The evening times., 1900-03-13
TUESDAY. MARCH Is. 1896
The Beers Next stand.

Lord Roberts has again succeeded in
turning the Beers, and by this time must
be on the outskirts of BlOemfontein. His
opponents appear TO have held the line,
often spoken OF, from Abraham Kraal to
Aasvogel Kop. Their position is repre-
scented to have been strong and well en-
irenched. II was doubtless with View TO
its preparation that General Cronie made
his heroic stand al KOodoe's Rand. hold
ing the whole British Army in check for
a week But Lord Roberts did not attack
on the line he was expected TO. He moved
southeast along the kaai Spruit and out
ianked his foes. leaving them nothing to
do but to fall back 10 some new position,
which they will hardly have time to en-
trench before he viii be up with or around
them again.
The Boer strength al and near Bloem-
fontein is placed at twelve Thousand men.
Lord Roberts has at least foriy thousand,
including ten thousand cavalry and
mounted infantry Unless the Boer COM
mauder can choose his ground and have
time 10 fortify it, there is little prospect
that he can much obstruct the British ad-
vance. OF course. as he falls back his
numbers may be largely increased but at
present they are miserahly inadequate to
cope with Roberts columns.
That no greater force has been assembled
10 defend the Orange Free STATE capital
seems 10 argue Decentralization. Either the
Transvaal burghers are Indifferent to the
interests or fate Of their ally and have
refused % fight for he. or the general
scheme Of resistance is going in pieces We
have heard that General louberl has with
drawn from the fr5nt in dudgeon, and
there are other significant indications that
the end of the campaign may be near. The
most notable of these is the plea Tor peace
which President Kruger has addressed di-
rectly TO Lord Salisbury. aud Indirectly to
Great Britain through president Mckinley
When s bitter and trueulCnt ia leader like
Paul Kruger asks for terms IL is not un-
reasonable 10 infer that The ight is pretty
well out Of him. The inevitable answer
10 his message may lead his followers tC
maintain resistance for a while longer BIZ
probably moi a great while as they mus
soon begin TO realize that they viii gaiz
nothing by continuing the struggle vii
waste life usolessly. and ge. all the harder
terms in the end.
As far as can be judged Nafebug sti
holds out. The relieving column from
Kimberley is moving toward The beleaE-
ured town, but doubtless slowly. and Colo.
mel Plumer's force from Rhods>a appear.
10 be al a standstiIi at Crocodile Poole some
distance above. General Gatacre ha
reached Bethulie Bridge but is probably
not strong enough TO cross and fight the
Beers who are Oh rhe other side Re-en-
forcemonts are coming up from the coast
and by the time Sir George White arrives
10 take command il is probable that the
columns of Clements, Gatacre. ana Bra
bant viii be ready TO consolidate for a
movement into the Free State. But this
may be delayed long enough TO give the
Boer commanders an opportunity to get
away and Join the main body of their army
On account of the wide range OF open coun-
Try in the field of operations the chances
for cutting them of are perhaps slight