New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-10
BOLD BOER RAIDERS.
THEY CUT RORERTS'S COMMUNICATIONS
AT RHENOSTER RIVER.

Copyright 1900: BY The New-York Trtbunel
IBY CABLE To THE TnInrxEl
London June 10. a. m,-General Buffers op-
eratons against Laing's Mex are described by a
correspondent brilliant. but few details are
added 10 the of1cial accounts. one version cred
its the Boer commander with offering to surren-
der Thursday upon certain conditions. and
states that General Butler declined 10 treat with
him. AS Butler himself neglected TO report this
detail, the information is probably untrust-
worthy.
There official confirmation yesterday
OF the retirement Of the Beers from Laings Mex.
Nearly ali the dispatches related 70 events at
least week old. such the occupation of
Senekal ny General Rlindle and a useless sac
rihce OF life by the Middlesex Yeomanry. and
details of French's operations against johannes
burg. A fresher detail was the fact that the ar
rival OF General Baden-Poweu Is expected at
Cape Town, AMI interesting bit Of statistics
official return that thirty-six Peers and
twenty-seven Members OF the Commons
serving the Queen in South Africa
The War Office closed at midnight without re-
porting the restoration OF communication with
General Roberts This break has been suspected
since Wednesday. owing 10 the absence OF ofl-
cial information respecting the release Of the
prisoners at Watervaal, which Lord Roberts
would naturally have reported That day the
wires we're cut RoodevaI Station north OF
Kroonstad, by Free State raiders estimated to
be two thousand strong with six guns This
force must have run in between General Meth
uen, at Lindley. and General Colvie. at Heilbron
and reached the railway near the Rhenoster
River This stroke must be set down to the
credit OF De Wet, who has shown himself to be
daring commander during the campaign. He
contrived to capture the Yeomanry in spite of
General Rundels advance from Senekal and
General Methuen's forced marches for the relief
Of the garrison, and Immediately disposed OF his
prisoners and struck across the country for the
railway whence the relief column had come
Strong reinforcements have been sent to Kroon-
stad and a speedy restoration OF communica-
tions is promised. The utility OF this counter
stroke on the part OF De Wet is less apparent
than the annoyance which is caused the Brit
ish side by the lack OF unity in the direction OF
the scattered divisions They cannot receive or
ders from General Roberts, and much confusion
must result
The Free State burghers are making a much
better fight than the Transvaal Beers but they
can hardly expect to hold out long against the
superior forces which will be massed against
them
Dispatches received at midnight do not alter
the summary of the Far Eastern situation pre-
viously telegraphed Four provinces are report
ed to be in rebellion but there signs that
diplomatic pressure has been brought TO bear
upon the Empress Dowager and the mandarins
ana that the secret societies will be subjected
to restraint.
The excitement in Japan is rising steadily 1t
is doubtful whether the transfer of Russian
Grated by Japan, even If prearranged with
Great Britain. l. N F.