The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-03-28
.INACTION ENDING.
British Troops Are Being
Pushed to the
Front.
MILNER AT BLOEMFONTEIN
Native Refugees Are Too Lazy
Even to Take Corn From
the Shells.
IBy Cable to The Associated Press.1

LONDON, March 49, 1900.-The British
High Commissioner, Sir Alfred Miner, ar
rived at Bloemfontein last night and was
met by Lord Roberts and his staff. Ac-
cording to despatch from the Orange
Free State capital, published in the sec
ond edition of the Times" the High
Commissioner visit is of a private ma
ture 1t is thought this can scarcely be
anything but an official subterfuge, the
question of the pacification of the Free
State and the treatment of the insur-
gents doubtless being discussed between
Lord Roberts and Sir Alfred Miner.
According to the same despatch, Cen
eral French, previous to returning to
Bloemfontein, occupied the flour mills
near Batter which are considered an i'm
portant acquisition.
Reports from Rouxville and other
towns say the surrender of arms to the
British continues satisfactorily.
General Clements column entered
Fauresmith Tuesday, March q, occupying
Jagersfontein on its way there. Magis-
trates were appointed, the proclamation
was read, bands of music met the troops
and flags were flown. The scenes resem-
bled the American occupation of Porto
Rican towns Among the spectators at
Fauresmith was President Steyn's daugh-
ter. Heavy rains made General Clements
march hard and are causing sickness
among the troops
despatch from Maseru, Basutoland,
dated Thursday, March 27, says the ap-
parently reliable reports that the Beers
are re-entering Ladybrand cause the pre-
sumption that the British troops have
Dan OH ~
wards Kroonstadt and that fight or sur
render near Ladybrand is imminent. AS
Maseru dispatches are not distinguished
for their accuracy and as the British
force near Ladybrand, under Colonel Pill
cher, is quite small, nothing very DEFINITE
seems likely to result from the opera
tions.
Further advices from Mafeking, dated
March 1G reiterate that all was well and
that the Gordon was not so tightly drawn,
the Beers allowing natives to pass
through their lines, which they had pre-
viously forbidden.
The native refugees are reported to be
| too stupid and lazy to work or take cover
from the shells. They gather in crowds
around the soup kitchens and have to be
driven away when the warning bell rings.
The bombardment, just previous to the
despatch being sent had been unusually
vigorous and it was added that it was
probable that before long the rations
would be still further reduced.
Two Boer prisoners escaped from the
camp at Sinlons Town, March rs. The
sickness there is unabated and many of
the prisoners are in a serious condition.
The only word from General Butler is
report of the officers who have recovered
from wounds and have returned to duty,
which includes the name of Lieutenant
John Churchill, brother of Winston
Churchill.
| A special despatch from Bloemfonstein
says
1.-THE period of inacton is coming to an
| end. Troops are being pushed to the
front and transports and stores are being
collected. The men are in grand condi-
tion and the horses are picking up won
| derfully.
However, the reports regarding the
| imminence of a forward movement are so
conflicting that this cannot be taken as
being in any way authoritative.