New-York tribune., 1900-04-23
WAR NEWS STILL VAGUE.
gUAIORS AND CONJECTURES BURDEN
THE SOUTH AFRICAN CABLES
fcopyrleht: 1900: BY The New-York TrIbune.I
TBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.1

fcopyrieht: 1900: BY The New-Yo-k Tribune.I
IBY CABLE TO THE TR1BUxEI
London. April -. a. rn-There was last night
the usual Sunday medley of ominous rumors and
confused conjectures from the theatre of war,
with a heavy budget Of mail correspondence on
minor incidents Of the period of mastery in
activity. The most serious news was the evil
dence from Boer sources that formidable prep
arations have been made 10 resist the advance
Of General Roberts's army. The Beers are
vaguely reported 10 have mounted sixty mine
guns at Kroonstad and to have constructed a
circuit Of defences eight miles long around Pre-
toria. It is a foregone conclusion that Pretoria
VII be vigorously defended, but the experts are
not prepared 10 accept evidence from Boer
source that Kroonstad has been strongly forti-
fed although the wisest among them hope that
the news is Kroonstad offers strong ad-
yantages for defence. but General Roberts. with
his vastly superior force turn the position
by either flank and compel its evacuation. with
a good chance Of inficting a decisive defeat
which will greatly impair the Boer resources
for repelling an attack upon Pretoria.
The Beers are reported as mastering every
man capable Of carrying a rife and taking
their ambulance corps into the fighting line.
They need all these reserves in order to justify
current estimates Of their available force. They
are alleged TO have from eight thousand to ten
thousand men in the district between Dewets-
dorp and Wepener, where heavy fighting is re-
ported Friday and Saturday. They are also
described occupying line ten miles long in
Upper Natal. and as shelng the British posi-
tions al Elandslaagte Saturday with un-
sbated spirit The motive OF this activity is not
clear but It is surmised that the Beers are
anxious 10 prevent the transfer Of British forces
from Natal 10 Bloemfontein and Boshof, which
apparently is still in progress.
The Beers have also been active Il front OF
General 1Tethuen and at Fourteen Streams and
Nafeking remains under Investment IF the
elastic estimates Of Boer forces are footed up
On aggregate is produced which upsets the rea-
sonable deductions from the census returns and
the casualties on the Dutch side. More careful
estimates allow twenty thousand Transvaalers
ard FIVE thousand Free Staters for active opera
tons all around. Experience has shown that
in ali South African reports the strength OF the
Dutch is grossly exaggerated.
The War Office was silent at midnight, and
the results Of BUNDLES advance toward Wepener
were not announced. although there little
reason 10 doubt that there had been serious
fighting Saturday. There We're details of Cen
erai Methuen's convoy fight Boshof. but
these did not materially alter previous ac-
counts
Dispatches from ST. Helena report that
French warshIp had been hOver.Ig about the
coast, but 10 importance was attached 20 the
matter
There IS evidence from Cape Town that a con-
centration Of British forces has been effected
On a much larger scale than has generally been
supposed. This information has been properly
held back by the censor. 1. y. F.