The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-19
~ SOUTH AFRICA.

Gen. Buller's advance has reached Newcastle.
the Beers In their retreat going In three d.
r~ec,ions. The main body fell back 10 Ialhgs
Mex, while one portion Of the force went across
the Buffalo River toward WaSkerstroom ana
another retired to the Drakonsberg to Muller $
Pass. just west Of Newcastle. The railway
tunnel at Iaings Mex has been 40 completely
destroyed by the use of dynamite that 1t must
take months to be cleared for trafflc. ana rail-
way communication with the Transvaal 6ythat
line Is now rendered impossible Tor the prod
able duration OF the war or even longer The de-
liberateness with which the work OF destruction
Is reported 10 have been carried out shows mat
preparations for the withdrawal from Natal
must have been going on for some lew weeks
Another day or two's march should Drlne me
two forces In touch In tho neighoorhood OF
Majuba Hill. and as the positions AZ lalnss Mex.
Pogwani Hin TO the eastward OF the builalo
River, and other points have been strongly Tor
tilted. some hard fighting NAV be expected II
the Beers have decided 10 make a stand lf
compelled 10 fall back. their line OF retreat VIII
probably be toward Ermeloo and Mldde'burg
on the Pretoria Delagoa Bay Railway In the
event Of Gen Roberts crossing the wal lhev
should. however, be able TO maintain the posi-
tons they are said to be taking up Tor some
time.
In the Free State a series of mishaps appears
TO have befallen the Beers In the capture OF one
OF their commandants and the surrender OF two
others with small bodies OF men. The Botha
who has been captured IL not the General COM
manding the army but one Of the several COM
mandants Of that pane. while Of the two who
have surrendered the name OF only one.
Daniels, has been incidentally mentioned
during the war. Gen. Methuen. to whom
they gave themselves up, has been at
Hoopstad since Thursday, and Iindley TO
the eastward Of Kroonstad was occupied by
the British cavalry on the same day. The British
front thus extends over about one hundred and
thirty miles, which, however, will narrow from
the westward as It moves north. Lord Roberts
is expected to resume his advance in "A few days
and the Beers in anticipation have blown up
the railway bridge on the Rhenostcr River
about forty miles northwest Of Kroonstad
and a short distance below Nredefort Road.
where they are reported to be in some force.
Numbers Of Free Skaters, influenced. II Is said.
by some Of the submitted members of the Free
State Nolksraad. are reported TO be surrender
ing and giving In their arms. There are con-
tTdulCt'Ty sldttllltll1S HS W NUtIt 'It h''l-
NAV make a stand, but it seems unlikely
that there will be further resistance south
Of the Naal II there is any truth
in the reiterated assertions regarding the
growing indisposition Of the Free Skaters 10
continue the war, The SIN correspondent at
Pretoria speaks Of the misfortunes in the Free
State having produced great depression In the
Transvaal capital, which is natural. seeing the
sacrifices the Transvaalers have made in the
Free State. II remains TO be seen, however.
whether the spirit indicated by the destruction
Of the Laings Mex tunnel has entirely gone out
OF them, formidable though the odds against
them are. Though the War Office has not con-
Armed the report Of the relief of Mafeking, the
London public accepted 1t as accomplished. and
were celebrating II when THE L despa'ches
were sent ont. in a manner strangely reminis-
cent OF the delirious manifestation Of the last
days Of the French Empire.