Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-03-10

London, March S.-The war office at
hlidnight posted the following advices
from Lord Roberts:
Poplar Grove, Wednesday, March 7
.Evening).-We had very successful
lay and have completely routed the
Enemy, who are in full retreat. The
position which they occupied is extreme
y strong and cunningly arranged, with
| second line of entertainments. which
would have caused us heavy loss had
4 direct attack been made.
1.-THE turning movement was neces-
:arily wide, owing to the nature of the
ground, and the cavalry and horse ar.
tillery horses are much done up.
"The fighting was practically confined
to the cavalry division, which, as usual.
did exceedingly WELL and General
French reports that the horse artillery
batteries did great execution among the
anolny. "Our casualties were about 80
Lord Roberts wired yesterday morn
ing from Osfontein, and in the evening
from Poplar Grove, IA miles eastward.
BY an application of the elementary
principle of strategy, the Boer positions,
10 miles long, across his path, have been
amptied, and their holders have been
obliged to retire in confusion, conse-
luent upon hasty withdrawal.
Nothing was done by Lord Roberts to
disturb the symetric and deadly in
genuity of the Boer trenches in front of
him. He marched out infantry, esti-
mated, from the commands named, at
10000 men. and sent 10000 horsemen and
horse artillery in q bold sweep around
The Boer left, whereupon the Boer CEN
ire and right became untenable. Fifty
British fell when the cavalry came into
contact with the Beers.
The correspondents differ as to the
anemy's strength. The Daily Mails
representative thinks the Beers number
something more than 1000. The Daily
News man estimates them at 10000. AS
these figures come from men at head
quarters, 1t is clear that Lord Roberts
force was overwhelmingly superior. He
:an scarcely have fewer than 45, 900 men
Immediately available, as the guards
brigade reached him from Lord Methuen
Tuesday.
The military authorities have decided
hat General Cronje and the other Boer
prisoners shall be sent Immediately to
The island Of st. Helena, there to re-
main until the end of the war
A dispatch to The Times from Modder
river, dated yesterday. says: The Beers
occupy an extensive position between
ourselves and both Bloemfontein and
Winburg. They include the bulk of the
Natal forces and are under General
Joubert himself. Only sufficient men
have been left to hold Van Reenen's
pass and Laing's Mex. Extensive de-
sertions are reported during the trek.
An engagement is imminent, which will
probably be decisive as to the whole war.
A great movement is in progress
among the Cape Dutch to obtain set
tlement of the South African question
consistent with the maintenance of the
independence of the republics. 1t Is
doubtless argued that the Dutch, having
remained loyal, are entitled to hearing
at the settlement. The argument would
have more force il the Dutch had not
risen in every district where there was
reasonable chance of success, and it is
certain that the whole British COM
munity and the actively loyal Dutch are
opposed to any settlement short of an
nexatlon. A proposal has been made by
a deputation of the Dutch party to visit
England shortly in the interests of peace