The evening times., 1900-03-07

and COlNilic's Divisions crossing
the River at PopIar'~ Drift-Dutcb
CoIonists' Revolt IA Serious Matter.
fhc Uprising Likely To Impede, if
Not Prevent, the Immediate In
vnsion OF TranSNaaI Territory.
LONDON. March THE War Office has !
received the following despatch from Field |
Marshal Lord Roberts:
"Osfontein March 7-l4.30 p. nj
Our operations today promise 90 be a
great success. The enemy occupied
position four miles north and eleven
miles south OF MOdder River ] placed
Colyille's Division Cthe Ninth, to the
north and Kelly Ksnuy's the SIXTH,
and fuckers divisions Cthe SEVENTH.
with the cavalry TO the south.
The cavalry succeeded I'm turning
the encmy's left flank and opened a
road for the Sixth Division. which is
advancing and has not been obliged TO
fire a shot up to the present time.
The enemy are in full retreat east
ward The cavalry. horse artillery
and mounted infantry are closely fol-
lowing them while fuckers and Col
viIle's divisions and the Guards Bri-
gade are making their way across the
river at Poplars Drift. where ! pro-
pose TO make my headquarters this
evening. The enemy we're quite un-
prepared for the attack by flank,
threatening their communications with
Bloemfontein. ROBERTS.
LONDON. March 7.-Despatches from the
at Osfoutein for one Of the greatest bat
ties Of the war Joubert. in supreme COM
mand. faces General Roberts. and is bring
ing up men and guns from all directions.
.he Beers occupy twenty-seven koPjes,
and they are north and south OF the Mod
der River They are working night and
day. digging trenches. building breast
works and making fortrssses Of the korjss.
The hills and ridges bristle with cannon
and mauser rifles. Eight guns mounted in
almost inaccessible positions. have been
seen by British scouts. The number Of Bocr
men and guns cannot be exactly de-
te~miued.
-.-.,..
decisive blow From all accounts the
.-.,, -, ,-----. n,
''i '-'''-
'- "''- '''
'''-
A despatch nom ''''-''." ''-s .-'
boer rosi.ioh as o-7-'''''o 20 lar IVY -N-
hTlllsh SCOUTS 'ns o'5i.'." inc
boeT flsA' Consists oi A'-N. ''"s "''1I
tain on TIE HoTiH siae oi 'Ne '''r'' APF1'-
oEuy tni' pace between 'ls NOUN, am "-D
river has been eAiIsneh'd. S'".h OF 'Ae
river. 'hc Boer lines cover more ground \
Few days ago their ietJ rested on the hisn
Aopjes standing in the middle OF the plain.
They have now been extended two miles
further south. while six small hopies stand
iu the plain iu the centre and left and be-
tween the centre and the river and form a
ridge behind which the Beers move un-
seen"
Another despatch says. According TO
native scouts, the enemy has occupied and
entrenched line OF kopIes and other posi-
tioHs. in all numbering twenty-seven.
about five miles due east Of our outposts
at Camp Slinkfontein. The number Of
Beers in front OF Roberts is not known
but il is certain that it is at least 10000.
The tactics TO be pursued by the burgn-
ers, judging from their preparations, are
similar TO lhose win "hieh 'hey met bu'-
Ter. But they nave not the same adVan-
tage at osionteln as they had al Coienso'
They have no river In i'oni ot them WnIcn
the British have TO cross before reaching
their entrenchments- The country rs IA
yorablc for turning movement.
Roberts, too. is provided wiuh four
mounted hrigades with which to MAX, such
movement and has plenty Of mobile
horse artillery. lt-is likely that General
French Will make O wide circuit to the
north"ard, when Roberts movement be-
gins. His purpose Will be TO cut of the
Boer retreat EiEnJ heaFy guns have been
discovered DID ios-l'on on very high kopjes'
The British marvel at the way by which
the Beers have managed to drag these
guns into such positions. How many more
guns may be hidden among the twenty
seven kopjes occupied is not known"
C,r. CoIonV UprtsIur.
80 --.
a ueSP"'SH iOlN N"f0 INV" 'O''' "