Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1900-06-01

OA' RpChooi w WlihiubOu, re-
viewing the situation at the seat of
war in South Africa for the Associated
Press, Saturday, says:
Lord Roberts is keeping a tight
hand on all kilograms, In order not to
disclose his moves. After occupying
Rhenoster he pushed his left wing at
once toward Parys, where the vaal
river was crossed on Thursday The
whole army seems to have changed it's
direction to the left, as Gen. Hamil-
toms original right wing today was at
Boschbank, half way from Parys to the
railway bridge at Vlljoen's' Drift,
which ls being watched by Roberts
scouts,
"Gen. Hamilton probably crossed
the Vaal today, assisted if necessary,
by march up the river of the force
that crossed at Parys. The whole force
probably will be across the vaal by
Sunday afternoon. Johannesburg then
Will be two marches distant.
~ suppose that Lord Roberts will
push on Gen. Hamilton aud perhaps
Gen. French to turn the Beers, while
Gems. Tucker and Pole-Care will at
tack in front.
The Beers, as usual, must either be
enveloped or go. Very special exartions
will be made to cut off their retreat, as
Lord Roberts Is now determined to cap.
ture them il possible. He relies fully
on Ian Hamilton, whose combination
of fire and prudence justi6es every
confidence.
II the Beers escape toward Preto-
ria, Roberts will likely follow swiftly
and be at Pretoria in less than
week.
The Beers say they have retaken
Heilbron. Gen. Roberts will neglect
that, but will guard railway, which l
think he will not wait to repair before
going to Pretoria.
Gen. Butler at Laing's Neck, is eight
or nine marches from johannesburg,
supposing that the road is clear. Rob-
erts' advnce must make the Beers at
Volksrust uneasy, and so will facilitate
Buller's advance
"Gen. Hunter, when at Mateking,
will be eleven marches from Pretoria,
and it is impraotica BILE, therefore, for
the Beers to make any serions resist
ance at Pretoria, where to wait would
mean to be hemmed IN between three
British armies.
The Boer plan is to retreat to the
Lydenburg hills, which would postpone
but not avert the catastrophe, but the
condition and strength of the Boer
forces after the coming weeks opera
tions remain to be seen. Possibly the
difficulties of supply may compel Gen.
Roberts to pause at the Vaal ssand re-
pair the railway, thus giving time to
Gen. Butler and Gen. Hunter to in:
wade the Transvaal. fancy, how
ever, that Lord Roberts will prefer
the bolder course and try to end this
war right now.
''Many points in the recent opera
tions are obscure Thus the long pause
Of Gen. Lytleton at Sundays river and
the subsequent silence suggests that be
may cooperate with Gen. Rumble to
finish the Free Staters resistance.
There has been no distinct report from
Gen. Methuen since that from Hoops
tad. He probably crossed the Vaal
near Parys.
''Lord Roberts marches on very
broad front, with his cavalry wings
thrown forward. Gen. Butler proba-
bly, cannot adopt the same plan in the
very rugged country of Northern Ma.
tai, but once Butler is up the hills or
the table lands of the Transvaal The
will be able to spread out and move
rapidly.
''Lord Roberts hos a wonderful
power of picking a special man for
every special work. Ian Hamilton,
the brilliant general, was shot to
pieces at Majuba in the first Boer war.
Since then he made great mark in
training the Indian army to shoot
straieht, and was himself one of the
best officers in India. Another tried
and able man is Sir VIM. Nicholson,
who was chief of staff to Gen. Lock
hard in Tirah. He is now running
al, the transports for Gen. Roberts,
whose army sinca it reached Blosmfon-
tein has been well supplied. Nothing