The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1900-06-02
REVIEW Of THE AFRICAN WAR
FROM THE SEAT OF THE WAR
Lord Roberts is Cnutious-Whole
Army Change Direction to the
Left-British Honor the Dend-A

London, May 2S.-Spencer Wilkinson,
reviewing the situation at the seat OF war
in South Africa for the Associated Press,
says:
Lord Roberts is keeping tight hand
on all kilograms in order not to disclose
his movements. After occupying Rhenos-
ter, he pushed his left wing at once toward
Parvs. where the Naal river was crossed
ON Thursday. The whole army seems to
have changed its direction to the left, as
General hamiltons right wing was to-
dav at Boschbank, half way from Parys
to the railway bridge at \iljoen's DRIFT,
which is being watched by Roberts
scouts. General Hamilton probably cross
ed the Vaal river today, assisted, II neces-
sary by march up the river OF the force
that crossed at Parys The whole force
probably win be across the Vaal by Sun
day afternoon. Johannesburg Will then
! be two marches distant
II suppose that Lord Roberts viii push
forward General Hamilton and perhaps
General French to turn the Beers, while
Generals Tucker and Pole-Carew will at
tack in front.
The Beers as usual must be enveloped
or go. Special efforts will be made to cut
oil their retreat, as Roberts is now de-
termined to capture them if possible. He
relies fully on General Hamilton, whose
combination of fire and prudence justi-
fes every confidence.
IF the Beers escape toward Pretoria,
Roberts will likely follow swiftly and be
at Pretoria in less than week.
The Beers say they have retaken
Hebron. General Roberts will neglect
that but will guard the railway, which, l
think he will not wait to repair before go
ing to Pretoria.
General Butler, at Laings Mex, is eight
or nine marches distant from Johannes
burg, supposing that the road Is clear
Roberts advance must make the Beers
at Nolksrust uneasy and so will facili
tate Buffers advance.
General Hunter, when at Mafeking
will be ii marches from Pretoria and II
is impracticable therefore for the Beers
to make any serious resistance at Pretoria
where, to wait, would mean to be hemmec
: in between three British armies.
e 1.-The Boer plan is to retreat to the Lyd
e enburg hills to postpone the catastrophe
l but the condition and strength of the
+ difficulty of securing supplies may com
e pei General Roberts to pause on the Naa
and repair the railway, thus giving tim
to General Butler ana General Hunter Il
invade the Transvaal. l fancy, however
= that Lord Roberts will prefer the bolde
course and try to end this war night now
J. MANY points i'll the recent operation
: are obscure. Thus the long pause O
% General Lyttleton at Sundays river AM
II the subsequent silence suggests that h
% may cooperate with General Rumble +
n finish the Free Staters' resistance. Their
=. has been no distinct report from Genera
= Methuen since that from Hoopstad. ii
# probably crossed the Vaal near Parys.
l. Lord Roberts marches in a very brOa
h front with his cavalry wing thrown fol
l. ward. General Butler probably can nc
N adopt the same plans in the rugged couI
D. try of northern Natal, but once Bull,
: is up the hills or on the table lands of til
h Transvaal he will be able to spread OF
re and move rapidly.
10 Lord Roberts has a wonderful powt
" of picking a special man for every speci'
m work Ian Hamilton, the brilliant gel
% eral was shot to pieces at Majuba in I'll
10 first war. Since then he has made a gre
ye mark in training the. Indian army
shoot straight, and was himself one of I'll
/ best officers in India
ss another able officer is Sir Henry Mel
n. olson, who was chief of staff to Gener;
Of Lockhard in Tierah. He is now runnin
h. all the transports for Geneml Robert
I'D whose army, since it reached Bloemfol
ii tein, has been well supplied. Nothin
shows the great commander more tina
ne his finding his men and giving them fr'
as hand. Roberts has incompatible das
IN and boldness, coupled with great circun
II, spection, hence expect rapid strides no
10 that the crisis is at hand"
e. Honors the Dead at Mafeking.
en- Mafeking, May 2S.-The entire garrisc
paraded to thanksgiving service. Colon
or Baden Powell addressed the men, saying
eve have been unable to fire a wolfe
is over the gmves of our killed, being fea
'e- full of drawing the fire of the enemy
O. guns"
w The garrison paid the last honors to t
dead, assembling in the graveyard al
bidding good bye to their fallen comrad'
Mafeking, May 2l.-The Beers to t
IT. south retired from Kunana,, 10 miles ca
le- of Martha, and are falling back furth