Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-03-15
NEAR BL0ENFONTEIN
Lord Roberts Sends Gen French to
the Free State Capital.
SPESSER WILEIySOy'S SUMMARY.


tein beyond Lord Roberts own dis
patches. Nothing more has been per-
mitted TO come through. Doubtless
Roberts is fully occupied with impor-
tant military operations. The dis
patch from Cape Town saying that
| Gen. French has arrived at Bloemfon-
tein' probably does not mean that
he has entered the city. Lord Rob-
erts' message may mean either that
the Beers have cut the railroad to
the north or that the British cavalry
have done so. If the former, then 1t
may be assumed that no rolling
stock has been seized, but by general
assumption the latter Interpretation
Is regarded as correct.
spsn.~r Wilkinson' Summary.
London, March dispenser Wilkin-
son. in the Morning Post, says:
'Lord Roberts is now probably wait
ing in front of Bloemfontein for the
infantry division. None of them
could well be expected to arrive before
dark. The three divisions will prob
ably be so directed that while the
leading ones will follow the cavalry
and turn the Boer defenses. the other
two will come up in echelon on to
the original Boer front, so that in
case of resistance the Beers could be
enveloped and compelled to retreat
under difficulties and with heavy loss.
Lord Roberts is not the man to for
get in his determination to reach a
strategical point any measures likely
to contribute toward crushing part
of the enemy's force.
"rhere are abundant signs Of. the
decentralization of the Beers. The
first is the bad strategy of their re-
sstance to the advance of Lord Rob-
erts. Then comes the message Of the
presidents to Lord Salisbury. Kruger
and Steyn, IT can be seen, have not
yet quite realized their position, but
Lord Salisbury's reply, being precise
ly what the British nation expected
him to send, may open their eyes"
Churchill Wires Protest
T.ondonsMarch 14.-Winston Church
III wires to the Morning Post from
Durham protesting against the cere-
monious treatment of Gen. Cronje,
He adds: "1'he stern decision not to
exchange prisoners will undoubtedly
accelerate the end of the war, but it
will prove very hard and perhaps
even dangerous for the British pris-
oners in Pretoria. There is abundant
evidence that the Beers are becoming
more cruel and that the war will enter
darker phase. 1t is very doubtful it
the Iioer government will be able to
control the wild passions of the exas-
perated ruflans, forming the noisy
part of the Boer forces, in the event
of siege of Pretoria and the posi-
ton of the British prisoners would
then become precarious. have visited
the dam which the Beers began on
Kip river below Iadysmith. If it
had been completed It would have sub
merged Intombi camp, where there
were 1000 sick"
News Sent by Lady Wilson from Mafeking.
London, March l4-Lady Sarah
Wilson wires to the Daily Mail from
Mafeking, under date of March 6, by
native runner to Lobatsi, March ., as
follows: "The Beers are very active
and it taxes Col. Baden-Powell and
the garrison very heavily to prevent
them cncroaching on our lines. Since
Commandant Snyman returned from
the north the siege has been prose-
cuted with renewed vigor. Dynamite
explosions were heard during the last
two days of February The Beers
have been blowing up sections of the
Northern railway, showing that they
fear the approach of Col. Plumers
column"
VIII Not Assent to Their Independence.
London. March 14.-L0rd Salisbury
read in the house of lords the British
governments reply to Presidents
Kruger and Steyn. The concluding
sentence is as follows: "Her maies-
tvs government can only answer your
honors' telegram by saying 1t is not
prepared to assent to the independ-
ence of either the South African re.
public or the Orange Free State
Country Deserted Around Barkly West
Cape Town, March 14.-The Cana
dAns from. Victoria West proceeded
10 the i'rieska uisur,vu. .-.--.-..-.
farmer, who has just returned from
n trip to Barkly West, reports that the
country is almost deserted. He COW
cred distance of Is miles, Beers are
said to he massing strong army on
the Vaa river in the neighborhood of
Kip dam.
The British Occupy Lobssti.
Cape Town, March lt.-Col, plumer
occupied Lobatsi without opposition
on March 5. The Beers had retired