New-York tribune., 1900-09-09
RoBERTS'S WORK DONE.
FINAL STAGES OF THE WAR IN SOUTH
AFRICA
APPROACH OF THE GENERAL. ELECTIONS
IN ENGLAND-THE FALL. OF LYDENBERC.
lCopyright; 1900: BY The New-York Tribune
BY CABLE TO THE TRrBrNr1

[BY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.I
London. Sept. 9. l a m-An rumors from
CHINA during the last twenty-four hours having
oeen trihes light air, public attention has
been centred upon the favorab BILE news from the
Iransvaal, where progress has been made in
the direction Of a dissolution of Parliament
Inc occupation Of Lydenberg by Buffers army
with the scattering Of Botha's forces east and
north. implies the loss Of the most important
strategic position held by the Beers since the
evacuation Of Pretoria. The Boer forces are
still in the field but they have left several guns
behind them, and can no longer be said to have
a centre Of regular defensive warfare. The only
remaining objective point in Lord Roberts's
campaign is Koomatipoort which can be occu-
pied after the railway line has been cleared
eastward from Waterfall and Machadodorp.
Otherwise little remains to be done except the
gradual suppression Of the raids conducted by
small bands Of Boer guerillas and the capture of
the leaders The presence OF Lord Roberts will
not be necessary for police work of this kind,
and a fresh series Of his dispatches published
from the War Office confirms the forecasts Of
political experts respecting his retirement from
the front and the speedy dissolution Of Parlia-
ment
Il General Botha has gone into the woods and
Presidents Kruger and steyn are seeking
refuge in neutral territory. Lord Salisbury and
next month the register compiled a year
ago. which VIII exclude occupiers and Iodgers
qualified since July. 1898. This VIII be sharp
practice in politics. but viii be justified by the
necessities Of the situation Rumors are current
in the political clubs that Lord Roberts Will
leave Pretoria at the end OF this month and
sail for England. after making short haIts at
Bloemfontein and Cape Town, and that the
elections will occur soon after his arrival
These reports are not confirmed at the War Of
fee, nor from any trustworthy source Equally
irresponsible are the rurnor mongers who have
been naming the dates for elections, when Lord
Salisbury is silent in the Vosges and Arthur
BRlfour IS playing golf at North Berwick.
Experts who are following closely the details
Of the campaign assert that General Buffers
cavalry viii probably advance TO Pilgrims Rest
in order TO capture the stores which have been
accumulated there. and that Lydenberg will
then be left under charge Of a strong garrison.
The remaining troops under his command will
then be free 10 march eastward TO Koonatipoort-
KRUGER. Steyn and Reitz are reported TO be on
the railway line east of Nelspruit with q train
which can run into Portuguese territory in the
course Of four7 or five hours. There is a Boer
camp al Barberton. but there are few guns
there The entire Boer force in the Eastern
Transvaal probably does not exceed five thou
sand, and II cannot be readily concentrated.
Veterans are at loss to understand how the
Boer campaign can be prolonged beyond the
end Of this month, unless some unexpected re-
verse TO British arms occurs near Pretoria OF
johannesburg I -. r.