New-York tribune., 1900-05-13
"BOBS" IN THE SADDLE.

The famous Rough Rider Of Afghanstan is
repeating his exploits in South Africa. His
northward rush from the Orange capital toward
the Transvaal capital rivals his ride from Cabul
to kandahar. With headquarters in a cable
cart" and that cart moving forward twenty
miles day through the enemy's country, and
through that very part of the enemys country
which was to be stubbornly held against him,
he is making something suspiciously like a
record march. There thonght that after
his first rush from Bloemfonten he might stop
for breath at Brandfort or, if not there at
Winburg or, if not there, surely at the Zand
River. But no. He kept right on TO Kroonstad,
reaching that place early yesterday afternoon.
and there is not the slightest assurance that he
will stop there. If neither rivers nor mountains
check his progress. and if the Beers are aban-
doning their fortfications before him, it may not
be long before he is on the Rand.
There appear to be no other places in the
Orange State where the Beers will have a better
hope of making a successful stand than at
Kroonstad. There are 10 hills in the road
higher than, or indeed as high as those which
Lord Roberts has just passed between the Zand
and Nalsch rivers. The only river is the Rhe-
noster, which is scarcely as big as the Valsch
and not as big as the Zand. If the Beers could
not hold these latter there is little ground for
tAptc1DS t1eu III ulhht any important StaDu
south of the Naal
More important even than the capture of
Kroonstad is the official statement from Gen
eral Roberts that the allies have divided,
the burghers of the Free State despite Presi-
dent Steyn's entreaties retiring to the noun
famous districts on the eastern border Of
the Free State, declining to leave their own
homes TO follow the Transvaalers northward
across the Vaal. The Transvaal Beers on the
other hand, have abandoned their Free State
allies and retired precipitately across the river
| 10 the northern republic. This sudden division
portends in all probability the speedy collapse
of the campaign of organized resistance to the
British advance
Such is the state of affairs which will con-
front the Boor envoys TO this country on their
arrival here. 1t can scarcely be described as
encouraging to them. Upon the top of it comes
Mr.. Chamberlain's pretty explicit statement con-
ceTning the post-bellum disposition of the Roer
States; to wit, that their independence will be
wholly abolished ard that they will he made
Crown colonies pending their manifestation of
fitness for the rank of self governing colonies
which manifestation, it is to be hoped. and with
reason, will not be long delayed. There need
he no feeling of surprise at this announcement
OF the British programme. 1t is just about what
the most discreet observers have all along
expected; and, indeed. from the British point of
view, it is about the only possible arrangement
TO be made AS for those who try to make Mr.
Chamberlain the scapegoat of their indignation,
and say that Lord Salisbury would never have
dealt thus with the Beers. they may read their
answer in the Prime Minister'S speech before
| the Primrose League. For resoluteness per-
| haps impacability, even truculence if you will
| II rivalled the most aggressive utterance of the
| Colonial Minister and made it entirely clear
| that-as every one should have realized from
! the outset-the two have been in perfect accord
at every stage of the South African business.
Nevertheless, there is much in the reminder
| offered by a writer in The Cornhll Magazine
that the splendid loyalty of Canada. even of the
| French Catholic Canadians. to the British EN-
| pire is q monument to the wisdom of the liberal
| and conciliatory policy pursued by General Muir
| ray. Sir Guy Carleton and. above ALL Lord Dur
| ham, 70 transform the Boer States into another
| Quebec would be worthy deed; and if there be
reluctance on the part of some ultra imperialist
| a descendant of those who burned the Parlia-
! ment House at Montreal In their too Jealous
| loyalty, it is only TO be remembered that with
| all the generosity shown TO il there has never
| been any question of Quebec's being as much
| an integral part Of the empire as Ontario or
| Nova Scotia. Generosity to the Boer States
| might work as well in that respect as in the
other.