The evening times., 1900-03-06
The War in south Africa.

Todsy's news from South Africa. while
in no sense sensational. appears to be i'm
poriant. On Monday General Gatacre en-.
tered Stormberg unopposed, while Genera
Brabant continued his fight of Sunday
driving the Beers from their position be-
tween Dordrecht and jamestown. The
latter are reported as leaving in haste and
probably are trying TO effect juncture with
the Stormberg garrison for a retiring fight
10 get across the Orange River at Her
schel. Perhaps Gatacre may make some
effort to head them of, but it is prssum-
able that they have a material advantage
in point Of mobility.
As far as one can judge from the reports
the Beers are preparing for defensive op-
erations on two lines. They seem TO con-
template at or near Bloemfontein resist
ance which may be preliminary TO a more
serious stand on the line of the Vaal. as
The Modder River fight was to that at Ma
garsfontein; and to check if possible any
advance Of the British toward Nafekipg A
British force of unknown strength has
moved north from Kimberley. and il is
significant that General French has head
ed off considerable body Of Beers trek
ing to the northwest. Their peoplp al
ready have a strong force entrenched at
Fourteen Streams fifty miles north or
Kimberley, and the supposition is that if
the British movement toward Mafeking is
confined TO the railway line there will be
a heavy battle at the position mentioned
We are quite without means of Judging
whether Lord Roberts is intending an ad-
venture merely for the relief of Mafeking
the garrison of which is in sore straits and
imminently liable to destruction or capture
or whether. under cover Of a scheme to
suCcor Baden Powell he is fnauguratinp q
thanking movement against Pretoria. Eyi-
IDENTIFY the Beers suspect the latter de-
sign as the reported presence Of Jouber4
In the West suggests that part of the field
as the most important for present purposes.
At Paardeberg and Osfontein We do not
hear of active operations of importance.
From four to six thousand Beers are be-
tween the latter and Abraham's Kraal-
seventeen miles east of Koodoes Rand
and hence in a position to obstruct an
'ANA11 A1ohNllNhls AppdItuNiN.
Lord Roberts is waiting for something be-
fore proceeding on the march. We are
too much at sea concerning field oondi-
uons to venture any guess as to what il
VIII be; but, as likely as not il NAV be
Tor the concentration of Clements. Gatacre.
and Brabrant from The south with Rob-
erts or Kitchener from the west and BuI-
Ter from Natal.
Leaving the force OF 50. 900 men with Rob- |
erts out of the question, if the commands |
OF Butler. Clements, Gatacre. and Bra
bant could be combined, they would ar-
gregate 10000 or 5000; force which one
would think, would be sufficient for m.
erations in the Free State in case rord
Roberts should determine to try the ions
turn against Pretoria by way of Mafe-
king The panorama is moving rather
slowly just now, but, as far as the Brit
Ish part Of it is concerned there is seem
lngly vast improvement in the manner
in which the machinery is handled The
lay of frontal attacks and bulldog fighting |
without useful result appears to be over.
Lords Roberts and Kitchener so far have
given the impression that they know how
% conduct war on scientific principles