The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-05
Also Attempting to- Surround Bloem-
fontein and Carry Out Kruger's
Threat to Retake the City.
ROBERTS ARRANGING HIS FORCES
FOR A CRUSHING BLOW.
Mafeking Still Besieged on March
27-Cause of Trouble Between
Rhodes and kekewich.

LONDON, April 5, 5 a. NIT looks to-day
as though the Beers had conceived the
audacious plan of attempting to invest
Lord Roberts at Bloemfonten. or at least
to endeavor to delay his northward ad-
vance by harassing the British lines of
communication. On his side Lord Roberts
is concentrating his forces and preparing
to take every advantage of the bold but
risky tactics of the enemy. He is not
likely to strike at any of their forces I'M
til he is certain of delivering a crushing
blow.
The situation i'm the absence of any Off
cial dispatch from Lord Roberts, is both
mystifying and interesting. There is lit
tie doubt that Lord Roberts is hampered
by the necessity for remounts and trans
port. and the loss of the convoy guns and
all of Colonel Broadwood's baggage was
serious matter. The Beers are now
trusting to what they believe to be their
superior mobility.
The special correspondents at the front
are now denouncing Lord Robertss policy
of leniency toward the Free Staters, and
are calling for an abandonment of that
policy.
Times, telegraphing Thursday. says: "The
Beers are across the Modder in some force
east of Bloemfontein. Our mounted in
fantry have been in touch with them all
day at Bushman's kop, twelve miles dis
tant. The late mishap will not be wholly
unfortunate if it clearly exposes the un-
wisdom of the policy of leniency. which is
not adapted to the present situation"
The Bloemfontein correspondent of the
Daily Mail. telegraphing Tuesday, says:
General Clements force traversed Petrus-
berg Sunday morning. and is now encamped
a days march from here.
General Coville's division and French's
cavalry have returned to Bloemfontein.
A special dispatch announces that Mafe-
king was still besieged but safe on March
q. A dispatch to the Daily Mail from
Mafeking. dated March Is, by runner to
Gaberones. says: Last night We received
the welcome news of the dipsatch of a
column by way of vryburg to relieve u.s.
The messenger reported that he had en-
.countered no Beers on the road. Other run
ners from the north tell of the rapid APP
proach of Colonel Plumer's column. The
Beers continue the bombardment, but IL is
believed now that there are not more than
20C0 around us, many having left daily
Details received of the scenes on Market
square. Cape Town, Tuesday. when Premier
Schreiner encountered an English demon
stration. show that the premier. fearing
personal violence, sought refuge i'm a res
taurant. He was hooted. and tried to reach
Parliament House protected by police. The
people shouted Traitor but he succeeded
in reaching the house. Finally, on the
people again singing God Save the
Queen he raised his hat amid cheers and
was heard to say: Reserve your judy
ment.''
Lord Roberts did not meet his wife at
Cape Town. She will proceed to Bloemfon-
tein. The permanent bridge at the Modder
river station has been finished The first
train passed over it Tuesday. The British
garrison at Springfontcin was reused at
midnight Monday by the intmation that
the Beers, i'm force, were about to make an
attack, but not a burgher appeared
A further list of casualties sustained by
the British officers at Koroo adds eleven
missing and one wounded, making the total
thus far thrty-one.