The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-08
NINDBRG /
7" CAPTURED.
COlOnials' Dash Takes
Roberts Beyond the
Vet=-BOers Driven
Across the Vaal.

the important strategic success O
the seizure of Smaldeel Junction
where the line to Winburg diverge
from the main railway between
Bloemfontein and Petoria and a
the same time from other sources
comes the news that Wlnburg ha.
been occupied by General Hamil
ton.
OF the fight for the Vet River de
tails are now to hand. From
Brandfort to the Vet is distance
of nineteen miles, General Pole
Carew started his division at day.
break to march to the river, and
arrived at Eensgoronden, the frs,
station south of the Vet, about mid
day. The Australians covered the
advance, and at o'clock discover.
ed the Beers in the river bed being
fired on by the burghers at dis.
tance of 300 yards.
The artillery then pushed for
ward, escorted by Stevenson bri-
gade and the Eighty-fourth and
Eighty fifth Batteries, which caus-
ed the guns Of the Boer main posi-
ton to unmask. Other pieces of
Boer artillery then came into action
on the British right and the Eighty
fourth Battery moved away to en-
gage them, leaving the o Their Brit
ish battery to answer the guns in
the Boer centre. Two naval r.
FOUNDERS, two 4 and two 5-inch
guns coming successfully into ac-
tion soon altered the aspect of af-
fairs, the two Boer guns being
temporarily silenced.
Meanwhile General Hutton was
we'll to the west with the Canadi-
ans, Australians, New Zealanders
and British mounted infantry, and
attacked the Beers at the drift by
which they intended to cross.
The Beers, who were led in this
portion of the field by Lucas Meyer
second in command of the federal
troops, had the advantage in a
number of machine guns, but the
mounted Britishers managed to
drive their antagonists out of the
river bed and, having crossed the
river, took up position which out
hanked the right.
Hutton during the night sent two
squadrons to blow up the railway
near Smalldeel, in hope by doing
this some rolling stock might be
captured, but the fast train north
wards had left the junction on Sat
urday evening.
From the right wing and the left
come news showing the surge for
ward to the center OF the British
army is pushing back the Beers to
the east and west. Fourteen
Streams, where, for six weeks, the
Beers have fred across the Vaal
at the British, near Warrenton, has
been evacuated, and the British
garrison under Colonel Paget has
crossed the river and ioined Hunt
err.
Rumble, in the east, has found a
strong position which the burghers
held before ThabA N'Chu evacuat-
ed, and has taken possession OF it.
Like broad arrow, the British
advance is now piercing the north
ern positions Of the Free State from
Winburg Hills on the left and ex-
tended toward Boshof and towards
Warrenton.
London, May S.-All along the
line the British advance continues,
and though opposed at some points
is unchecked.
The capture of Winburg by Cen
eral Ian Hamilton is confirmed by
a dispatch from Smaldeel, the sta
ton at the junction of the railroad
running to Winburg with the main
line from Bloemfontein to Petoria,
which says, under date Of Sunday,
May 6.
"News has just come here that
General Hamilton is giving the
Beers no rest and that they are
falling back hurriedly.
"He entered Winburg after a
brisk fight, in which the Beers fell
back so quickly that one of their
guns, in addition to a Maxim was
abandoned.
Lord Roberts reports to the War
Office, in dispatch dated Small
deel, May 5, afternoon, as follows:
We crossed the Vet River this
morning and are now encamped at
Smaldeel Junction. The enemy is
in full retreat toward Zand River
and Kroonstad. The turning move
ment was made by the mounted in
fantry just before dark Yesterday.
It was a very dashing affair. The
Canadians, New South Wales, New
Zealand Rifles and Queensland
Mounted Infantry We'd with each
other in the determination to close
with the enemy. Captain Anley,
of the Essex Regiment, command
ing the Third Infantry Battalion,
behaved in very gallant manner.
The naval guns and artillery
made excellent practice, particu-
larry two five-inch guns used for
the first time with this force.
We captured Maxim and fifteen
prisoners. Our casualties are few
only fifteen wounded, one killed
and three missing.
The Beers have been driven out
of Fourteen Streams and the Brit
lsh are now encamped on the north
bank of the Vaal River.
Lord Roberts cables, under date
of May 7, 10. SIS a. m.
General Hunter, after defeating
the enemy May 4, joined hands
with Paget, near Warrenton. The
enemy left thirteen killed and
wounded on the ground and we cap
tured several prisoners. Our losses