The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-02-19
CR0NJE'S GREAT TREK.


The incomplete character of the news
from the Free State still leaves us much
at sea in regard to the situation on the
British as well the Boer side Of the op-
erations in progress. Barely stated our
information today is that General Cronje
has Outsprinted the divisions Of Tucker
and Kelly Kenny, and is probably by this
time on the other side of Kip Pan, the
opening between the headwaters of the
dodder and of Kaal Spruit thus fairly
within the defensive zone Of Bloemfontein.
The dispatches indicate that Cronje's
transports suffered greatly in the retreat.
and that large quantities OF ammunition
and Supplies and some guns have fallen
into the hands of the British. We do not
hear OF any important captures OF artil-
iery during the pursuit; but it Is said
that large guns were abandoned al Ma
garsfOntein. The unsatisfactory nature Of
the whole story, which, however, may be
unsatisfactory only because no full ac-
count has been sent out. viii at once
strike the professional mind. There is
one suggestion in the reports which ap-
pears TO bear out the suspicion we eN
pressed two days ago., namely, that
Cronje. seeing the inevitability OF retreat.
would move his guns and part OF his
forces by the north of Kimberley to Bo-
shot. and there strike the northern road
to BIoemfontein. Now it is thought L at
he may have done this, and that French is
after the detachment in question. AS
French has the only British division equal
10 the Beers in point Of mobility, il is
possible that he may be able to inhict
greater damage than his colleagues have
on the lower line. But Il would not sur
prise us to learn that in neither direction
have the Beers been in the force assumed.
4 close inspection of the news will serve
to show that uneasiness exists concerning
harassing attacks on Kitchener's right
flank. delivered b. apparently independent
BoeF commands. moving parallel w;lh his
column to the south OF IT. This may not
be anything serious, or fl may mean a rgp5-
tition OF the customary Boer tactics TO di-
vide the enemy's force and suddenly con-
/ centrate against its weakest unit. IL com
/ par3tiveiy open country. such as Kitchener
/ and French are traversing the advantage
I which the Beers have had in GriQualand
/ and Natal is greatly m!uimizCd. and. on the
/ other hand. neither Lord Roberts nos
! Lord Kitchener Is a man to be easily
1 caught mapping. Al the same time, the
/ anxious British public will feel easier after
/ the developments Of the next few days. II
they should be Of an encouraging sort II
cannot be doubted that at this moment
| there is some apprehension ia London that
/ while the main body OF Roberts army is
running after the Beers toward Bioemfou-
tein. the main body of Cronje's command
, may be moving toward De Aar 10 wreck
/ communications with the Cape.
AS far as appearances 90 il seems thai
Sir Redyers Butler is playing a good sec
ond hand 20 Roberts on the Tugela. II,
has taken the hu's TO the east OF Chev
'eley. between that camp and Inhlaw,
Mountain preparatory, il is said, to as
saulting the latter. II is also reported
that Warren is engaging Joubert's RICH
centre again at Naal Krsntz. Evidently
Butler is keeping his antagonist busy. an,
perhaps is counting on an opening TO reacl
Ladysmith. 20 be furnished by the With
drawal Of a part of Jouberts army 10 Fe
enforce CTCDje. II no accident happens {,
Roberts within the next three or four days
and his advance up-Country shall process
without serious check. &c may be predicte
with some confidence that the siege o
LadysmiJh will be raised, and the ihearr
Of large operations transferred TO the cen
trail field exclusively for some time L
Z come