Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-05
Movements of His Army Shrouded
in Mystery.
IN TOUCH WITH 4 BOER FORCE
Rumors of Peace Proposals Come
From Durham.
B RIT1SH WAR BUDG EFT

LONDON, March 5.-The air of mystery
which covers the movements of the main
British army in South Africa continues,
though what information leaks through in
dicates that the campaign Is being carried
on with steady progress. There are now
practically three British armies in the field,
one in the Free State, one in Cape Colony
and the other IN Natal. All that is known
about the first, and most important is that
it is in close touch with q body of Beers
estimated to number about 5000 men.
Speculation as to the direction and method
OF General Roberts advance into the Free
State is quite worthless, so carefully are
the plans concealed.
In Cape Colony Generals Brabant and
Clements command the two horns of the
army, while General Gatacre holds the
main Boer force in check. Generals Cat
acre and Clements will probably combine
and advance on Bloenlfontein, with General
Brabant guarding the right flank with the
mobile colonials- This movement will be
subsequent to securing a line of communt-
cation along the lines Of the Free State
railroads, which, according to the latest
dispa tches. seems almost accomplished.
The third army, that in Natal, is COM
paratively inactive and, with the excep-
ton of sorties. a serious movement can
hardly be expected from 1t this week. When
It will be ready to advance its movements
tance the retreating Beers put between
themselves and Gen. Butler.
Pretoria the Objective.
AS an incident of the British main OBJ
tective, which at last is clearly outlined as
Pretoria, the relief of Mafeking by force
from the south may be expected any day,
Col Plumer's force, on the north, seeming
Incapable of accomplishing it.
The unexpected activity of the Cape
Dutch and the reported likelihood of fight
ing between them and the Basutos. aided
by other tribes having grudge against the
Beers, is regarded as rather ominous
The only other untoward phase of the
military situation that the critics can dis
Germ is the enforced temporary inactivity
Of the Natal army, an instance of which is
contained in the dispatches announcing
that the flying column which attempted to
Intercept the Boer retreat only succeeded
in driving the enemy further north, Gen.
Whites men, according to the Times
respondent at Ladysmith, will require a
fortnight's recuperation-
Rumored Peace Negotiations.
A special to the Times from Lorenzo
Marques. dated Sunday, March l. says that
persistent reports continue to prevail that
the Transvaal government has opened nego-
uations looking to the securing of peace
On the other hand. IT Is asserted the Beers
will make a stand at Glencoe and LanG's
Mex, and that in the meantime the in
trenchments at Pretoria are being extended
IN anticipation of a siege. A conference be-
tween the Boer presidents 1t is added. and
the general commanding the Beers in
northern Natal was hurriedly arranged on
receipt of the news of Gen Cronje's sur
render. Until Thursday night official con-
hrmation of the surrender was Withheld
from the public. President Kruger sent a
ferVld religious appeal. with orders that it
should be read by all the officers to the
burghers. urging them to stand fast and
strive in the name of the Lord for unless
they had faith in Him, cowar1ice would set
in and their position would be hopeless the
eIny.
Their past victories, he declared. showed
that the Lord was on their side. The
President besceched the burghers not to
bring destruction on their progeny.
Free Staters to Join TransvaaIers
Continuing, the special says that a high
the event of repuIse of the Free State
forces the latter will retire toward the
Transvaal and unite with their brethren
there. maintaining the struggle to The
last
The Boer casualties at Colenso during the
week ended February p are reported to be
81 men killed and 130 wounded.
1t IS said on good authority that the gov
ernments budget proposals include war
loan of between f2o.eOo.o3o and f3oo 1850
extending over d period of ten or twelve
years
II is estimated that the government will
issue f6.OOO,Uoo or f7.VSO0O in treasury
bonds.