The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-03-30
THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR
BEGINNING OF THE END PROB.
ABLY IN SIGHT.

a Full Summary of the Transvaal
War NeWs-Progress of the Con.
filet From Day to Day-The British
Encouraged.
The report that General French and
his force of cavalry have returned 10
Bloemfontein, and that small Brit
ish column had hurriedly retreated
from Ladybrand before superior Boer
forces, indicates that the Burghers
have made good their retreat from
the south of the Free State, thus elui-
ing the British columns.
a despatch from Ladysmith says
10000 Beers are guarding the nine
passes of the Drakensberg Range, led
by Commandant De Beer. This force
consists of Free Staters.
Messrs. Wolmarans, Fischer and
Wesels, the peace ENJOYS from the
Boer forces, after visiting two or three
European capitals, will go to New
York, by way of Antwerp. 1t is un-
derstood at The Hague that they are
invested with large powers, and are
prepared to agree to anything looking
to Intervention.
The Beers are entrenching at
Kroonstadt where they may make a
stand against the advance of Roberts
forces which comprise some 5000
cavalry AMI infantry.
A despatch from Bloemfontein says
General French has returned from
Thaba Nchu, having failed to engage
the Beers, who are trekking north
ward.
Lord Roberts's infantry have now
been quiet for fourteen days, and
news of an advance is hourly expect
ed at the British War Office.
The Times points a statement from
Cape Town that the Beers, after de-
ducting heavy losses, are probably
unable now to put more than 10000
men on the fighting line.
despatch received in London says
that force of British cavalry has
penetrated the territory of the South
African Republic to point eighteen
miles north of Christiania, and it is
said Lord Roberts army is being
strengthened for a general northern
advance.
A despatch from Maseru, Basutoland,
seems to dispose of the story that
Gen. French was fighting in the Or
ange Free State, but it indicates that
battle is imminent.
A despatch from London says: The
total British losses, exclusive of the
invalids sent home, are 16,41S in
killed, wounded and missing.
Lord Roberts proclamation is caus-
ing much dissatisfaction among the
loyal farmer Dutch in the neighbor-
hood of Ladysmith as it is taken by
them to mean that he has morally
pledged himself to preserve the life
and property Of the rebels who lay
down their arms and return to their
homes.
A report from Pretoria of General
Gatacre's defeat by the Beers is not
believed in London. The last advices
placed General Gatacre about thirty
miles north of Bethulie, where the
Boer report says he was defeated
1t Is reported from Lorenzo Mar
quez that Pretoria is prepared to
stand siege of two years, and that
Boer women, frantic at the reverses
to the Boer arms, are entreating to be
allowed to Shoot British officers I'M
prisoned at Pretoria
South Africa advices show that the
Free Staters are surrendering and the
British are making preparations for
the invasion of the Transvaal. The
Beers, however, have destroyed sew
eral railway bridges over the Modder
river and are said to be gathering
their forces strongly at Kroonstad, in
the northern part of the Free State,
to oppose the British advance into the
South African Republic. The burgh-
ers are also in considerable force in
the Biggarsberg range, where they
may make stand. There is report
that the British troops have occupied
Christiana, which, If true, would be
the first invasion of Transvaal terri
tory made in the campaign.