The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-18
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.
SUNDAY. MARCH Is. 1900.


Prospects fn south Africa.
II We could accept all we hear from
South Africa and Europe today without re-
serve. we should feel compelled 10 predict
an early end to The war. and general Boer
submission before summer. As far as ap-
pearances go il certainly looks as il the
Transvaal Army were disintegratinE. while
there are good reasons for believing that
The allied force OF the Free State is dis
perSinE rapidly. There has been divided
counsel and trouble among the Boer lead
ers for some time Joubert. il will be re-
membered. quit the front and went 10 Pre-
toris. He is reported back and in com
nand somewhere above Bloemfontein; but
Lourenco Marques despatch. on the
strength Of message to that place from
Pretoria. asserts that Generals Lucas
Meyer and Schalk Burger have declined to
ight any longer and have returned to their
farms.
II the bellwethers are beginning to fall
away in this manner We may expec, q
good many OF the sheep to follow them.
The Importance Of such defections 10 the
result Of the war is obvious in the case Ct
a belligerent who is already vastly out
numbered by his adversary. The actual
numerical strength OF the Boer Army in
GLIDING Free Ststers and Natal and Cape
rebels. is as much a mystery today as it
has been throughout the campaign. Cecil
Rhodes declares that there never have
been TO exceed thirty thousand Beers I'M
der arms at one time. This is no doubt
an underestimate but we are quite pre-
pared to believe that there were not more
than forty thousand in the field al the date
OF Cronie's surrender and that this esu-
mate should be cut down twenty-five per
cent 10 cover the losses and desertions
since.
From strategical point OF view, there
would seem to be but litUe il any chance
for General Joubert to offer serious resist
snce to the advance OF Lord Roberts The
latter has his enemy divided and fully oc-
cupied in two places. Sir Redyers Butler
reports the Beers in force on the Biggars-
berg range and in Van Reeneu's Pass. II
they should evacuate these and fan back
into The Transraal by way OF Laing's Mex.
Butler would be able TO follow. or to cross
the Drskensberg Mountains and take Jou-
bert in flank in the northern part Of the
Free State Ultimately. il is to be pre-
sumed that the Beers viii leave Natal and
move TO the Nasl River line Of defence;
but the results will probably not be in any
way affected by that movement. Com
pared with the force opposing him north OF
Bleemfontein. Roberts has men enough to
turn, aud thus render untenable any,
position the other party may occupy. II all
the Beers were united the fact would be
the same. In that event instead Of having
fifty thousand troops with which to ope-
rate against. Say. twenty thousand the
British general. REINFORCED by his Natal
army. would be in command OF ninety
thousand against a possible thirty. thirty
Eve or forty thousand. In these circum-
stances it is not easy 20 think that Joubert
can do anything effective in the way OF
stopping the British a the Wal River uu-
less indeed it should be possible for him
TO select his own ground. which we do not
understand TO be the case
The occupation o. Springfontein, the
northern salient OF the strategic quadrilat-
eral near the Orange River. completes the
cleanup OF the Free State south of Bloem
fontein. All the British forces are now
north Of the river, and uuopposed, as far
as we can learn, except opposite Aliwal
North where General Brabant is confront
ed with a considerable body and two
Krupp guns These Beers are cut Of
from retreat by the railway. and are in
imminent danger OF being surrounded and
captured. II is perhaps possible for them
to escape by abandoning their guns and
supplies and scattering in small parties;
but for the present il looks very much al IL
they were baEged. The communications by
rail between Bloemfontein and the coast
are now open, and. thanks TO his luck in
catching twentv-six locomotives when he
took possession Of Steyu's capital. Lord
Roberts wiIl be able TO supply himself rap
idly from the Cape and other seaports.
10 is presumable that the main body cs
she British Army at Bloemfonteln will soon
be ready 20 advance. The movement may
be delayed long enough 10 dispose of what
ever Beers may be stiH ia the field below.
But Pole-Carew. Gatacre. Clements. and
Brahant between them are expected 10
Guish hat business within few days.
That will release about fifteen thousand
troops which. il is said will move up and
occupy Bloemfontein when Roberts and The
Modder River Army march out toward the
Veal and Pretoria.
Neither Kruger nor Joubert nor. in fact
any other Of the Boer leaders, can be ig-
uoraut OF the truth that tleir cans is hope
less. nor that further resistance will
merely involve useless sacrifice OF life
ana properiy-that is. unless there should
he foreign Intervention. IL is at that
straw the Trausvaal Government is
catching IL argues that every day the
capture Of Pretoria can be delayed viii
help the chance that some European COM
pucaiion may finally work 20 the relief OF
the B0er situation. However much such
theory may have been justified in the PAST
it must Dc said TO have little foundation
now. 81 we are TO credit the political news
from Europe today. il Is being claimed by
well-inlormed and semi-omcial European
papers that the Gar OF Russia is bound by
q solemn personal engagement not 20 take
advantage OF Great Britaiu's preoccupatiol
in any uay; that he. therefore. VIII not
attempt intervention. and that no power
other than Russia f. in q position TO OF
wishes 10 interfere. IL this De a true
nnalvsis Of the position occupied by Europe
with reference to intervention. il is O. be
hoped that The futility Of continuing she