New-York tribune., 1900-03-16
ROBERTS'S TROOPS MOV1NG.
THREATENING BOER COMdANDOES TO
THE SOUTH OF BLOEMFONTEIN.
TCopynEht: 1900: By The New-Yoriz Tr1bune.l
fRE- -CABLE To TIE TRTarNFI

ICopy1Eht: 1900 By The New-Tork Tribunal
fBF CABLE rc TIE rR1suxET
London. March 16 1 a. m.-General Roberts is
not allowing the grass of the veldt to grow
under his feet He put three trains in motion
yesterday. equippng them with engine drivers
and fremen from his own troops. and sent Cen
eraI Pole-Carew with two thousand Guardsmen
and small body OF mounted infantry south
ward He reported in a midnight bulletin that
Pole-Carew had reached Bethanis during the
afternoon without opposition. and that the force
vas expecting 70 join Generals Gatacre and
Clements Gatacre had crossed the Orange River
n the morning and occupied Betlule. General
CIements's advance has propably taken place
simultaneously. Il is reported that the Dutch
rear guards are retreating from the river with
their guns from Norvars and Bethulie and
il is possible that they may be caught be-
tween the columns which are advancing toward
springfontein.
NAY PLAY a LITTLE POLITICS.
General Roberts has allowed three divisions
to halt az Bloemfontein, but he is not idle him
self He has created the impression that the
Free State Government has surrendered its cap
tal and that military government has been
substituted for IL He has kept various munich
Pal and State Offices IN operation under the gen
eral supervision Of the military government and
oy proclamation and practice is encoura ging the
people Of the Free State 10 follow the example
ot their own authorities and withdraw from
hopeless struggle. He can Well afford to halt
fortnight in the capital and try his hand at the
game of imperial politics If he can succeed
thereby in inducing the Free State soldiers TO
oesert their commanders and return to their
farms. President Steyn himself. since his ar
rival IN Kroonstadt, is issuing counter-procIanla-
IONS and striving 10 rally his troops in defence
h1rr
forces are rapidly disappearing from the field
he old order OF government has lost its polit-
-cal centre with the surrender Of its capital and
new order Of administration has been created
Under the British flag, and Lord Roberts's main
work during the next fortnight VIII be one ~
pachcation and restoration Of order He has
paynasters who viii buy supplies for an army
q hfty thousand men, and he also has discipli-
n2rlans who win enforce respect for private
property With gold TO pay out and with SOL
oleTs under rigorous discipline Lord Roberts is
likely TO prove successful politician in Bloenn-
fontein.
II is evident from the press dispatches thar
General Roberts's first work will be the opening
q the railway southwark to the Orange River
ana the abandonment Of the convoy system of
supplies from Kimberley. The entire district
south q Bloemfontein can be cleared of the
eAeIny II the course Of few days, and railway
lam TTsloEec- dispatches from General CAT
acres headquarters state that his patrols are in
touch with General Clements's lines westward
ano with Brabant's eastward
LIEUTENANT POPHAATs EXPLOIT.
The feat Of Lieutenant Pophan and detach
heHt OF the Derbyshire battalion in saving
6einuhe wagon bridge which had been mined
win dynamite, is described as one Of the mos,
gallant exploits OF the war
"arren's forces are not needed on Orange
AFsr and have returned 10 Upper Natal. Mill
-is men co not expect q vigorous renewal Of
operations BY either General Roberts or General
4ist curing the next week. French's cavaIr,
lI fuckers division. may advance slowly
Ni"aFd n the direction Of Winberg and
-'''iastadt' but il is not likely that there will
seF1ous fighting until General Roberts is
-S 70 cross the YaaI River and advance
4io johannesburg and Pretoria. There NAV
0onholssances IN force toward the Biggars-
Out General Buffers army win probably,
inactive until General Roberts is pre
- % invade the TransvaaI with a railway
u supplies. The only direction in which
oHeers here expect to witness imme-