The Atlanta constitution., 1900-04-09
Difficulties Fully Realized.

London. Arrl !. 430 a. m.-Not word
regarding the disaster a Reddersburg has
been allowed to come through except the
dispatch Of Lord Roberts. II is therefore
impossible To- form any notion as To what
has happened. Meanwhile the British pub
lie is beginning to realize the immense dir
ficulties to be overcome even before Pre-
toria Is reached. and is reviving proma-
ture ideas with respect 10 the time when
the war will he over. No one believes now
that IT VIII have ended by the beginning
OF June.
The latest disaster more particularly IL
lustrates the heavy task involved in hold
ing the railway. This body of some 500
British troops without guns which dis
appeared SO completely within thirty-iive
miles Of the great British army. had for
its business to guard a section of nearly
ninety niles of railroad between Bloem-
fontein and Springfontein. If II could
thus be spirited away. how IS Lord Rob
erts 10 ensure his continually extending
communications?
other pertinent questions are being ask
ed as a result Of these successive "unfor-
tunate occurrences" The foremost IS. why
40 not the British troops intrench? II ie
argued that If this had been done even
$40 men might have held out until re-en-
forcements arrived. II cannot be concealed
that the utmost alarm is beginning to he
felt.
It IS said that the Beers who captured
the British at Roddersburg belonged 70
OIivler's cammando If so. he has not re-
tired north; and hopes are expressed that
he may still be cut off.
II is asserted that 4.O00 rebels surrender
ed during General Clements's northwarG
march. The Beers will do their utmost TO
hold Ladybrand and Th3ba N'Chu, both
4 {,, 4
A correspondent of The Morning Post
nj Suringfontein. telegraphing Thursday
saws he is glad to be able to report that
increased precautions are being taken iH
patrolinr the railway. 1t is said that
most Of the prisoners captured at Boshon
are foreigners
The report that Mr.. Steyn had been ap-
nointed to the command of the Free
Staters and the further report that the
Free state had arranged a loan from the
Transvaal for war purposes are both con-
firmed.
Ten thousand remounts from South
America are due To arrive during the
coming weeks at ports of Natal and Cape
Another Boer version of the fighting with
Colonel Plummer's force says that four
.ofiicers and thirty men were taken pris-
oners at Ramathla bama. Ii appears that
The names of Cecil and Granville which I
were originally supposed to Indicate two
of the officers cdptuGtu At llc llHlt
should have been read together as the
name of the officer.
As numerous prisoners are now held on |
both sides and the numbers are about
equal the question OF exchange W as I
nnoted i'm the house of commons last
evening. This elected "A reply that the /
poyernmnt had no intention of proposing
an exchange.
One of Kruger's Generals Is Killed
London. April 6.-The war office has
received the following dispatch from Lord /
Roberts. dated BlOemfontein. Thursday. |
April 5th:
"Methuon telegraphs from Boshof in |
the Orange Free State, a little northeast /
of Kimberley, as follows:
+" Surrounded General N1tlebois Mareuil |
and a body of Beers today. None escaped. /
Nillebois and seven Beers killed, eight /
wounded nifty prisoners. our losses We're: /
Killed. Captains Boyle and Williams. both /
of yoemanry. and two men of the yoe-
manry Wounded. about seven men
THE attack lasted four hours. The /
CORPS behaved very well. Our force was /
of yoemanry. the Kimberley |
mounted corps and the Fourth battery |
of artillery"
Irving To Relieve Fusiliers.