Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-05-12
Mobility Of the Beers
AmaZes Their Opponents

New York, May IA dispatch to
the Tribune from London says:
A significant item of intelligence has
been received from Cape Town. The
Express correspondent In that city says
IL is asserted on good authority that
General Hunter has been sent to Kim |
berley to command a strong column
intended for the relief of Mafeking. 1t
will include Bartons Fusileer Brigade,
which has lately been brought round
from Natal and strong contingent of
horses and guns.
The Times correspondent in Bloem
fontein gives some interesting par
ticulars respecting the manner in
which many Free Staters have abused
the leniency and clemency hitherto
shown to them by Lord Roberts in the
capital itself. A secret society was
formed to maintain communications
with the Boer commands and to pro-
mote the re-armament Of the burgh-
ers. The existence of the conspiracy
was gradually brought to light, and
the Field Marshal has made up his
mind that in the future conspirators
must be punished.
The mobility of the Boer force must
be something uncanny II all accounts
are worthy of credence, for they are
reported as arriving at Brandfort on
Friday night from Wepener and De-
wetsdorp; as retiring to Ladybrand
and returning to Thabanchu on Sat-
urday, and as holding their ground in
strong force in front of General
French on Sunday. The British man
euvers are equally mysterious. A gen.
eral advance northward is described as
impending, yet French is alternately
described as harassing the enemy with
artilley fire and cavalry skirmishing
and as thwarting General De Vets
efforts to turn the British flank. Gen.
eral French has four infantry brigades
and large cavalry force, and clear
ly must have some motive for hating
at Thabanchu and playing with the
Beers, instead of vigorously attacking
them.
The advance northward cannot be
undertaken until the force east Of Tha-
banchu has been dispersed, yet for
three or four days there has been skir-
mishing with the Beers rear guard,
until 1t has been reinforced from Lady
brand. II Generals Brabant and Hart
are moving northward from Wepener
to Ladybrand, these dilatory tactics
are Ineligible, since General French
in that case would have an adequate
motive for holding and amusing the
Boer force at Thabanchu. The distance
is fifty miles and there is reason to be-
lieve that this march has been under
taken, although there is no direct
proof. With Ladybrand occupied by
General Hart, General De Vets retreat
eastward would be cut off and General
French would be in position for At
lacking De Vets commands. and fol-
lowing them northward.
The situation as far as 1t could be
made out at midnight, was essentially
unchanged. Three divisions of Lord
Roberts army were available for a
direct advance upon Brandfort by the
railway from Bloemfontein; two cav
airy brigades and the mounted infan-
try divisions were at Thabanchu with
the Eighth and Ninth divisions; the
third division was within supporting
distance of Dewtesdorp and Generals
Brabant and Hart were either at Wep-
ener or on their way to Ladybrand
The indications still seemed to point
to a turning movement from Thaban-
chu northward to the Vet river with
the Sixth, Seventh and Ninth Divisions
| cooperating near the railway line.
Lord Roberts secrets, however, are so
well kept that forecasts are of little
value.
Experienced soldiers say that Lord
Roberts will secure the southern sec
Of hn 10 In % Ii,t
operations by drawing a Gordon across
the country and permanently occupy
ing Sannan's Post, Thabanchu and
Ladybrand and that he will then push
on as rapidly as possible for the Vaal
river, knowing that Steyn's men will
not fight in the Transvaal and that the
strength of the Dutch forces will be
heavily reduced.
The Boer army Is well led and shows
no signs of abandoning the struggle.
It's generals have recovered from the
panic caused by Paardeberg and have
demonstrated their ability to impede
the advance of the British army and
harass 1t on the flank without exposing
their commands to serious risk of
capture.
A private dispatch from Mafeking
confirms the previous reports that the
garrison was going strong" at the
middle of this month. General Car
rlngton's force is already either head
Ing for or arriving at Marandellas,
| twenty-five miles from Salisbury. 1t is
a far cry from Marandellas to Mafe-
king. What General Hunters division
will do after leaving Kimberley Is one
of Lord Roberts secrets, and Sir Red
vers Buffers future work in Natal is
another.
A fresh outburst of reproaches from
the Ameer of Afghanistan against the
British Government tends to confirm
the suspicion that Russian intrigues
are in progress.