The Van Buren press., 1900-03-10
LORD ROBERTS WAITING.
The Field Marshal is Giving the
Beers Plenty of Time to
Concentrate.
he WILL DELIVER ONE CRUSHING BLOW.

| At Any rate, Ihat - h's '"'o'
the Boey 8 Should Upset His Plans-The
Latter Are Massing Their Forces IN the
Vicinity of the British Army Near Os-
fontein.
London, March Z, 4:1O q. m.-Lord
Roberts still paises in the neighbor-
hood Of Osfontein, while stores, re-
mounts and fresh troops stream TO-
ward him from the Cape. The British
position also continues to improve IN
the minor spheres of the campaign
Natal is clear of Beers, and Cape Col
ony is nearly so.
Taking the Advice of StrnteIists'
The Beers, seemingly, are pursuing
the course commended by the strate-
gists, and are concentrating to resist
the British main army. Various mes
sages from correspondents with LORD
Roberts report that the enemy are in
crcasing continually on his front, eX-
tending. as one correspondent wires,
eight miles, and as another says, is
miles. The lowest estimate of their
numbers gives the Beers from 5000 to
| 10 900 men, with smaller bodies mov-
ING north ard south of the British
| lines.
with PiS and shovel.
Each army is on both sides of the
Modder river. Although the Beers
have mounted eight guns on the tops
Of liopjes, and appear to be too iar
away for inspection, the British scouts
report that they are diligently using
pick and shovel. Military opinion is
that their present position merely
screens more easily defended ones
deeper in the region.
Lord Roberts Plans.
None of the military experts endeaV-
or to fathom Lord Roberts plans, but
it is suggested that he is quite willing
to give the Beers time to assemble all
their men in order TO deliver a smash
ing blow more effectively.
The Annexation Round Robin.
The round robin in favor of the an
nexation of the Transvaal and the Free
State, which is being promoted among
the supporters Of the government in
the house of commons, continues to re-
ceive signatures.
Time for Plain Speaking.
The sgnatories of the memorial to
Mr.. Balfour affirm that the time has
arrived for plain speaking inside and
outside of parliament, and that Lord
Salisbury's words are being construed
into a pledge against annexation, and
Lord Roberts proclamation into a
promise Of no confscation of Boer
property.
why should They Riscf
The Transyaal agency at Brussels
threatens n rising Of the Cape Dutch
in the event of annexation, though why
the Dutch should rise then rather than
now is not explained.
Mr. A. G. IIales, the Daily News cor
respondent who was captured by the
Beers in February, was released at
Blocmfontein and put through the
lines near Stcrkstroom. He telegraphs
that the Beers are demorali2ed, but
adds that they have been treating the
British wounded splendidly.
The Cape Colony Rebels.
Orange River, Cape Colony, March
7.-Thc recent British victories have
had wonderfully quieting effect upon
the rebel Dutch, many of whom in the
nighborhood Of Douglas, are reported
disheartened and about returning to
their homes. The commando in the
neighborhood OF Britstown has been
given carte blanche by President Steyn
to raise as many recruits and to do as
much damage as possible.
The rebels in the neighborhood OF
Kenhordt are particularly aggressive,
acting on the supposition that the
troops Of Lord Roberts are fully occu-
pied in the Free State.
A Radical Difference of Opinion.
London, March s.--A dispatch to the
Daily News from Moddcr River, dated
Monday, March 5, and describing the
Boer position in front Of Lord Roberts,
says;
"The Beers seem to like to be kept
busy intrcnching. They have mounted
eight guns on high kopjes. 1t Is
marvellous how they drag these weap-
ons into such positions.
at is reported here that at u recent
emergency meeting of the Free State
raad, ut Bloemfontein, radical diff
ference of opinion developed, the ma
jority fovoring peace at amy price, but
the minority, including President
Steyn, advocating fight to the end"
TO Make One job OF u.
London, March S.-Spencer Willtin-
son, in the Morning Post Wednesday,
confines his review of the military situ-
ntion TO mere record of events, and
concludes af follows;
at almost seems as though Lord
Roberts wished TO let the Beers assem-.
bic as much OF their army MS they can
before beginning TO try conclusions
with them,
sTORMDENG OCCUPIED.
Gen. Gatncrc WIN at once Repair
the railroad Lines.
London, March THE war Office
has received the following dispatch
| from Lord Roberts: