New-York tribune., 1900-05-27
CROSSING THE TAAL.

We must modify our remarks OF yesterday
about Lord Roberts's advance. There was then
no indication that the army of the Commander
in Chief had quite reached the Vaal although
it was known to be near that river 1t now
appears, however, from an official dispatch
which was delayed in transmission for reasons
easy to surmise, that the advance guard did
actually reach and cross the Vaal on Thursday
last the Queens birthday. AS we have said
such an achievement is dear TO the heart of Lord
Roberts. This latest is fitting sequel TO his
capture of General Cronie the anniversary
of Majuba Hill 1t may perhaps, and not
unnaturally, pique curiosity as TO what will
happen the next important anniversary-tor
example. on that of the Queens accession or
that of her coronation-June 20 and June 2S
respectively
Apart from such dramatic accessories, tho
central fact of the situation is that the conquest
of the Orange Free State has now been practi-
cally effected and the invasion of the South
African Republic has been begun great
scale and without serious opposition. The
crossing of Thursday was made near Parys
probably between that place and Nredefort At
that point the troops only twenty-five miles
from Potchefstroom, whence there both a
railroad and n good wagon road to Johannes
burg. sixty miles away. British scouts were
yesterday reported to be also at Viljoen's Drift,
on the Naal That is near Vereeniging, on the
direct trunk line railroad, and nearly thirty
miles from the scene of Thursdays crossing.
This confirms the statement that the van of
Lord Roberts's army is thirty miles wide. Lord
Roberts was himself yesterday at Wolvehoek.
That is at the junction of the Heilbron branch
of the railroad with the main line, about fifteen
miles south of the Naal. He there about
equally distant from the crossing near Parys
III, oJ1-+n
with his main force toward either of those
places as might seem best. 1t should not
escape attention. by the way, that the Beers
report the British TO be moving from Yredefort
toward Schoeman's Drift. That is just below
Retzburg. on the Vaal, and on the direct road
to Potchefstroom
We may look hourly for news that Lord
Roberts himself has crossed the Vaal with the
mass of his army Apparently he will have
nothing before him but the remains of the
TTanSvaal army, for none of the Orange troops
seem to have gone across the river to aid in
the defence of the northern State. Some of
them are at or near Ficksburg away down
the Basutoland frontier, where they are in
danger of capture by General Rumble, who is
variously reported TO be at Trommel and at
Bethlehem. President Steyn is said to be at
Nrede. in the northeast of the Orange State
near the apex of the wedge of Natal. He may
thence, if necessary, easily pass into the
WakkerStroom district of >the Transvaal and
hurry up the railroad by way of Standerton to
Johannesburg But there is no reason to sup
pose he will be able TO take many of his coun-
trymen with him.
The first stage of the war had for it's scene
the British colonies, and centred around
Ladysnith Kimberley and Mafeking. The
second has been in the Orange State, ranging
all the way from Zoutpan's Drift to ViljOens
Drift The third, which may confidently
expect TO be the last, is about to be upon
the soil of the Transvaal itself. TIE second
| stage has been much shorter than the first. 1t
| will be for the best interests of vanQuished as
well as victor if the third shall be the shortest
| of all.