The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-26
AT VREDEFORT
LORD R0BERTs's HEADQUARTERS
NOT FAR FROM THE vAAL.
His whole Army May Cross the River
Into TransvaaI Territory To-
Day or To-Morrow.
BoERs STILL RETREATING
EvACuATrNG ALL THEIR POSITIONS
SOUTH OF THE vAAL.
steyn and a Few of His Men Near
Ficksburg Beseeching RecaIci-
trants to Take Up Arms.
KRUGER's CENSOR AT WORK
NO IMPORTANT NEWS PERMITTED
TO LEAVE PRETORIA NOW.
Baden-PoweIl Determined to Stay and
Take Part I'm the Finish-Two
More Battles Probable.
steyn and q Few Of His Men Near
Ffcksburg Beseeching Recalci-
tranfs to Take Up Arms.
KRUGER's CENSOR AT WORK
NO IMPORTANT NEWS PERMITTED
TO LEAVE PRETORIA NOW.
Buden-PosveII Determined to Stay and
Take Part I'm the Finish-Two
More Battles Probable.

LONDON, May 26, $50 a. m.-The latest
intelligence from Lord Roberts's head
quarters. at vredefort station. fled Thurs
day, at 5:45 D. m, was that the British
were rapidly advancing. General Hamilton
had effected junction with Lord Roberts.
The country in front of them was clear of
Beers TO viljeoen's drift. The Beers were
evacuating all their positions south of the
vaal river, and FIVE thousand had already
crossed to the north bank. Probably Gen.
French's cavalry is already reconnoitering
the fords of the Yaal.
War Office observers expect that the
next dispatch from the field marshal will
be dated in sight Of the Transvaal from
tier. Mr.. Bennett Burleigh, wiring 20 the
Daily Telegraph, from Vredefort, Thurs
day morning. said Lord Roberts would
doubtless cross the Vaal river Saturday or
Sunday. The British outposts were then at
Erste Geluk. nine miles north of vredefort.
and twenty-six miles south OF the vaal
river. The railway is much damaged.
While the British, in overwhelming
force. are thus rapidly approaching the
Transvaal. the movements OF the Beers are
enveloped in mystery. The last Pretoria
newspaper TO reach Lourenzo Marques
was a week old. Everybody seeking to
cross the Portuguese border from the
Transvaal is searched for newspapers and
letters Dispatches and mail letters con-
tanning even harmless references TO the
war are suppressed. The only news that
has emerged from the Transvaal during
the last ten days has come -hy.word OF
mouth According to these oral reports the
Bocrs were quarreling among themselves.
Transvaal paper money was circulating at
so per cent. discount. Becket's firm was
giving e1 in gold for e5 in paper. Krouz &
Kiinke, the engineers, who opposed the
blowing I'D of the mines. have been dis
missed. Commandant Schultz had been ap-
pointed to defend Johannesburg, and all
the British subjects had been turned out
The Transvaalers fear the British will
blow up the bridge at Komati Poort, thus
cutting Off their supplies from Delagoa
and a commando OF five hundred is guard
ing the bridge against any such attempt
by British raiders
NAY RETIRE TO LYDENBURG.
1t Is reasserted that President Kruger
will retire to Lydenburg when fighting is
imminent at johannesburg and Pretoria
Concern Is expressed at Pretoria with
reference to the possibility that General
Darlington may come down from Rhodesia
with five thousand men, to Cooperate with
as many men entering the Transvaal by
way OF Mafeking. Horse sickness is said 10
have broken out among General CARING
toms animals.
Cecil Rhodes Is at Beira Portuguese
East Africa Mr.. Fuller, a member of the
Cape Parliament. who is supposed to be a
conhdante of Mr. Rhodes said i'm the
course OF speech at Cape Town yester-
day. when proposing the health of Mr.
Rhodes. that the latter was working To
consolidate South Africa from the Zambesi
to Table bay"
Major Baden-Powell declines TO act on
the suggestions of his friends that he
should return to England for rest He Is
determined 10 retain his active command at
the 'front.' Advices from Mafeking dated
May ~. say: THE Beers are intrenching at
Polfontein. ten miles east OF Mafeking The
Northern Railway is now repaired to
point within four miles OF the town. Ample
supplies Of plain food are coming i'm. Col
Baden-Powell voluntarily gave up 6ftv-
three Beers and eleven wounded to the
Boer commandant. who thanked him for
his kindness"
The Baratongs. stimulated by the British
successes, attacked the rebel natives ar
Reitfontein, May 10. and took much loot
They released SAM, the old chief. who had
rendered good service to the British I'm
keeping Mafeking supplied with news or
the Boer operations.
The railway south OF Mafeking is being
rapidly repaired and the bridge at Taunrs
can now be used Refugees from Mafek,np
are s9fno fhrot.CF, Ton,e.,
Cape.
STEYN AND HIS FOLLOWERS.
Two thousand Beers are near Ficksburr
besides small rowing parties that come into
contact with the British while reconnolter-
ing. President Steyn was with these Beers
last Monday. organizing and inspiriting
them and drafting recalcitrants into the
service The British are sweeping the
country far and wide, seizing horses, cattle
and grain Yesterday President Steyn was
reported to be at Bethlehem, with a small
field force. appealing TO the Free Staters to
defend their freedom and independence.
Apparently he and all the Free Staters he
can assemble will not join the Transvaal-
ers. but viii remain In the northeastern
section OF the Free State. On Tuesday
there was heavy cannonading at Moch-
enenz. near Bethlehem. The firing began
NJ dusk. Why and with what result is not
known at Mazer. Basutoland, where the
news arrived yesterday.
The best opinion is that the next big en-
gagenent will be fought just south of Jo-
hannesburg and that the fight there, and
possibly one at Lafng's mex. will prove the
last pitched battles OF the war The latest
indications almost point to the latter being
the more stubborn OF the two. II Is hoped
here that General Butler will delay until
Lord Roberts Is able to detach force to