The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-26
IN sOUTa AFRIC Z.

In anticipation OF an early termination otthe
war. the form Of the future govern ment OF
South Africa IL being discussed In England AMI
In the British South African colonies. and tho
general conclusion appears to BE-. what was self
evident from the moment II was seen that the
British Government had determined TO force n
quarrel on the Boer republics. that tho indie
pendent republics are TO cease rs such aad
become provinces OF a reconstructed British
South Africa. Whether the reception OF tho
news that their independence Is to be taken
from them. ana that they are TO under
90 a period OF political probation. VIII
stimulate the people Of the Transvaal
to continued resistance or cause them TO
abandon the struggle as hopeless. now
that every one Of the governments but two OF
those to whom they appealed for mediation
has definitely replied In the negative. Is a
matter Of very great interest and must soon be
decided one way or the other. The relatively
enormous force which LORD Roberts now con-
trolls will soon be moving again after a much
needed period Of recuperation for the men and
remounting a onsIderable proportion OF the
cavalry and artillery commands that suffered
severely during the recent operations from the
ploss and exhaustion OF their horses. A tele-
gram Of yesterdays date says that Gen, French
with his cavalry division has been to Thaba
N'Chu. but makes no mention OF whether he
had come In contact with any OF the trekking
commandos. or whether he had returned TO
Bloemfontein or moved away from Thaba N'Chu
In some other direction. The killing and wound
Ing OF four British officers and their orderly and
guide by Boer scouts, only six miles north Of
the British lines outside Bloemfontein at a
place called Bishops Glen. contradicts the re-
ports Of some DAYS back that the Beers had en-
tirely disappeared from ths Mohder River and
beyond. 1t ssems to indicate that they are. on
the contrary. keeping Il close watch on Lord
Roberts's movements. though not in such num-
hers "a to oppose any very serious obstacle to
his advance whenever he decides 10 move,
THE Sun London correspon lent telegraph
ing regarding Gen. Buffers share in the forth
coming movements. says il Ia expected that he
will the Beers out Of Natal
and make for tho railway TO Delagoa
Bay with the object OF cutting or
their supplies coming in through Portu-
guese territory before Lord Roberts gets
within striking distance Of Pretoria. Before.
however, he cm do this he will have to push
them up the slopes and over the crests OF the
great mountain range stretching to the north
east from Laings Mex. Should he succeed In
piercing this line OF defence and gaining the
southeastern plateau Of the Transvaal the oc.
cupation OF some point on the railway between
koomati Poort and Pretoria becomes feasible.
There would. however. still be the line running
from the former place into the north toward
Leydsdorp in the Xoutpansberg. the South
African Switzerland, by which supplies could
be run In. and Petersburg. which is less than
eighty miles west OF Ieydsdorp. Is connected
with Pretoria by a railway line that was
formally opened a little over n wear ago,
its length being about one hundred and eighty
miles. IL Is this northern country that II
has been all along expected the Beers would
make their base al operations a~gainsta British
army investing Pretoria. and II they are not
induced by political considerations.o OF which as
yet we know nothing to surrender. but remain
determined to hold out 10 the last. the struggle
might be continued over a large part OF tho
territory OF the Transvaal almost indefinitely
rs even II the railway at Koomati Poort were in
British hands, the Transvaal and Portuguese
boundary runs 220 miles due north from there
with innumerable points through which arms
and ammunition could be introduced.
An offcial despatch from Cape Town report.
news from Mafeking. dated March 10. when all
was well and the Bosr Gordon considerably re-.
Taxed. This was owing 10 the departure Of
part Of the investing force TO meet Col.
Pumer. but probably unknown to Col Baden
pnwall