The National tribune., 1900-03-15
THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The Beers have shown most unexpected
evidences Of decentralization following the
defeat and capture Of Gen. Cronje. II was
confidently anticipated, from their we'll
known courage and determination from
their skill in fighting on the defensive.
and from their knowledge of the country.
that they would take advantage of the
time gained by Cronjes obstinate defense
to gather their troops on a new line of de-
fense, and try TO repeat there the successful
resistance to Buffers passage of the Tugela
1t was expected that they would swarm
all over the country III front Of Roberts.
and fight his advancing columns at every
ford and gap. They would have incalcu-
liable advantages in such operations. The
improvements i'll The breechoading musket
have given an immense superiority to men
standing on the defensive. A few men in
a gap, or behind a ford, can successfully
hold back hundreds or even thousands
advancing upon them, compel them to
reconnoiter and develop, and finally can
themselves escape without loss.
Heretofore the Beers have shown them
selves very successful in this, and with a
very few men have inflicted very crushing
defeats upon the British. But Cronje's
defeat seemed to utterly bewilder them.
and Roberts IS men went whittier they would
without resistance.
Possibly one reason for this is that the
Beers have never been trained to coordinate
together as one entire army. They are
grouped into separate, independent com
mandoes, without their commanders being
rigidly subordinated one to another. as
is the rule in regularly organized armies.
Each Veld-Cornet IS TO certain extent a
aw unto himself, and follows his own
Judgment and incinations as TO whittier
he Will lead h's men. For several DAYS
It seemed that each one was exerting him
self 10 get out Of Roberts's way. and into
some retired part Of the country, where he
could think over what had happened. and
what was best TO do next
In the meanwhile, the Presidents of the
two Republics began overtures for peace
but the British rightfully considered that
these were merely tricks to gain time, and
d'sregafded them.
The strange thing is that the Beers
become so demoralized by flank movements.
They seem unprepared for anything but
straight frontal attacks on ground that
they themselves have studied. They an
parentiy do not comprehend how To meet
flank movement by counter-moyement
but Immediately go TO pieces upon the ap-
pearance Of a British force advancing be-
yond the end of their line. Apparently.
also, Roberts has learned the trick of max
ing them stretch out their lire until II be.
comes so thin that he can break through II
and take It in reverse
1t looks now as If we were on the eve of
decisive action. The Beers have hurried
all their available men into position to dis
pute farther advance upon BIoemfontein
and seem offering battle. Probably Rob.
erts will not oblige them by massing his
men in front of their breech-loaders, Ia
Butler, and attacking just where they want
him TO. II he continues his present tactics.
forces them to stretch out until they are
thin enough to easily break through, and
then crumble their whole line into ruin,
it will go very far toward taking the heart
out Of the Beers for any further fighting.