The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-24
Gllmpses of the Campaign.


fore our advance guard"
GlImpses of the Campaign.
NEW YORK. April 17-(Afternoon
Service.)-A dispatch to the Tribune
from London says:
Ladysmith dispatches confirm the
report that the Beers have retired from
the Glands Laagte district to their Big
garsberg positions. No raiding opera
cions southwark have been reported,
and it is now clear that the Boer ad-
vance was ordered for the sake of en-
ploying the burghers on active duty
and OF checking desertions. The Brit
Ish inactivity in one sense is mastery,
since 1t demoraliZes the enemy.
Sir Redyers Buffers scouts have re-
reported that the Beers have wrecked
the engine house and shafts of three
golfers by heavy charges of dynamite
These wanton attacks upon private
property have been characteristic of
the Dutch campaign. South Africans
explain them on the theory that the
Beers are aware that claims for dam
ages to property in Natal and Cape
Colony, which will be presented after
the war, can never be assessed against
the farmers of the two common
wealths. but will be liquidated by the
mine owners of the Rand. According
ly the Beers feel at liberty to infiict as
much damage as possible, since the
indemnity will come out of the min
ing industry of the Rand in the form
OF taxation based on the profits OF the
companies. The theory is correct with
out doubt that Johannesburg will gay
the piper wher the war Is over. Meth
er Pretoria nor Bloemfontein has re-
sources for liquidating war indemni-
ties and bills for damages.
An official bulletin issued at Pretoria
contains a survey of the military situ-
| alton in the various sections and i'm
| plies that there is activity all along
| the line. The Boer offiSials evidently
| find 1t necessary TO convey the i'm
preston to their own people that the
| Dutch forces have not disbanded, but
| are actively employed at various
| points. The only fresh claim of vic
| tory in This dispatch is report that
| General Froneman has defeated Brit
ish column and driven it across the
| Orange river. There is no confirma-
tion OF this story from Britists ssources
and. on the contrary, the attack on
Col. Dalsety's force near Wepener has
slackened and there are persistent ru-
mors that General Brabant has reliev-
ed the garrison after defeating the
| Beers. General Brabant is on the
way to Wepener with strong mount
ed force and reinforcements from Ma
tai are behind him. General Cherm
side with a full division, is also NOV
ing east from ReddeTsburg and tht
Beers may be caught in a corner some
where in the southwestern section o
the Free State.
The general situation at Bloemfon
tein is unchanged. Military experts
here do not expect an advance north
ward for a week or ten days, since
Lord Roberts is waiting for large ship
ments of horses, which have barely ar
rived at Cape Town. They are ais
convinced that General Butler will re
main on the defensive and not attacl
Biggarsberg until the enemy's :orc'
has been drawn off by Lord Roberts
invasion of the Transvaal. 1t is con
sIdsred probable that Generals Hunte
and Brabant will work their wav nj
20 Wepener and Ladybrand, and ii
this way protect Lord Roberts line o
communications.
On the Eve of Advance.
LONDON, April 17.-(Afternoon Ser
vice AT last Roberts seems to be oil
the eve of making his main advance
towards Pretoria. Unless all the usua