The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-24
~ SOIIH lFRICi.

The latest dispatches confirm the reports OF
Col. Plumer's retreat north ward after the hight
ing with Commandant Snyman's force on
Thursday and Friday OF last week. since when
no reliable intelligence appears to have been
received from him. Whether the absence Of
Inform alton Is due to the suppression OF news
or the cutting Of the wires by the Doer COM
mando. reported n week ago as having
been sent 10 operate against the railway
north OF Gaberones In his rear. cannot be said
with certainty. but one or the other Is likely.
Meanwhile the operations at Warrenton at the
crossing Of the Vaal River appear 70 be making
In II itTercnt progress. The British artillery fire
on Wednesday Is said to have ~silenced that OF
the Boer guns. which probably means what It
did on 30 many occasions during this war, that
tie Beers simply ceased firing having no OBJ
Ject In wasting their ammunition. On Thurs
day a British scouting party found Itself In a
position on the bank Of the Veal so ex-
posed TO 10 the Boer fire that It could
neither withdraw nor be relieved
except with great loss. and so had to remain
under cover until darkness set In when they
escaped. from Kimberley It Is reported that
the date Of the departure OF the Mafeklng re-
lief column from thero had not yet been fixed
nor. apparently. has It yet been organized. The
railway IL only open as far as Content station.
eight miles south oithe Naal, and there Is 10 GER
tainty yet as to when the crossing OF the river
can be secured for the transport OF supplies
such as n column Of IN" strength that would be
required for the purpose would have 20 carry
with 1t for nearly $50 miles. with its Hanks ex-
posed to attack at many points on the road.
Fast Of Bloemfontein Gen French. with his
cavalry and mounted infantry. is said to have
come in contact with tho Beers from the
Orange River who are heading north. II will
be very interesting 20 see the result. a. they
are said to number some four thousand. and
have a considerable lumber Of guns with them
that were withdrawn from Colesberg and
Stormberg. The country through which
they would be passing IA mountainous.
and the lay of It rather u%nfavor-
able FOR a force c~ncumbered with wagons as IL
IL said TO be; besides which they are debarred
from entering Basutoland, while the British
have the advantage Of being in Photographic
communications with Maseru. the seat Of the
British Resident in Basutoland, on the east
side OF the Caledon River. that forms the
western boundary Of the Basuto territory. and
80 becoming acquainted with the movements
OF the 'Lgiti-e Beers.
Entire confidence Ia not. II seems, placed in
the bona fdes Of the Free StaterS who are so
freely making their submission to Lord
Roberts and his generals, II is remarked that
the weapons which thcy are surrendering are
nearly all Martins and other rifles OF obsolete
patterns. while IN the lighting they were using
only Mauscrs, This appears to be raising the
suspicious Of the British authorities. as the
action Of the Afridls after the last Indian
frontier campaign in similar circumstances Is
recalled. It Is believed that the Mausers are
being concealed with q view to future
emergencies.
There IL no news o. any movements in Natal.
but the Boor positions in the BiRgarsberg
Mountains are described as OF remarkable
siren 9Th. SO also are those said to be that are
Mt present held by the main force under Gen.
Joubert at Kroonstal. though whether they are
designed simply to retard the British advance
TO the Wal, or to be held 10 the last extremity,
f. left uncertain, Although the reports on
the subject arc contradictory. there appears to
bs SOM political action in platIon by
the Executives Of the two republics looking TO
their uniacation, but whether It will be taken
Immediately or later on depends on circum-
stances. Il seems worth Just now recalling a
rumor that was In circulation at the enl Of
last year to the effect that on the Beers def
nitely retiring INTO Pretoria they would issue a
proclamation In tho name OF the United
S,ate- Of South Africa, and hoist a flag specially
designed for the occasion.