The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-28
INVASION OF THE TRANsvAAL.


LONDON. May 2s. $40 a. m.-When Lord
Roberts wrote his first dispatch on Trans
vaal territory yesterday, shortly before
o'clock in the afternoon. he was fifty-one
miles from johannesburg and seventy
seven from Pretoria His immensely super
for forces had passed the vaal river, their
last great natural obstacle. at three points
The vaal forms a curve of eighty miles
from Parys. on the west. to Zand drift on
the east The concave of the curve is to-
ward the Free State. Thus Lord Roberts.
advancing along the railway, was in a posi-
tion to strike any part of the crescent by
shorter lines than those by which the Beers
could reinforce the threatened points. The
Beers retreated almost without a show of
defense. General French and General Ham,
ilton apparently did not fire a shot.
Lord Roberts's immediate force. eleven
men belonging to the Eighth Mounted In
fantry. was the first TO ford the river. They
came upon a Boer patrol looting at VII
Joen's drift. and skirmish lasting ten
minutes followed. Two hundred Beers tried
feebly TO hold the Vereenigning colliery.
but they were dislodged.
Major Hunter Weston and Lieut.. Earle
rode in advance OF Lord Roberts forty
miles into hostile country to try to cut
the railway behind the Beers before the
vaal was crossed, but they were too late.
The Boer rear guard is at Moyerton, ten
miles south OF Vereeniging. Their main
body is moving toward the Kip river hills
that cover the south side OF Johannes
burg
While Lord Roberts's $1,000 infantry. 10000
horse and $50 guns are moving on Iolan-
nesburg and Pretoria through a pdrched
and deserted country. the situation at the
Transvaal capital. as 1t was last Friday,
Is thus described by an observer who sent
his message by private hand TO Lourenzo
Marques yesterday: 1.-The situation. both
from a military and a political point OF
view. has become very critical President
Kruger admitted for the first time that
matters are very grave. The Boer determi-
nation Is to trust everything to a last
stand on the Cats Rand mountains. TO the
north Of Potchetstroom. where three thou
sand Kaffirs are digging trenches. To that
point every available man and gun Will
be sent.
WESTERN BORDER DEFENSELESS.
1.-The whole western border of the Trans
vaal. from end to end. is defenseless. and
Colonel Baden-Powell can march in when
he likes. Lord Roberts. on the other hand.
viii encounter the greatest resistance. Tho
Roers' endeavor Is 10 lure the British into
appearing 10 threaten Johannesburg with
attack, an excuse thus being given them
for the destruction of property. The
Transvaai government will not dare de-
stroy the mines and property without an
excuse Much dynamite has been sent
down the line. and 10000 cases lie ready
at Zurfontein. near johannesburg General
Louis Botha and General Lucas Meyer
have pleaded for the preservation os prop
erty. Both are large landed proprietors
and fear confscation. but they have not
received satisfactory replies from Presi-
dent Kruger
Meanwhile many French and German
adventurers have come forward with
schemes and inventions for blowing up
the British troops. Some of these have re-
ceived n tacit permission to experiment
One German invention is for use on a rail-
road where il lies perfectly concealed until
the weight OF a passing train explodes the
charge.
General Lucas Meyer says surrender
would be at once proposed ty the Beers
but that every body fears the ignominy OF
being the one 10 make the proposal. He
declares that he is assured that his men
Will not stand. President Steyn and Mr.
Reifz, the Transyaal state secratary are