The evening times., 1900-02-19
CR0NJES GREAT TREK.

The incomplete character of the news
at sea in regard to the situation on the
British as well the Boer side of the OPP
erations in progress. Barely stated. our
information today is that General CronJe
has outsprinted the divisions of Tucker
and y-Kenny, and is probably by this
time on the other side of Kip Pan, the
opening between the headwaters of the
Modder and of Kaal Spruit; thus fairly
within the defensive zone of Bloemfontein.
The dispatches indicate that Cronje's
transports suffered greatly in the retreat.
and that large quantities Of ammunition
and supplies and some guns have fallen
into the hands of the British. We do not
hear of any important captures of artii-
lery during the pursuit. but it is said
that large guns were abandoned at Ma
garsfontein. The unsatisfactory nature OF
the whole story, which, however, may be
unsatisfactory only because no full ac-
count has been sent out will at once
strike the professional mind. There is
one suggestion in the reports which ap-
pressed two days ago. namely, that
Cronje. seeing the ineyitability of retreat.
would move his guns and part of his
forces by the north of Kimberley to Bo-
shof. and there strike the northern road
to Bloemfontein. Now it is thought that
he may have done this, and that French is
after the detachment in question. AS
:; al
to the Beers in point of mobility, it is
possible that he may be able to infict
greater damage than his colleagues have
on the lower line. But it would not sur
prise us to learn that in neither direction
have the Beers been in the force assumed.
A close inspection of the news will serve
to show that uneasiness exists concerning
harassing attacks on Kitchener's right
flank, delivered by apparently independent
Boer commands, moving parallel with his
column to the south OF it. This may not
be anything serious. or IT may mean rep9-
tition of the customary Boer tactics to di-
vide the enemy's force and suddenly con-
centrate against its weakest unit In com
paratively open country such as Kitchener
and French are trayersing, the advantage
which the Beers have had in Griqualand
and Natal is greatly minimized. and. Oh the
other hand neither Lord Roberts nor
Lord Kitchener is a man to be easily
caught mapping AT the same time. the
anxious British public will feel easier after
the developments of the next few days, II
they should be OF an encouraging sort. 1t
cannot be doubted that at this moment
there is some apprehension in London that
while the main body OF Roberts army is
running after the Beers toward BloemfOn-
tein, the main body of Cronje's command
may be moving toward De Aar TO wreck
communications with the Cape.
As far as appearances 90 it seems that
Sir Redyers Butler is playing a good sec
ond hand to Roberts on the Tugela. He
has taken the hills TO the east of Chev-
eley, between that camp and Inhiawe
Mountain, preparatory, it is said, to as
sauting the latter. II is also reported
that Warren is engaging Joubert's right
centre again at Naal Krantz. Evidently
Butler is keeping his antagonist busy, and
perhaps is counting on an opening to reach
| Ladysmith. to be furnished by the with
drawal of a part of Joubert's army TO re-
enforce CroDje. II no accident happens TO
Roberts within the next three or four days,
and his advance up-country shall proceed
without serious check. it may be predicted
with some confidence that the siege OF
Ladysmith will be raised, and the theatre
of large operations transferred TO the CEN
trail field exclusively for some time TO
come.