The evening times., 1900-03-05

LONDON, March 5.-A despatch from
Osfontein. dated March 5, says;
The cavalry OF General French, forming
the advance guard OF Lord Roberts march
toward BIoemfontein. is being sturdily op-
posed in its progress eastward. An at
tempt was made this morning to oust
force of the enemy, occupying strong po-
sition within four miles Of this place, bat
after the exchange Of rifle shots and the
receipt OF a half dozen 4-pounder shells
from the Beers. General French retired.
A larger force is now going forward. and
hard fighting is expected.
The Beers are concentrating at the
junction Of the Kaalspruit at the Modder
River on a farm called Abraham's KraaL
General Joubert is in command and is re-
ported to have between 12,0 600 and 5000
men in his fOrces- The position offers
great natural opportunities for defence, u
series OF small hills permitting Of forti-
fication and commanding the passage east.
II is about thirty-ive miles northwest Of
Bloemfonten. The gathering of this force
show that the British will not be permit
ted 10 reach Bloemfonleln without OppO-
sition. The Beers are in many comman-
does, all mounted. and OF such an ex-
tremely mobile character that they appear
10 be Overrunning the country. southwest
and north.
The Beers are stiI entrenched and
were addressed by President Steyn, who
exhorted them to avenge Cronje and fight
for their homes. 1t is expected that Lord
Roberts will send a strong force to the
south to head of the Beers who have left
the vicinity OF Rensburg and who are at
Stormberg so they cannot join the Beers
in the neighborhood of Abrahams Kraal
and Bloemfontein."
4 Bloemfontein despatch says: The
Beers are reported as falling back on Big
garsberg but British information is that
they are going in the opposite direction,
toward the passes Of the Drakensberg
Mountains into the Orange Free State If
the Beers do go toward the Biggardsberg
range they will find there a heavy force Of
mounted English sent by Butler through
Zululand to intercept them at the north"
Alleged Peace Oycrtures.
despatch to the Times from Lou
renco Marques. Of yesterdays date, says:
1T Is persistently rumored that the Trans
vaal Government has made overtures for
peace. On the other hand, it is asserted
that the Beers propose to make a stand at
Glencoe and Laings Mex. Meanwhile the
entertainments at Pretoria have been ex-
tended in anticipation Of a siege.
The conference between Presidents
Kruger and Steyn and the general ccm-
manding the Beers in northern Natal was
eral CrOnje's surrender was received. All
official confirmation Of the surrender,
which took place on Tuesday morning. was
withheld from the public until Thursday
night. The Johannesburg Standard and
Diggers News" of Friday morning even
made a feeble attempt to ridicule the ru-
mors Of defeat
President Kruger telegraphed a fervid
religious appeal TO the Boer troops which
al officers and men were ordered 10 read.
He urged the burghers 70 stand fast and
strive for victory in the name OF the Lord.
He told them that unless they had faith
tn God cowardice would ensue aud their
position would be hopless the moment they
turned their backs to the enemy. Past
victories he said. showed that the Lord
was on their side. The President Of the
Transyaal urged the men not to bring de-
struction on their progeny by falling back
a high official in Bloemfontein, Orange
Free State. informed Boer correspondent
that If the Free Staters now confronting
Lord Roberts are repulsed they will retire
toward the Transvaal anf that the united
brethren Of the two republics will main
tain the struggle to the last
The Beers return their casualties at
Colenso. during the week ending February
25, as thirty-one killed and 130 wounded"