The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-05-31
ON TO PRETORIA.
GENERAL EOREETS ADvANC1H6
ALONG THE RsILwAY.
The Beers EvncHate All Their FoS11
lions south Of tho vanl Rtvcr-Th0
tery-Thc British Force Rapidly
ApprOachfn. the TransvaHi.

y
latest intelligence from Lord Roberts,
headquarters at Nredefort station, hle0
Thursday, 5:i5 p. m, was that the Br1ts
ish were rapidly advancing. General
Hamilton had effected a junction with
Lord Roberts. The country in front OF
them was clear Of Beers to ViljoenS
Drift The Beers were evacuating all
their positions south Of the Faal river
and sou had already crossed to the
north bank. Probably General French's
cavalry is reccnnoiteE.as the fords OF
the Vaal.
War Office Observers expect that the
next dispatch from the field marshal
will be dated in siGat Of the Transvaal
frontier.
Mr.. Bennett Burleigh. wiring to the
Daily Telegraph from Vredefort
Thursday evening, said Lord Roberts
would doubtless cross the Vaal river
on Saturday CT Sunday.
While the British in overwhelming
force thus rapidly approaching the
Transvaal the movements of the Beers
are enve!ored in mystery.
Everyone seeming to cross the Portu-
guese bC,Ger from the Transvaal is
searching for newspapers and letters.
Dispatches and mail letters containing
even harmless references to the war
are supp esscd. and the only news that
has emerged from the Transvaal during
the last ten days has come by word OF
mouth.
According to these oral reports the
Beers We're Quarcellng among them
selves. IIansvaal paper money was
CIrcIla ting a 20 discount
Becket's firm was giving one pound in
gold for five pounds in paper.
Commandant Schultz had been APP
pointed TO defend johannesburg, and
all the British subjects had been turn
ed out.
The Transvaalers fear that the Brit
ish will blow up the bridge at Komati
PoOrt thus cutting off their supplies
from De.asoa bay, and a commando
Of 500 is guarding the bridge against
any such attempt by British raiders.
Its TeaSserteG that President Kruger
NTH reference to the possibility that
General Darlington may come down
rom Rhodesia with 5000 men to CO.
pefate with as many more entering the
| ITansvaal by way of Mafeking. Horse
| sickness is said to have broken out
among General Carrington's animals.
| Mr.. Cecil Rhodes is at Beire, Portu.
| Guese East Africa. Mr.. Fuller, mem
| Der Of the Cape Parliament, who is sup
| posed rs he i cOnfidante of Mr. Rhodes
! said in the course of a speech at Cape
| Town yesterday, when proposing the
| health of Mr.. Rhodes, that the latter
| was working to consolidate South
| Africa from the Zamsibi to Table
| ba.-.
| General Baden-P Powell is determined
| to retain his active command at the
| front. Advices from Mafeking, dated
| May GOTH say: The Beers are en-.
| trenching at POlfontein, ten miles east OF
| Hlafeking. The Northern railway is
no" repaired to point within foul
| miles Of the town. Ample supplies OF
! PLAIN food are coming in. Colone
! Baden-PoweH voluntarily gave up fifty.
| three Beers and thirteen wounded tc
| the Boer commandant, who thanked
| him for his Kindness"
The BralOngs. stimulated by the Brit
| lsh successes. attacked the rebel natives
| at ReitfOnfein May 9Th and took much
| loot. They released SAM, the old chie1
! who had rendered good service to the
! British in keeping Mafeking supplied
| with news Of the Boer operations.
| The railway south of Mafeking is be.
! ing rapidly repaired. and the bridge a
Taun2s can now be used. Refugees
| from Mafeking are passing through
IaunSS bound for the Cape
Two thousand Beers are near Fiks
burg. besides small rowing parties thai
come into contact with the British
While accommodating. President Steyr
was with these Beers last Monday or
| ganizing and inspiring them and draft
ing recalcitrants into service
| London. May .5.-Another advanc.
along the railroad toward Pretoria has
brought Lord Roberts troops to Vrede
| port road, few miles north of Pros
pect, they arrived at noon Thurs
| day. Meanwhile General Methuen is
| progressing along the southern bank Of
the Naal liver, with the object posi-.
bly, Of making a dash at Klerksdorp
| when he arrives opposite that railroad
| terminus
| General Hutton's column is appar.
entity in the neiShborhood of Vrefe.
| port. fifteen miles west of the railroa d
| whence it threatens the FederalS' righ
| flank.
| The best opinion is that the next bis
engagement will be fought just south
of Johannesburg and that the figh
there, and possibly one at Laings Mex
! will prove the last pitched battles OF
the war. The latest indications almos
point to the latter being the more stub.
born of the two. 1t is hoped here thai
General Butler will delay until Lore
Roberts is able to detach a force tt
seize Heidelberg and sever railroad
communication between Johannesburg
and Laings Mex.
Warrenton, May 24.-Opera tons have
been pushed forward eighty miles, one
of General Hunters brigades havins
occupied Nryburg last.
VredefOrt, May 24-The British
columns, after an unopposed march
reached the NredefOrt road at noon to.
day and are now only two marches
from the NaaI river.