The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-05-04
PRICE FIVE OHNrR.


General fuckers division remains at
karee Siding, with the Beers intrench-
ed at BrandIort with their reserves at
WlnDurg. One brigade has moved east.
Ward. The Sixln Division is encamp-
ed at Bloemfontein. General Pole
Oarews division with two brigades of
cavalry, has occupied Loeuw Kop, after
orlVlng the Beers from series of
strong positions without meeting with
serious resistance. The mounted in
Iantry, under General Hamilton occu-
pleu the water works and the Beers
neld the line of hills further east. Gem
erai french sent out cavalry toward De
VETS Dorp yesterday and infantry fol-
lowed, communication being opened
with Sir Henry Rumble during the af-
ternoon. General Rumble was still
making time in front of De Vets Dorp.
with the Beers we'll intrenched. Bra
bant's colonials, with Hart's brigade
supporting them, had flanked the Beers
position at Bushman's Kop and forced
tne enemy to retire. They had then
continued the advance toward Wepen-
er, having had a running fight with the
enemy throughout Monday. They were
within eight miles of Wepener at noon
Yesterday and were in fair way to re-
iieVe colonel Dalgety's plucky Austria
mans. The enemy around Wepener was
apparently preparing to retreat without
"altlng to meet the relieving force.
Ihese various operations are illus
trated by two diagonal lines of squares
on chess board, both armies being
echeloned at four stations. General
6raoant, In the southeast, is ready to
make move which will secure Wepen-
er and force the Beers to retire toward
De vets Dorp or Ladybrand. Generals
hundle and French, in the two middle
squares, are preparing to drive the enc
my from De Vets Dorp and the water
works toward Thaba NChu, and Gen
erai tucker, in the north, is threaten
ing Brandfort. The result of these
operations is favorable to the British.
eut tnere Is no decisive success apart
from the relief of Wepener. which has
virtually been effected. The military
experts have been hoping that the
Beers would be caught in another Paar-
deberg, but there is no proof that the
lines OF their retreat are cut off either
from Wepener, De Vets Dorp or Korn
Sprult, although one roaa mas been
olocked by General Tucker.
Inc eHect of the British operations
II thefe be no setback, will be the
clearance or the district east of Bloem-
iontein. Generals Rumble and French
VIII be free to push on Thaba N'Chn
AFTER General Brabant relieves Wepen-
er. and unless transport fails chem tn
lake up the northern movement toward
Wihpufg, cooperating with General
fuckers division. The success of the
operations by which the eastern flank
wal De cleared depends upon the Boer
Stiensln aud their power VI counter
strokc.
LORD Roberts tactics are ingeniouslv
uevlseo and offer fine study of adapt
aolilty. He meets the Beers in their
own way, but In Superior Strength
Ineir plan Is always to have a series
" cohmandos in touch with one an
other. He adopts the same sysrem
placing his divisions in echelon and
outnumbering them at every noir,
Press dispatches contain some inter
eSung touches, although the fighting
mas been desultory and indecisive
thousands of Basutos are following the
Iorces toward Wepener, looking on
from the edge OF the frontier like the
spectators at the paling of bull ring
anu auuIring tne SUou poluLs of tne
saHe. ne white race are Offering to
tne placks entertaining sport, even if
tney are not helping to Christianize
them.
Lord Roberts report at midnight
contained lucid summary of the Sit
uation, with one or two new features
! ne Ninth Division had been sent from
bloemfontein to support General Ham
litons mounted brigade at the water
WORKS as the Beers were holding the
outlying hills in some force. Lord Rob-
erts superiority in strength enabled
MIN TO match commandos with an en-
tlre d-Flslon wherever one is required.
General Maxwells brigade of the
seventh Division had also moved east
"aro and seized the hills covering the
wagon bridge over the Modder river at
hranZ kraal, thereby closing an i'm
portant line of the Boer retreat north
ward from various positions in the
south. There is still, however. another
road open to them further east The
missing patrol of the Dragon Guards
mas reJolned General French. Lord
hoDerts was evidently well satisfied
Win the situation and the movements
o! the entire army disclose unity of
direction and clearness OF purpose.
Inc boers are apparently attempting
aversion In the direction of Lord
Methuen, having REINFORCED their com
mandos in that neighborhood.
Hart and Braban:
MASERU, Basutoland, Tuesday
April N.-(Evening. .)-Generals Har,
ana Brabant covered only a short dis
lance today, and. finding strong Fore
opposed to them, bivouacked on the
ground they had occupied. The firing
mas been desultory and the casualfies
very slight. The British are edginp nm
toward the Basutoland border. Per-
slstent rumors are in circulation thsr
Commandant Olivier, with 1000 men.
is preparing to attack General Hart,s
rear. There is no sign of the advance
OF General Rundle from De Vets Dorm
hoNDoN, April 25.-The indecisiye
action and slow progress OF Generals
hart and Brabant are relatively min
portant, when compared with the prog
ress OF General French. 1t is now eyi-
dent that Lord Roberts wishes not on
~ TO defeat the Beers, but to pen them
In at Paardeberg. To this end 40 600
british troops are concentrating In the
southeastern portion Of the Orange