The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-04-05
BRITISH ADVANCE
Will Probably be Resumed Early
Next Week.
GEN.: JOUBERT''S' SKILL PRAISED,
One Hundred and Thlrty-five Miles
to be Covered by Lord Roberts Beg
fore He Reaches the Boer Positi0nA

London, ,Cable.-General French
, who has arrived a. BloemfoDtein from
. Thaba 'Nchu, says that Commandant
Olivier has 6,000 men and is north OF
Ladybrand. Immense quantities OF
stores have now been accumulated at
Bloemfontein, and Lord Roberts in
fantry is seemingly about to move. An
impression. which can be traced to the
War Office, is abroad that the advance
will begin next Monday. Boer obser-
,vation parties are hoverins near
Bloemfontein, but Lord Roberts has
135 miles to cover before reaching the
great position which the Beers are
preparing at KroOnstadt. Moving ten
miles a day IS probably the best he
can do with field transports. There
fore he can hardly engage the Beers IN
force for two weeks. The reconstruc-
tion OF the railway behind him may
even delay an invasion OF the Trans
vaal until May. Meanwhile, all the
important towns in the Free State,
within Lord Roberts reach, are being
gaTisoned Traba'N5hu, Phillipolis,
Fauresmith, and Jagersfonteln are
thus held. Sir Alfred Miner is tour
ing in the disturbed newly acquired
territory. investigating conditions and
arranging the administration. He is
understood to be getting materials for
report to Mr.. Chamberlain concerning.
a plan OF civil government.
All the London morning papers
print singularly kind editorials con-
cerning General Joubert. They praise
his military skill, uphold his Ghlval-
rous conduct and regret that so strong
and moderate a mind should be s0sent
from the final settlement OF the dis
pute. Although some OF the younger
commanders thought the old soldier
wanting in dash and enterprise, his
raid into the country south OF the
Tugela is considered the best piece ot
Boer leadership during the whole WAT.
It is now known thai he crossed the.
Tugela with only 5000 rifenen and
six guns, but 50 bold and rapid We're
his movements that the British COM
manders thought 10000 Beers were
marching on Petermarit1burg. F..
few days, although in the p-esen OF
greatly superior forces, he isoyed
General Hildyard's brigade at Estcourt
and at the same time threatened Cen
er;al Barton's camp at Noel river. ThGu-
as British re-enforcemeItS were push
ed up, Ioubert re-crosSed the Trgela
without losing prisoner, wagon or
gun. General Whites estimate OF
him, pronounced on Tuesday before he
died, as / gentleman and > braYe and
honorable opponent, strikes the tone
Of all British comment.
The Foreign Office. according TO the
Portugal for some thousands OF Bri-
tsh troops to be landed ct BeiTa and
sent ny the Rhodesia railway from
Massi-KeSse to untali. A permanent
arrangement is understood TO exist
for the use OF this route 10 transfer
the Rhodesia police. The possibility
Of foreign protest is suggested by the
Daily Chronicle. Among the items ca
bled from Pretoria is statement that
prominent residents there object 10 Z
defense OF Pretoria and desire that
President Kruger should retire TO
Lydr'5erg. X is expected the principal
buildings at Johannesburg had besn-
undermined by order o. Kruger