Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-05-10
ROBERTS INTENTION.
&c Will Establish 4 Line Of Brit
ish Posts to Prevent Boer Raids.
Beers STILL HARASS The BRITISH.


London, May 3.-The immediate
objective Of Lord Roberts is to es
tablish a line Of British posts from
one frontier of the Free State to the
other at right angles with the rail
way, thus preventing Boer raids
southwark. II is essential, there
fore, that the Beers should be ex-
PEELED from the rugged Thaba N'Chu
district and be forced to retire to
Ladybrand. AS the result of the
desultory firing Monday and Tuesday
the Beers were pushed back few
miles, but nothing definite appears
to have yet been obtained. The
Beers continue to follow their harass-
ing tactics One well-horsed com
mando, operating in the neighbor-
hood of Sannas post, interferes with
the British conveys going from
BlOemfontein to Thaba N'Chu. The
enemy nearly captured a convoy
Tuesday, but they were driven off
after brisk fight.
Preparations for an advance con-
tinue at Kimberley. Sir Alfred Mil
ner has written to the mayor of
Kimberley assuring him that the re-
lief of Mafeking has not ceased to oc-
cupy his attention and that of the
military authorities and that moth
ing will be left undone to raise the
siege at the earliest possible mo-
ment.
The British garrlsons along the
railway toward Warrenton have been
strengthened and supplies are going
forward. A mounted force has gone
to Barkly West in consequence of
the Beers having occupied Windsor
ton. A thousand Beers threaten the |
communications between Boshof and
Kimberley
Malala, chief of the Taungs, has
Informed the British that the Beers
are preparing to resist stheir attack
et Phikowani, 20 miles north Of War
sen.
A correspondent Mt Lourenzo Mar-
ques cnbled Tuesday that a large part
OF the investing force ut Mafeking
has been withdrawn. Gen. Butler
continues quiet. The Beers assert
that they are delaying an attack up
on him in the hope that all the
horses of the British will die of
horse sickness.
According to a correspondent of
the Daily Telegraph with Lord Rob-
erts President Kruger is again ask
ing peace terms.
Letters Of Kruger and Steyn.
London, May 3.-The Bloemfon-
tein correspondent of the Morning
Post. teleGraphinQ Tuesday. says:
I'VE have captured two interesting
letters. The first, which is from
Steyn to Botha, complains of the neg
lect of the defense of Kroonstad by
there who are described
rs occupied in looting the grain dis
tricts,' which causes an increase of
III feeling among the Free State
burghers.' Steyn concluded by de-
,lining to be responsible for the 10y
llty Of the Free Stoters unless a
guarantee is given of the Transvaals
to protect Kroonstad The
'econd is u letter from Kruger to the
at Fourteen Streams.
Kruger declares that It is impossible
% send the reiniorcements the COM
nandant asked for, since all the fed
'ral forces are required at their pres
mt posts, but he declares that the
ederals are gaining great victories
md that European Intervention is
My a question of days"
Mr.. Spenser Wilkinson, comment
ng upon the foregoing letters, says;
They show that the military re-
ources Of the Beers are Strengthened.
The enemy has no reserve of men.
That being the case, we can only
Wish that the British advance should
'egin. The interests of the empire
md financial reasons demand that
he war should be concluded as {
peedily as possible"