Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-26
Lord Roberts May Cross the
vaaI To-Day or Sunday.
BOER MOVEMENTS A MYSTRY
oral Reports State Tint tho Doors Arc
Quarrcllng Among Themselves -Bocr
Paper Money Worth Only 20 Cents ON
tho Dollar-Johancsburg Preparing for
Dcfense-BrItlsh Subject Turned Out
Bocrs Fear British Will Cut on Sup
plies From Dclagoa Bay.
(By Telegraph to virginian-pilot.)

(By Telegraph to Virginian-Pilot.)
London. May &c $3.50 a. m.)-The
latest intelligence from Lord Roberts
headquarters at Vredfort Station. filed
Thursday at 5:45 D. m, was that the
British were rapidly advancing. Gener-
al Hamilton had effected Il junction
with Lord Roberts. The country in
front of them was clear of Beers to Viii
joen's Drift. The Beers were evacuat-
ing all their positions south of the Vaal
river, and 5000 had already crossed to
the north bank Probably General
Frenchs cavalry is already reconnoiter-
ing the fords of the Vaal.
War Office observers expect that the
next dispatch from the field marshal
will be dated in sight of the Transvaal
frontier.
Daily Telegraph from Vredefort, Thurs
day evening said Lord Roberts would
doubtless cross the Naal river on Sltur-
day or Sunday.
While the British, in Overwhelming
force. thus rapidly approaching the
Transvaal. the movements OF the Beers
are enveloped in mystery.
Every one seeming TO cross the Por-
tugese border from. the Transvaal is
searching for newspapers and letters.
Dispatches and mail letters, containing
even harmless reference to the war. are
suppressed, 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 quarrelling among them
selves. Transvaal paper money was
circulating Mt so per cent. discount.
Beckets firm was giving, one pound in
gold for five pounds in paper.
TO DEFEND JOHANNESBURG.
Commandant Schultz had been ap-
pointed to defend johannesburg; ana
all the British subjects had been turn
ed out. The Transvaalers fear that
the British will blow up the bridge at
Komati Poort, thus cutting off their
supplies from Delagoa Bay; and
commando of 500 is guarding the bridge
against any such attempt by British
raiders.
1t is re-asserted that President Kru-
ger said with reference 10 the posi-
bility that General Darlington may.
come down from Rhodesia with 5000
men to cooperate with as many more
entering the Transvaal by way OF
Mafeking that horse sickness is said to
have broken out among General Car
rington's animals.
MIR. Cecil Rhodes is at Beire. Portu-
guese East Africa. Mr.. Fuller, a men,
Der of the Cape parliament who Is sup
posed to be a confidant of Mr.. Rides,
said in the course of q speech at Cape
Town yesterday. when proposing the
health of Mr.. Rhodes that the latter
was working TO consolidate South
Africa from the Zamsioi to Table Bay
BADEN AT THE FRONT
General Baden-Powell is determined
to retain his active command at the
front. Advices from MafelSing dated
May 20, says:
THE Beers are entrenchng at Pol
fontin. ten miles east OF Mafeking. The
Northern Railway is now repaired to a
point within four miles OF the town.
Ample supplies Of plain food are coming
in.
Colonel Baden-Powell voluntarily
gave up fifty three Beers and thirteen
wounded to the Boer communicate, who
thanked him for his Kindness
The Bralongs stimulated by the Brit
ish successes, attacked the rebel natives
at Reitfontein, May 10, and took much
loot. They released SAM. the old chief.
who had rendered good service to the
British in keeping Mafeking supplied
with news Of the Boer operations.
The railway south Ma 'elSng is being
rapidly repaired, and the bridge at
Taungs can now he used. Refugees
from Mafeking are passing through
Taungs, bound for the Cape.
Two thousand Beers are near Fiks-
burg, besides small rowing parties that
come into contact with the British while
accommodating. President Steyn was
with these Beers last Monday organiz-
ing and inspiring them and drafting re-
caIcitrants into service.
LORD ROBERTS ADVANCE.
London. May 25.--Another advance
along the railroad toward Pretoria has
brought Lord Roberts troops to Vre-
deport road, a few miles north of Pros
peot where they arrived at noon
Thursday. Meanwhile General Methuen
Is progressing along the southern bank
of the Vaal river. with the object pos
slbly of making Il dash at Klersdorp
when he arrives opposite that railroad
terminus.
General Huttons column is appar-
entity in the nelghborhood of Vredeport,
Is miles west of the railroad whence
1t threatens the Federais' right flank.
The best opinion IS that the next big
enga gement will be fought just south
of Johannesburg and that the fight
there. and possibly one at Laing's Mex,
will prove the last pitched battles of the
war.
The latest Indications almost point
to the latter being the more stub
born OF the two. 1t is hoped here that
General Butler will delay until Lord
Dbl. L.. ri.