The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-05-02
BIG VICTORY DESIRED.
London Would Like to See Roberts
Acco I'm plish Something.

London, April 2S-Gen. Roberts in a
midnight dispatch present a brief sum
mary of the situation, but leaves several
points in doubt. Gen. Hamilton. with
the mounted infantry and one brigade of
the Ninth division, had reached Thaba
N'Chu, where Gen. French joined him
with his cavalry brigades yesterday
morning, Rundle's division being a few
miles south The Beers were still hold
ing the Eastern outlet of the town. and
French and Hamilton were preparing to
turn them out
Gen. Roberts reported that Gen. Bra
bason with the yeOmanry cavalry had
gone as far as Wepener and returned to
Dewetsdorp, where Chermside's division
was still halting. Pole Carew's division
was either at DewetsdOrp or was march
ing toward Thaba N'Chu. There was
nothing from Wepener and no other Off
clal news except a few casualties and
report Of an outpost affair near Bethulie
Want Another Big Victory.
Gen. Roberts operations are now con-
Quoted on so large scale that the public
here is dazed by them and requires some
definite result, like another Paardeberg,
in order to be convinced that he is max
ing progress. The experts regard his
hat aftef the two fcvefses q sannaa
post and Reddersburg he decided upon
a course of inactiOn in order to draw as
large body Of Beers as possible into the
southeastern district of the Free State
knowing that when he was ready he
could deploy five corps against them and
hoping that he could cut off the retreat of
the several commanders. His maneu-
verS were almost too successful, since the
Beers retreated from Wepener and Dew
etsdorp before French could intercept
them. A portion of the Boer force has
been found at Thaba N'Chu, and in the
course of twentyfour hours it will be
known whether there is any chance of
capturing it.
Asking Delicate Questions.
The cross-eXamination of Mr., Wydn
ham was continued in the House of Com
mons yesterday on delicate questions re-
latlng to the campaign. He did not give
the name of the subaltern responsible for
the loss of the convoy and guns at San
mas post, but pleaded ignorance The
question was clearly inspired by a sus-
plclon that some important parsonage like
the Duke of Teck was implicated, and
that both Gen. Roberts and the war
office were seeking to protect him. The
Duke of Ieck was in another section Of
the theater of war and his brother has
also been imported to another quarter.
London clubs in war time are whispering
galleries of gossip and calumny, and the
nsAi'!Ce u tLC olo'ASlo VI TIE buCucSS OIL
York have been freely mentioned in con-
nection with the stupid blunder made at
Sanas post, but there is no authority for
these irresponsible charges.
Mr. Wyndham was also drawn into an
explanations of the causes Of the sup
press.on of Gen. Roberts comments on
Gems. Butler and Warren for several
weeks and it was an artificial one. The
delay could not have been caused by an
exchange of messages with Gen. Roberts,
and the time required for printing and
considering the report. The relief of
Ladysmith depended upon the immediate
advance of Buffers army and the war
office exercised wise discretion in holding
| back the reports and comments.