The sun., 1900-06-20
IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The news from both sides Is coming In very
slowly, but from what is flltering out through
Lorenzo Marques. Lord Roberts has made an
effort TO induce the Beers TO lay down their
arms and without success. II they have heard,
a. they no doubt have. OF the complications
in the Far East the leaders have an additional
incentive TO continue the war. In the hope OF
extortng better terms later than the British
Government Is willing to grant now. Accord
ing TO the accounts from tho Boer side their
commandos are falling back slowly before the
British. destroying the bridges. burning the
veldt and carrying awny everything In the
shape Of cattle and provisions that can be OF
use TO the enemy. They are also said to have
an abundance Of ammunition. and to be pre-
pairing for general trek into the mountains
Of the Lydenburg district which. along with
the Barberton and and Zoutpansbers districts
were designated from the beginning OF the war
as places Of refuge In the event OF defeat. The
Barberton district In particular is OF great I'm
portanoe on account OF Its gold mines which
are still being worked by the Beers. while the
others are capable OF being held almost indef-
initely by we'll armed and active body OF men
against much superior numbers. 1t seems
therefore as If the Far Eastern complications
are likely to afford the Beers the chance OF
which they stood so badly In need when all
the Governments to which they appealed re-
fused TO intervene on their behalf. Lord
Roberts will Of course press the campaign all
the more vigorously for the same reasons that
give the Beers enooura ragement to persevere In
their resistance. SO that We cannot DO long with
out interesting news to indicate how matters
are likely to 60.
Gen. Butler ls apparently stu in the neigh
borhood Of Laings Mex. the tunnel under
which Is again clear. as train passed through
II on Monday afternoon. One of his divisions
has occupied wakkerstoom. but with what
motive Is not stated. It may be Intended to
advance into the Barberton district. to which
a road runs by Luneburg. Derby anG other
places. close TO the Swaziland border. In any
case II appears certain that Gen. Butler Is not
yet In q condition to make an Immediate ad-
vance In cooperation with Lord Roberts. There
Is nothing OF importance from the Free State
except the repulse Of an attempt by Boer
commando to cut the British communioa-
tions at the Zand River south OF Kroonstad.
The political situation In Cape Colony Is not
improved by the constitution OF Sir Gordon
Spriggs's Cabinet, which contains four partisans
OF Mr.. Cecil Rhodes out OF Ave members.
while the Parliamentary majority Is in SYM
pathy with the Afrik ander Bond II Is peril
nenty pointed out that a suspension Of their
Constitutional rights without their consentwould
amount to release OF the Dutch Afrikanders
from their allegiance to the British Crown. and
Justify them In any action they might take
to recover them or to throw It of altogether.
The destruction Of a railway bridge at
Hector Spruit fifteen miles west Of Koomati-
poort will prove a serious inconvenience 10 the
Beers. The act Is probably the work OF some
pro- British sympathizers as the blowing up Of
the Begbie Works at johannesburg was be-
lieved TO be.