The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-14
FRENCH, ARRIVES
At BL0ENF0N.TE|IN. N. T
British General at Steyn's.
Capital
.BRITIANs sGOFOR.N7ARD
Lord Roberts Forces Expected Soon
to. Enter the City.
METHUEN OCCUPIES PESHOF.
TeIesrams Received in London Indi-
cate That Matekins Has Been Re-
licvcd-Coloncl Plumcr is Now
Reported ut LaDatsi-Britisl
Advance and Beers Fall
BRITIANS SGOFOR:WARD
Lord Roberts Forces Expected Soon
to- Enter the City.
mETHuEN OCCUPIES PEsH0F.

ss - =
Back.
LONDON, March 14.-4:SO A. M.-No-
thing can be said of the advance on
Bloenf ontein beyond Lord Roberts own
dispatches. Nothing more has been per-
n1itt.,d to come through. Doubtless Lord
Roberts himself is fully occupied with
important military operations.
The dispatch from Cape Town saying
that General French has arrived at
Bloemfontein," probably does not mean
that he has entered the city.
Lord Roberts messages may moan
either that the Beers have cut the rail
way to the north or that the British cav
airy have done SO. If the former, then IT
may be assumed that no rolling stock has
been seized but by general assumption
the latter interpretation Is regarded as
correct This would greatly facilitate OBJ
tanning supplies from Orange River, an
important matter, as Lord Roberts line OF
ccn,nunica ton, with the Modder. River is
now one hundred and ten miles long.
A FIERCE FIGHT.
DREIFONTEIN, ORANGE FFaBE
STATE, Sunday, March 11.-General ROD
erts advance yesterday across the scorch-
ing plains from Poplar Grove to this
place. was marked by the most severe
engagements since crossing the AIodder
river The Boers stubbcrnly contested
every foot of ground, only fleeing at
dusk, when Lord Roberts threw most OF
his troops against the centre OF their
weakened line
At the point where Col. Broadwood
turned : the Boer left, he found hlmseif
under the fire of their nine-pounder. Inc
Beers, however. ultimately holsted the
p,tite flag. When Col. Broadwood advanc-
al he was surprised to find the Beers
Rad taken advantage of the cessation OF
fire to escape in the darkness. The Trans
yaal prisoners showed they We're entlrely
surprised by Lord Roberts tactics.
Free Slater. whose house President
Kruger occupied during the Boer fight
from Osfontein, said he complained to
the President about the derredatlons OF
Transvaalers, whereupon the Presloent
replied: NJ. ,,,oh
!,No wonder we are beaten The nusn-
ers entered into the war 10 nSht ioI q
,r;o9,teous cause. but now they have
developed into horse and cattie slehi-
ers.''
ATTITUDE OF FRANCE.
PARIS March $3.50 P. MA repre-
resenta tive of the Associated Press has
sec,,red from a responsible nlouthp!ece OF
the French Government, a statement o.
FRANCES attitude on intervention IN tne
Anglo-Transvaal war, which, 1t IS sa1o'
has been solicited by President Kruger.
The official In question SAID:
We believe it is true the Transvaal
has sent request to the Powers Tor tnelr
intervention though UP to this mornins'
President Kruger's message has not
reached us. AS far as France IS con-
cerned, she certainly Will not take ,the
Initiative in offering England meolatloIl'
nor will Russia, for the dual alliance is
naturally working together in this ques-
:Ion. We feel that in the present ex-
cited state of public feeling an England.
and especially as regards ourselves. any
step taken by the French Government
would defeat its own object. We con-
slider that overtures for mediation can
emanate from some pows4 whose cor
dial relations with England prevent such
a suggestion being construed as an un-
friendly act. The Emperor of Germany
for instance, might take the initiative,
or President Mckinley, without the fear
of creating the friction which stands in
the way Of any such action on our part.
RAILWAY SEIZED.
LONDON, March 13.-IIord Roberts tel
egraphs from Venters Vlei at 5:2O o'clock
this morning as follows:.
81 directed General French if there
was time, to seize the railway station
at Bloomfontein and thus secure the roll
ing stock At midnight / received a re-
port from him that after considerable op-
position he had been able to occupy two
hills close ITO the railway station which
command Bloomfontein.
"a brother Of President Steyn made a
prisoner.
1.-The telegraph line leading northward
has been cut and the railway broken up.
I am now starting with the Third cav
airy brigade, which I called up from the
Seventh division. near Petersburg, and
the amounted infantry to reinforce the
cavalry division. The rest of the divis-
ion will follow; as quickly as possible"
The War Office has received the follow
ing additional dispatch from Lord Roberts,
at Venters Vlei, dated March 18th, 9:3O
p. M: s.s.9l
.Our march was again unopposed. We
are now about eighteen miles from
Bloenfontein The cavalry division is
astride ftfle railway six miles south of
Bloemfontein. There were aA men
wounded and about sixty or seventy were
killed or are missing.
Colonel Unpholy has died of his
wounds lieutenant Pratt. of the! Essex
Regiment, was wounded severely. The
wounded, as rule. more serious than
usual, owing to the expanding bullets.
which are freely used by the Beers
r The Beers may make another fight
but there is little doubt that Lord
Roberts will occupy Bloemfontein to-day
s(wednesday). The Beers retiring from
Orange River will find themselves be-
tween the British armies, and they are
almost bound to fall into the hands Of
the British, while the occupa ton of
$Bloemfontein will strain the alliance OF
the twoarepublics to the u utmost.
There will be no elimination Of meas