The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-03
NOTHING DEFINITE YET DONE
BOERS MUST BE EXPELLED FROM
THE COUNTRY SURROUNDING
THABA N,CHU
SOME DEsULTORY SKIRM1sH1NG
Beers Seem Sufficiently Strong to
Effect Retreat If They So De-
sIre-New Peace RumOFs
A6Oat.

LONDON May 3-The main objective
of Lord Roberts is to establish line Of
British forts from one frontier of the
Free State to the other, at right angles
to the railway, thus preventing Boer raids
southwark. 1t is thus important that the
Beers should be expelled from the rugged
country of Thaba N'Chu and be forced to
retire TO Ladybrand.
After desultory firing Monday and
Tuesday the Beers were pushed back a
few miles, but nothing definite yet ap-
pears to have been accomplished. The
Beers continue their harrassing tactics.
The enemy nearly captured a convoy
Tuesday, but they were driven of after
a brisk fight.
Preparations for an advance continue
at Kimberley Sir Alfred Miner has
written to the mayor of Kimberley assur-
ing him that the relief of Mafeking has
not ceased to occupy his attention and
that OF the military authorities, and that
nothing will be left undone to raise the
siege at the earliest possible moment.
The British garrisons along the railway
toward Warrenton have been strength
ened, and supplies are going forward. A
mounted force has gone to Barhly West
In consequence of the Beers having oc-
cupied Windsorton. A thousand Beers
threaten the COMMUNICATIONS between
Boshof and Kimberley.
Mala, chief of the Taungs, has informed
the British that the Beers are preparing
to resist their advance at Phikowani,
twenty miles north of WaTenton
A correspondent at Lourenzo Marques
cabled Tuesday that a large portion of
the investing force at Mafeking has been
withdrawn.
Gen. Butler continues quiet. The Beers
say they are delaying an attack upon
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 Roberts, Pres
ident Kruger is now again seeking peace.
The Boer commissions departure from
Holland for the United States is for the
purpose of converting American ideas to
the Boer side of the war. The Daily
News says:
"Men who control in the United States
are not likely to accept the views the
commission is prepared to place before
them"
BOERS CAN RETREAT
The Morning Post has the following
from Winston Church, dated Thaba
NChu, May Q:
when Gen. Dickson retired in the cir
cumstances, related in my last dispatch,
his own mess cart and the brigade water
carts fell into the hands of the enemy,
and his rear guard was heavily fired
upon. This retreat compromised Gen.
Hamilton who therefore collected his
forces and fell back warily into Thaba
NChu, after sharply checking the ad-
Vancing enemy with musketry and artil-
lery fire. Although much ammunition
was expended on both sides, the losses
were insignificant, the firing being at
great range. The result is that If the
Beers are willing to retreat it is impos-
sible for the present force to interfere
with them on their way
INTERESTING LETTERS.
The BIoemfontein correspondent of the
Morning Post, telegraphing Tuesday, says:
I'VE have captured two interesting let
ters The first is from Steyn to Botha,
and complains of the imperfect defense
of Kroonstad by commanders who are
accused of 1o0ting grain which causes
ill-feelng among the Free Staters.
Steyn concluded by declining to be re-
sponsible for the loyalty of the Free
Staters unless a guarantee is given of
the Transvaal's intention to protect
KroOnstad. The second is a letter from
Kruger to the commander at Fourteen
Streams Kruger declares that it is i'm
possible 10 SenU TelnIOTceInSntS the COLI
mandant asked for, as all the federal
forces are required at their present posi-
tons, but he declared the federals are
gaining great victories, and that Euro
pean Intervention is only a question of
days"
Mr. Spencer Wilkinson, commenting
upon the foregoing letters, says:
'They show that the military resources
of the Beers are Strengthened. The enc
my have no reserve of men. That being
the ease, we can only wish that the Brit
ish advance should begin. The interests
of the empire and financial reasons de-
mand that the war should be concluded
as speedily as possible"
BOER PEACE ENJOYS.
THE HAGUE, May 2.--After farewell
visits to Ministers Pierson and De Beau
fort the Boer delegates started this
afternoon for Rotterdam, on their way
to the United States. A great crowd at
the station bade them farewell Floral
tributes reached the delegates from all
parts Of the country. A committee Of the
South African union presented the dele
gates with silver palm, as an emblem
of peace. Hymns were sung by the school
children gathered at the station and
Messrs. Fischer and Wolmerans made
short speeches thanking the populace for
the kindly reception extended to them
by "a people united to them by bonds of
race and religion"
Regarding their visit to the United
States, the envoys made an authoritative
statement to the Associated Press cor
respondent They knew nothing OF their
probable offfcia! reception, they said. he.
yond the press reports, but hoped to
awaken popular sympathy In America and
aid in bringing about the close of the
war. They would not say on what terms
peace proposals would be received by the
Beers.
ESCAPED BOER PRISONERS
LOURENZO MARQUES, Nav 2.-The
French steamer Cortalis picked up at sea
oft Table bay, twelve Beer prisoners
escaped from Simons Town. They were
in an open boat with but few provisions
The Cortelas landed them here and they
have gone on to Pretoria.
TROOPS IN FINE SHAPE.
BLOEMFONTEIN, May 2-Eariy this
morning Gen. Pole-Carew's division, COM
posed of Gems. Stevens and Pages
brigades, with artillery left Bloemfon-
tein Lord Roberts, with Lady Roberts
and their daughter, reviewed the division
IN the market place. While marching out