The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-17

I'm England there are SlIuuB laHl'a'''is
Of hope that stirring and encouraging
news will come from South Africa before
the week is over. It may be realized, a.
though not altogether in the way expected.
The fact that Winston Churchill has been
allowed TO pass the censor with cable
gram plainly stating the difhculty Lord
Roberts is having in securing horses for
his cavalry is significant of the British
generals desire that his home people
should understand why he delays his adj
vance It is now permitted to be known
that the cavalry. on arriving at B.oem-
fcntein. was dead On its feet" and, Ct
course the field artillery was in Ike
plight Remounts have been coming on by
thousands: stiH net fast enough. The
| ocean voyage and the hardships Of railway
! transport from the Cape Do not leave many
OF the animal re-enforcemcIts in condit on
/ for carly service: while the necessity for
putting them at work almost at once re-
suits in much sickness and a heavy NOR
tality Churchill is not optimisti1 on this
or another important subject He asserts
that the Government will have to pro'i3e
. far more literally in the matter OF horses
than it has and. further. that. in his opin-
3 ion. a force OF TWO hundred and fifty thou
sand meu must be put in the field to
. end the var. such opinions are not oalcu-
/ lated TO excite enthusiasm in Great Brit
ain. nor TO increase the prestige OF tie
British Army abroad.
The immediate situation in the Free
/ State seems favorable to Lord Roberts.
Major Dalgelty at Wepener was holding his
own at latest accounts. and force Of three
} thousand Basutos was on the Basutoland
frontier to prevent the Beers from violat-
ing its territory. General Chermside was
at Reddersburg and General Brabant ad-
ysncing from Aliwsl North. These dispo-
sitions and movements may render it pos
sible to corner and capture the Boer COM
mandos in the southeast. Such a result
would be 2 serious blow TO the burghers
and would leave the British rear practical
ly. clear Of organized menace. for the pres
ent at least.
Lord Methuens column Is reported at
Boshof This news conflicts with the re-
cent statement that it was moving east
ward and had reached point eighty miles
west Of Kroonstad. The British opera
lions from the Kimberley base have been
shrouded in mystery for some time. The
official dispatches convey an impression
that the Beers still hold Methuen in CHECK
above Boshof and that nothing is being
done TO relieve the garrison IT Mafeking
We are inclined TO the suspicion mat Off
eial news in this particular is Intentional
Iy misleading; the more so since, aside
from succoring BadenPowell and hi,
worn -out troops. possession Of Mafeknl
in force would be Of strategic importanc
as threatening Pretoria from the west II
this connection. 81 is worthy Of note tina
Lord Kitchener has disappeared from The
earth for three we>-s. such a movemen
as one from Griqua Land west to Mafekinl
would be very apt 10 happen under hi
command. being Of the sort in which HI
has had more practical experience thar
any OF his colleagues. 1t would not sur
prise MS 10 hear Of his turning up 20 rais'
the siege al any hour. However. this il
gucssvork. The military conditions in Ma
tai apparcnuy have settled down 10
waiting game. Butler viii not attack am
the Beers DO not appear strong enough e
take the offensive.