New-York tribune., 1900-04-28
WAR DETAILS MEAGRE.
FIELD OF OPERATIONS TOO GREAT FOR
THE CORRESPONDENTS.

fCopyrieht: 1900: By The New-York TT1buneI
IBT THE TRIBUNE.l
London. April 2S. l a. m--The rigorous CEN
sorship has excluded press news from the Free
State for twenty-four hours. The corre-
spondents. owing to the extensive deployment Of
FIVE divisions and two cavalry brigades, have,
with ore or two exceptions, returned TO head
quarters at Bloemfontein. and their conjectures
respecting the direction Of the lines Of the Boer
retreat and British operations have not been in
accord
General Roberts in midnight dispatch pre-
sented a brief summary of the situation as he
understood it at O'Clock Friday afternoon. but
several pnints in doubt General Hamilton,
with the mounted infantry and one brigade of
the Ninth Division, had reached Thaba Nchu.
where General French joined him with his
airy trigades yesterday morning. BUNDLES d.
vision being few miles south. The Beers were
still holding the eastern outlet Of the town and
French and Hamilton were preparing to turn
them out Both Hamilton and French had
made fine forced marches. but II was not clear
whether the main body OF the Beers had retired
10 Thaba Nchu from Dewetsdorp had gone
across the country toward Constantia to effect
a junction with Oliyier's forces retreating from
Wepener. The former theory more proba-
BILE but even in that case ii uncertain
whether the Beers had remained in force had
left rear guard in the town
General Roberts reported that General Bra
BACON with the Yeomanry Cavalry had gone
as far as Wepener and returned TO Dewetsdorp.
where Cherrnside's division was still halting.
Pole-Carew's division was either at Dewetsdorp
or was marching toward Thaba Nchu There
was nothing from Wepener and no other OFF,
cial news except a few casualties and report
Of outpost affair near Bethulie.
THE PUBLIC IN A FOG.
General Roberts's operations now conduct
ed On so large a scale that the public here is
dazed by them and requires definite
suit like another Paardeburg. in order TO be
convinced that he is making progress. The ex-
perts regard his man0uvres mastery. II is
plain that after the two reverses Of Sannas
Post and Reddersburg he decided upon a course
OF inaction in order TO draw large a body Of
Beers as possible into the southeastern district
Of the Free State knowing that when he was
ready he could deploy five corps against them
and hoping that he could cut off the retreat Of
the several commanders. His manpuvres were
almost too successful since the Beers retreated
from Wepener and Dewetsdorp before French
could intercept them. portion Of the Boer
force has been found at Thaba Nchu, and in the
course Of twenty-four hours it will be known
whether there is any chance Of capturing IT.
When Thaba Nchu has been cleared Of the
enemy General Roberts can continue his turn
ing movement either direct by the north tcw
ard Winburg or by a wider circuit through
Ladybrand, and in this way he empty the
Boer position Brandfort. The effect of his
operations hardly fail TO be demoralizing
to the Dutch who unable to forecast the d.
reetion Of his maneuvres and powerless TO offer
an effective resistance TO them.
The cross examination Of Mr.. Wyndham was
continued yesterday on delicate questions
lating TO the campaign He did not give the
name OF the subaltern responsible for the loss
of the convoy and guns at Sannas Post, but
pleaded ignorance The question clearly
inspired by a suspicion that some important
personage like the Duke Of Teck was implicated,
and that both General Roberts and the War
Office were seeking TO protect him. The Duke
OF Teck in another section Of the theatre
OF war, and his brother has also been reported
10 anothey quarter. London clubs in war time
are whispering galleries Of gossip and calumny,
anc the names OF the brothers OF the Duchess
Of York have been freely mentioned in connec-
uon with the stupid blunder made at Sannas
Post but there is no authority for these ire
sponsibe charges
Mr.. WyndhaIn was also drawn into an
piahauon Of the causes Of the suppression OF
1eneral RObertss comments on Generals Butler
Ho Warren for several weeks. and 1t was an
Enhcial one. The delay could not have been
~" EXTRA FARE TO ST. LOUIS ON PENN
onl, % sHLVANIA LIMITED.