the Boer
side. was Jouberts military adviser In
AMaAuAf lAll vas NAlk 4kNu " III - 10
at the outbreak OF the war His record
In the French army was brilliant and
Dr. Leyds made an excellent invest
ment In securing his services, lie had
been IN the French war Office and staft
college. and was chief Of stan In the
Algerian army French officers have
considered that his abilities were over
rated but he had evidently been most
useful to the Boer generals In Natal,
In showing them how they could adapt
their tactics 10 new conditions Of war
fare. He was the best foreign expert
on the Dutch side, and his death Is
serious blow. especially as the Beers
have lost two Of their best men-Joubert
and Cronje II he suggested the new
policy Of counter attack upon the lines
Of the British communication as has
been reported he has fallen a victim Of
his own tactics.
The Beers have followed up their sue
cess at Korn Spruit by a similar stroke
aimed against General Roberts line OF
communications.
OVERESTIIATING BOER NUM-
BEERS.
The new tactics followed by the Beers
have a dispiriting effect upon the
thoughtless observers, who had fancied
that the war was virtually over but
veterans In the service are not discon-
certed by them nor seriously alarmed.
Absurd estimates, printed by sensatial-
al newspapers Of the strength Of the
Boer raiders are rejected IN official cir
cles as unworthy OF credenCe. Instead
OF having 10000 men and being IN
readiness 10 invest Bloemfontein. the
Beers are not believed by cautious ex-
perts to have more than 5000 or 1000
burghers. Inaction In the north was
fatal TO them. aud they were forced 10
adopt new tactics and attempt series
OF counter attacks.
VETERANS SURPRISED.
Veterans are surprised that this has
not been done before, and that General
Roberts, Gen. Methuen's and Gen. Bull
lers lines Of communication have not
been repeatedly raided. They add thai
the Beers, having discovered how ef-
fective these tactics are, will continue
10 make use OF them In swooping down
here and there upon Isolated garrisons
and stations. II is readily admitted
that they have the power Of harassing
and marrying Gen. Roberts army In
this way and Of retarding its advance.
but the view taken In official circles
IS that the reinforcements which have
been pouring into South Africa during
the last two months will speedily en-.
able the British army TO take the Of
fensive and draw on the Beers from
the southern section Of the Free state
General Buffers inaction is not un-
derstood by military men here. and the
opinion is expressed that Warren's d.
vision Will be ordered 10 the Free
State.
The Ashanti outbreak is considered
inopportune. but not OF serious mag
nitude.
TO HELP THE IRISH.
Norvalsport, Thursday, April 5.--A
detachment Of hussars who were pro-
ceedlng hence 10 Bloemfontein, are re-
ported TO have been detrained at Edin-
burg. about IS miles southwest Of Red
dersburg. In the Orange Free State and
dispatched 10 the assistance OF the Irish
fusileers captured near Reddersburg.
TOOK 800 PRISONERS.
London. April 2, $50 a. m.-Not a
word regarding the disaster at Redders-
burg has been allowed TO come through.
except the dispatch Of Lord Roberts.
IL Is therefore impossible 20 form any
notion as 10 what has happened Mean
while the British public Is beginning 10
realize the immense difficulties 10 be
overcome even before Pretoria Is
reached. and Is reviving premature
ideas with respect 70 the time when
the war Will be over. No one believes