Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-06-01

The relief Of Mnfckins, effected by the
British, is the most important feature OF
the South African VAR since the siege OF
Ladysmith was raised. The relief OF The
town narrows down the field Of opeia-
lions to u great extent. Ihe British from
all sides are now closing in on the Beers,
Johannesburg and Pretoria being the obs
jective points. Gen. Roberts i'll moving
north from Kroonstadt is practically COW
ering Il front of forty miles. Intending
the column of Mcthuen on his left and
that OF Brodhead and Rnndle on his
right, he is covering Il front of more
than IL hundred miles. Methuen is proba-
bly, advancing from uoopstad along the
Naal so as to keep in touch with French
on the Rlienostcr river. and at the same
time threaten klcrksdorp. Occupying
this long front, Roberts is moving to-
ward three crossings of the Naal river,
his center marching along the railroad
toward the crossing at Nereenigins Oh
the direct roal to Johannesburg, his tight
toward Villiersdorp, and his left toward
ltcitzburg.
With this formidable force in front
overlapping their TANKS and pressing
them ~relcntlcssly back, the small Boer
army is threatened by the movement
from uppe Natal as we'll as by the move
ment from Nafckins. OH the west. Under
such conditions tlk only course left open
to the republican army is an orderly re-
treat to a point of concentration like JO-
hannesburg GU Pretoria. From u strictly
military standpoint a battle at either
place is in the nature Of Il useless sncri-
flee. Any other nation, even though it,
had the strength of Germany OF France,
would make peace ut the frontier. But
the Beers are not like any other nation.
They are fighting for their institutions
and their country, and they are not con-
trolied by the views that obtain among
military men or statesmen of Europe.
The conditions of battle on the Trans
vaal frontier, it must he remembered, are
not like those that have prevailed in
amy other great war. Where armies are
of about the same strength. and where
the field of operations is large, an enemy
may be attacked and defeated i'll detail.
There is little chance for this in the Or
angc Free State. There will he less in
the Transvaal. The circumstances, the
narrowing field of activity, the great
strength and mobility of the British army
compel the Beers to IL strictly defensive
campaign. They canlot dctacll COM
mands., as could the generals in our civil
war, to surprise an enemy on the flank
or to crush an isolated division.
Practically, there are no isolated divis-
ions in the British army. Gen. Roberts
is moving his several army corps on con-
vergins lines on positions of vital i'm
portancc to the Beers. The latter can
not exhaust themselves in fruitless Ell
deavors to stay the march; they cannot
permit themselves to be diverted by q
threatening movement in one quarter
while their lines are broken III another.
Under the circumstances they are follow
ing military precedent, and acting on APP
proved principles of strategy in retiring
to Il position where to give battle will be
to advance their WI cause and not to
weaken it.
1t is not known where the Beers will
make their stand against Lord Roberts
nor how s~trenuously they will defend Pre-
toria. Their leaders say that when Pre-
toria falls the Beers will retreat to the
mountains md continue to fight while
life lasts. The Bocr ENJOYS in this coun-
try having failed in their mission to in
duce the United States to intervene in
behalf of the republics, the Beers have
now only two alternatives, that of sur
render or OF fighting to the last ditch. Ac-
cording to the ENJOYS the latter will be
their choice. The ENJOYS We're told by
Secretary of State Hay that this Gov
eminent could not intervene in behalf
of the republics.