The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-10
CROSS The zAND.
Roberts Advance Traverses One
More River.
Beers Are Still Holding Strong
Position.
PUSHING THEM BACK.
British Commanders Reports
Maintain Confident Tone.
General Hutton Made to Scamper
Back by the Beers.

London, May 10, 1920 a. NIT is
officially announced that the British |
have crossed the Zand river and that
the Beers are being pushed back from
their strong positions
Lord Roberts reports to the war office |
as follows:
Gable cart headquarters, at the front. |
May 10, $40 a. m. We are across the |
Iand river. The enemy are still hold
ing a strong position, but we are grad |
ually pushing them back
General Hutton's mounted infantry
brigade, including the Canadians, with
a part of General F'rench's cavalry
crossed the Zand river Tuesday and be
gan to work its way cautiously along
the railroad northward in the track
Of the retiring Beers
About 5000 horsemen were probably
engaged in this advance. General Hut
ton before he was Joined by a part of
General French'S force, had a sharp
fight. This was on Monday when he
reached the river and saw the Boer
conveys on the other side and pressed
forward, intending to cross and capture
them. The Beers, however, opened fire
with from eight to ten guns, forded
the river above and below, seemingly
IN thousands, and sought to envelop
the British General Hutton fell back
several miles, the Beers following un-
til other British cavalry reinforced
Hutton. During the night the Beers re-
treated, not further contesting the
crossing.
Lord Roberts, according to one cor
respondent, left Smaldeel Tuesday to
consult one of the Hamiltons, fifteen
miles distant. The BOer attack on Gen
eral Hutton does not indicate any such
paniczy conditions as have been al
legged to exist among them Neverthe-
less the British advance rolls on stead
lily. General Broadwood and General
Bruce Hamilton have penetrated fif-
teen miles beyond Winburg. According
n ady cho cl-i ,icIo
of daily occurrence, and there was a,
brisk rifle engagement outside Winburg
on Saturday.
From Boer sources comes also the
report that in a slxirnish outside Mafe-
king, May 5. Colonel Baden-Powell was
slightly worsted. The Transvaal volks-
raad adopted resolutions on Tuesday
exr reSsing Indignation at the British
for not conducting the war in a civil
lied manner, for killing wounded Beers
with lances. for using armed Kaffirs
under British officers, and for i'll treat
ing prisoners.
President Kruger, after his formal
speech on Monday said the British were
prepared for war in 1896, as documents
which the burghers had captured show,
but the TransVaal to avoid blOodshed
provided a seven years franchise and
then a five years franchise.
Great Britain still demanded" he
declared "and the republic at length
| accepted the challenge Even should
| take Pretoria, the Beers will still re-
main a free people. Our trust is in
! God; and we may be confident that
He will defeat the most powerful gen
| erals"
Adelbert Hay. United States consul
| at Pretoria, was present when this
| speech was delivered.
A dispatch credited to a. Semi-official
| source in Pretoria, says:
THE European powers have deliv
cred a collective note to President Kru-
ger informing him that they will hold
! him personally responsible for the
safety Of the mines, and viii support
England in enforcing compensation in
event of their destruction.
WOMEN READY TO FIGHT.
Pretoria, Mas 9-President Kruger has
| received a telegram from a Burgheress
asking if the time has not arrived for
the formation of a corps of women, ad-
| ding that she is prepared with a body
| of women volunteers to take UP arms in
| defense of the independence of the
/ Transvaal.
SOONER THAN EXPECTED
London, May 10.-The crossing of the
/ Zand river by the British seems to have
been effected soon than even the most
sanguine expected and this morning
Lord Roberts temporary headquarters
| is established in a cable cart on the
/ north bank of the river. Though the
| opposition the federalS are offering
| shows that yesterdays report of the
| abandonment of their position was i'll
1
| consisting of from 10000 to $4,000 mount
ed men, besides infantry, artillery and
| the naval contingent appears to be suffi-
GENTLY powerful to Oyerwhelm any Op-
position the burghers can offer. Even,
though, as reported yesterday they have
| been reinforced by 5000 men from other
/ commands and possess a score of heavy
guns, the experts believe the opposition
will not be prolonged more than is nee
essary to remove the guns and other
impedimenta in the direction of Kroon-
| stad.
Further reports from Lorenzo Mar
ques show that the customs authorities
| there in addition to clothing and shoes
refuse to clear corned beef for the
Transvaal, holding it is contraband.
BOERS ON THE RUN.
London. May 10.-4:52 D. m.-An off
cial notice issued here announces thai
the Beers are in full retreat from the
Zand river.
BRITISH IN PURSUIT.
London, May 10, 4:55 p. m-The wal
office has received the following dis
patch from Lord Roberts:
Gable cart, Zand river, May 10, 12:3C
o. m.-The enemy are in full retreat
They occupied a position twenty miles
in length. Ours was necessarily longer
With the widely scattered force it will
take some time to learn the casualties
but am hopeful we have not suffered
much The cavalry and horse artillery
are pursuing the Beers by three diff
LONDON IS JUBILANT.
London. May 10.-Lord Roberts an
nouncement this evening of the flight OF
the Beers from the Zand river natur-
ally caused considerable qualification a
the war office. where it is now believed
that he will not allow the federal.
southwark of ISrocnstad. 1t is ever
thought it is just possible that Lort
Roberts transport may be in such con
, dition that he viii be able to keep hi,
troous moving SO rapidly as to drive thi
Beers right through Kronstad withou
| e-i1-ira- Them time TO organize rasista1l1.