Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1900-03-08

the Mooi river camp, where the troops
will remain. several days, after which
they will 60 further south. They are
emaciated and exhausted and say the
road to Colenso presents scenes that ex-
ceed in horror those depicted in
Dante's "Inferno." Dead men and an
imals are lying mutilated and purified
in the trenches formerly occupied by
the Beers, and fill the air with a sicken-
ing stencil. In cases where hurried
burial had been attempted the rains
have washed the earth away, and out
of the earth stick ghastly legs and arms
of dead burghers.
A dispatch from Osfontein says that
according to the Boer prisoners another
important British success will cause
President Steyn to flee to Pretoria, leav-
ing a provisional government at Bloem.
fontein, which is likely to make peace
overtures, those Free Staters not wish.
ing for peace trekking into the Trans
vaal and there making stand which
most of the British military critics now
point out will constitute the most diff
cul and deciding feature Of the war.
The recent rains have afforded Lord
toberts good grass and copious supplies
have reached him. News Of his advance
is eagerly awaited.
LONDON, March 6.-The air Of mystery
which covers the movements Of the
main British army in South Africa con-
tinues, though what information leaks
through indicates that the campaign is
being, carried on with steady progress.
There are now practically three British
armies in the field, one in the Free
State, one in Cape Colony and the other
in Natal.
All that is known about the first and
most important is that it is in close
touch with body Of Beers supposed to
number about 5000 mon. Speculation
as to the direction and method of Gen
eral Roberts advance into the Free
State is quite worthless, SO carefully are
the plans concealed.
In Cape Colony, Generals Brabant
and Clements command the two horns
of the army, while General Gatacre
holds the main Boer force i'll check.
Generals Gatacre and Clements will
probable combine and advance on
Bloemfontein, with General Bra abant
guarding the right flank with mobile
colonials. This movement will be sub.
sequent to securing a line of commun.
cations along the lines Of the Free State
railroads, which according to the
latest dispatches seem almost accom-
plished. The third army that in Natal,
is comparatively inactive and with
the exception of sorties, a serious
movement can hardly be expected from
it this week. When it will be ready to
advance, it's movements must greatly
depend upon how much distance the re.
treating Beers put between themselves
and General Butler. AS an incident of
the British main objective, which at
last is clearly outlined as Pretoria, the
relief Of Mafeking by a force from the
south may be expected any day, Colonel
Plumer's force, ON the north seeming
incapable Of accomplishing it,
The unexpected activity of the Cape
Dutch and the reported likelihood of
fighting between them and the Basutos,
aided by other tribes having a grudgr
against the Beers, is regarded as rather
Ominous.
The only other untoward phase of the
military situation that the critics can
discern is the enforced temporary inac
tivity of the Natal army, an instance of
which is contained in the dispatch an
nouncing that the flying column which
attempted to intercept the Boer retreat
only succeeded in driving the enemy
further north. General Whites men,
according to The Times correspondent
at Ladysmith. will require fortni ght' S