The evening times., 1900-03-06

LONDON. March 6.-The War Odice has
received the following dispatches from
Field Marshal Lord Roberts:
"Osfontein, March 5.-BulIer reports
that Natal is practically clear OF the enc
my The Beers left some ambulances fun
Of sick and wounded. the mules being used
for transport purposes.
"Osfontein. March G.-Gatar-e occu-
pied Stormberg yesterday. Tbs lines Of
railway to the north and west ill be re-
paired. Clements is at JoUo'r-'- Siding.
one station beyond Colesber
An Osfontein correspondent, under to-
days date, says:
THE lnDiskilligs and New South Wales
Iancers made a reconnaissance yesterday
and found that the Beers had extended
their position. which is now over ten miles
long. with the river in the centre The
exact number OF Beers now confronting
the British is not known. but they are be
ing re-enforced every day"
General white interviewed.
The Morning Post" publishes the fol-
lowing interview with General White from
Winston Churchill. The despatch is dated
Durham. March 4. and reads as follows:
Il lately had the pleasure OF a corver-
cation with General Sir George White on
the defence Of Ladysmith. The general,
who seemed in good health, though worn
by anxiety and priyations, received me at
his house from the windows Of which he
has a complete view Of the defences,
stretching around n wide circumference
from one rocky hill 20 another and the
rrowninE profile Of Bulwano Mountain ris-
Ing beyond. He reminded me that he had
arrived scarcely ten days before the out
break Of the war. He had found certain
arrangements in progress to meet great
md rapidly approaching crisis. He had
full confidence in General Symons. who
was a soldier Of the highest ability. and
besides. a good. brave. fighting man Cen
eraI Symons proposed to hold Dundee and
Iadysmith and underrated the Beers abil-
ity.
General White who had Col. Ian Ham
ilton's experience in South Africa to fall
back upon. viewed the situation in a more
serious light. The story Of what followed
Is told in the blue books. Tae general de-
termlned to ask the opinion OF the Gov
ernor of Natal on the possible result or
abandoning Dundee. Thus appealed TO,
Sir W. Nealy- Hutchinson said that grave
consequences would result notably n ris-
ing OF the disloyal Dutch in the Kip coun-
try and perhaps elsewhere in Natal and
Zululand. Dundee was actually abandon
ed but the electrifying effect OF Glands
laagte. to some extent. ueutralized the re-
treat OF the British forces
Why He Held Ladysmith.
But though General White had doubts
whether he should attempt TO ho'd Dundee.
be had none about Ladysmirh This town.
he said. was the first main objective Of
the combined forces OF the TrausvaaI and
the Free state. Here the lines Of rai'way
met and here the Republics armies were
10 make their effective junction and score
their first great success. The capture NJ
Ladysmith. which the Beers never doubt
ed for a moment. was to be the sign for a
general rising Of the Natal Dutch. To in
sure success. 10000 men under command
Of General Joubert himself we're directed
against the town
General White said that he never wish
ed to abandon Ladysmith or withdraw be-
hind the Tugela River. Had he done so
he considered he would have been turned
by superior forces. and Piete-maritzburg
and not Ladysmth would ha, @ been the
scene OF defence and struggle for possess
sion. Ladysmith was an essential feature
OF the Dutch plan Of campaign. and their
cxasperation at not taking il provoked
them 10 devote all their energies TO the
siege instead Of ravaEing Natal. as they
would have done had General White occu-
pied a position OF less significance. al
though perhaps Of greater defensive
strength
Moreover. the amount Of military
stores IN the Ladysmith magazines. the
difficulty OF evacuatng the civil population
and OF helping in the Dundee column made
the abandonment OF Ladysmith after Cen
eral Whites arrival in Natal a physical
Impossibility.
Passing to the actual defence Of the
town. General White said, The Rour
knowledge. which we had dearly bought Of
the long-range Of the Boer guns. con-
WINGED me that II was imperative that we
should get guns to match them. The big
guns Of the Naval Brigade which were
brought up just before the Gordon closed
around rs. enabled us to meet them on
equal footing"
SCENES NEAR LADYSMITH.