Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-17
First Boast Of England thought to
be in Way Of FulfIImeOt,
FREE SKATERS GIVING UP.
Little Further Opposition Expected
Rhodes Refers TO England's Mis-
takes and Incompetent Generals.
[Early plsnatehss.l


the Tribune from London says;
At the opening Of the war Englishmen
talked lightly about a promenade OF
an army corps through the Free State.
and during the next four months they
condemned themselves with fine irony
for their boastful folly. Their earliest
forecast is now In fair way to be
fulfilled, since three columns hayo
crossed the orange river without firlng
shot and the guards have gone down
the railway In three trains TO meet
them and TO hunt for the enemy's guns.
And while President Steyn. with the
Boer commands behind him, ls still
In the field az KroOnstadt and Ventors-
burg, and there Is rear guard at
Brandfort or Wlnburg, the march
northward does not seem likely 10 be
seriously opposed
OCCUPATION A PEACE MEASURE.
The occupation Of Bloemfonteiu is
peace measure Of great efficacy. The
capital has welcomed Lord Roberts
soldiers, and Is rejoicing that 50 far as
the Free State Is concerned the war Is
virtually at an end. The influence OF
the capital is felt north and south. The
forces blocking the advance Of Gatacre.
Brabant and Clements are breaking up;
the commands Of the north are thin
ming out nightly from desertlon. II
does seem improbable that there VIII
be q promenade as far as the Vaal
river.
The details OF the conoentrlc move
ment upon Sprngfontein are coming In
slowly. General Brabant was too far
east TO take part In IL, and he was fully
occupied In accommodating the enemy's
position north OF Alwalnorth. Gen.
eral Clements had forced the passage
| OF the river az Norvalspont on Thurs
/ day morning. and constructed a bridge
| for carrying over his heavy guns. Gen.
| eral Gatacre was moving forward rap.
| idly toward Springfonteln from Be-
! thule. General Pole-Carew. with the
| guards has arrived at Springfontein
| and Is probably already In touch With
| Generals Gatacre and Clements.
FREE SKATERS GIVING UP.
General Roberts, in his midnight re.
| port, said nothing about the Dutch rear
! guard. These have probably disbandedi
and there is no obstacle 10 the Inn
mediate opening Of railway communica-
tions from Bloemfonteln TO Orange
river
Lord Roberts states that two contln'
gents Of the Free State forces are on
the border Of Basutoland awaiting the
terms OF his proclamation before sur
rendering. The burghers are abandon
ing Steyn and preparing 10 give up
their arms and return 10 their farms
The campaign In the Free State Is
virtually over
Three days later news has come from
Mafeking where the garrison was hold-
ing out well on Friday week and has
been able 10 seize the Beers advanced
trench south Of the town. The report
that relief column has been organized
at Kimberley is confirmed. IL Is re-
cruited from volunteers and local
forces and stiffened with regulars. Cen
eral Kitchener has clearly been at work
there. and the seizure Of Boshof Is con-
nected with the movement
AS there Is a Boer force at Fourteen
Streams. the column will have severe
| fighting before Il can cross the Naai
and clear the western border.
COMMENTS on The FIGHTING.
The casualties in the battle Of Drei-
fontein have run up the losses OF LORD
Roberts army IN the final stage OF It's
advance upon Bloemfontein to Sis. In
contrast with these slight losses, win
victory GROWING the British arms. Is
the heavy cost Of Methuen's and Cat.
acres defeats al Magersfontein and
stormberg. Of which official reports
were gazetted last night
General Methuen's report VIII revive
criticism Of his tactics since he al.
heres tenacously to his opinion that
a portion Of the Black Watch broke al
q critical moment and that there was
: an unfortunate retirement OF the Cor
dons when the enemy were quitting
their trenches. Gatacre's report Is ac'
companied by General Roberts cru
= clsms that he ought TO have halted OF
: fallen back when he discovered That the
. guides had misled him and not have
| risked the safety o. his entire force
The brave Irish soldiers al the IRON
have wrought something IKE mirael'
: in England. The bells OF WINDSOR cas-
tie win be rung today In honor OF d
2 Patrlcks day The grenadiers pane
= will play Irish airs on Castle hill ans
an the flags Of the royal borough VII
! be displayed. ST. Patrick Is the queen
; patron saint Tor one day In the calenisr
ana not only all the irish pattaiohs
but the West End OF LONDON as wei
, will wear the green.
I RHODES on INCOMPETENT GEN
RAILS.
A dispatch to the World from Lon
don says
i, Jullan Ralph, In a letter from Kim
! berley to the London Daily Mail o.
! this Saturday morning, quotes Cecl
/ Rhodes as saying In an.interview VIII
I him: 49,
] ie her luck. We have made the sillies'
i mistakes. and we have had some OF I'M
! most incompetent generals, but we ar
coming out al right, as We always 90
/, ~ am glad TO have Kimberley re-
4 reved OF course. We are all glad, but
: In heavens name, why was Il not dom
4 sooner? What was the good OF al
! the messing about Rensberg and Coles
berg? why did they not do at mrs
; what was 50 readily done az LAST
: There Is little use telling you VIVA
I, Rpller's plans were, you people IN Eng
4 land have such wonderful Ideas abou
hls generalship. DO you know
. HE orders 10 Methuen with regard Y
!, Kimberley7 They we're these; Me
tbuen was 10 come here 20 relieve IN
. town, carry all the people away out o
!. II and then fall back 10 orange river
\ u know II, and | say that II Is scan
4 dalous. II would have been DIS
grace upon England had Il been car
red out Take the people all away
leave The town and fall back to orang
n rlverl
Il don't refer 10 the abandonment 0
the town as a disgrace. but 10 fallin
: hscr 10 Orange river. Why shoul'
IN rnellsh general plan a retreat an
: arrange 70 fall baeki II Il slmps'
morstrous."