The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-28
ROBERTS CROSSES THE vAAL.
HIS HEADQUARTERS ON TRANS
VAAL TERRITORY.

Fighting, But Butler May Soon
Have a Pitched Battle at Laing's
Mex.
London, May N-The war office has re-
ceived the following from Lord Roberts:
"Vereening, Sunday, May q. 1850 p.
m-We crossed the Vaal this morning and
are now encamped on the north bank. The
advance troops, which crossed yesterday.
were only just in time to save the coal
mines on both this and the other side
of the river from being destroyed. Our
casualties were four.
"Baden-Powell reports that the railway
betv cen Mafeking and Buluwayo has
been restored and that supplies are being
brought into Mafeking He says the
Canadian artillery Joined Col. Plumer
from Beira with incredible rapidity
Lieut.. Webber was taken prisoner at
Heibron a few days ago. He went there
on telegraph duty. II was not known
that our troops had been temporarily
withdrawn"
Was Near johannesburg.
London. May %, 1920 a. m.-When Lord
Roberts wrote his first dispatch on Trans
vaal territory yesterday shortly before
o'clock in the afternoon, he was fifty-one
miles from johannesburg and seventy
seven from Pretoria. His immensely su-
peror forces had passed the Vaal river
their last great natural obstacle, at three
points.
The Vaal forms a curve of eighty miles
from Parys on the west. to Zand drift on
the east. The concave of the curve is to-
ward the Free State. Thus Lord Roberts,
advancing along the railway, was In a
position to strike any part of the crescent
by shorter lines than those by which the
Beers could reinforce the threatened
points.
The Beers retreated almost without a
show of defense. Gen. French and Gen.
Hamilton apparently did not fire a shot
OF Lord Roberts immediate force, elev-
en- men, belonging to the Eighth Mounted
Infantry, were the first to ford the river
They came upon Boer patrol looting at
Niljoen's drift, and a skirmish lasting
ten minutes followed. Two hundred Beers
tried feebly to hold the Vereening colliery
but they We're dislodged.
Major Hunter Watson and Lieut.. Earle
rode in advance of Lord Roberts forty
miles into hostile country to try to cut
The railway behind the Beers before the
Naal was crossed. but they were too late.
AAit oSS4 lNdl SddAN 10 al AlOy StlOfl, ltil
miles south of Vereening. Their main
body is moving toward the Kip river
Mills that cover the south side of Johan-
nesburg.
situation in Pretoria.
While Lord Roberts 10000 infantry, 20
900 horse and 100 guns are moving on Jo-
hannesburg and Pretoria, through
parched and deserted country the situation
at the Transvaal capital, as it was last
Friday, is thus described by an observer
who sent his message by private hand to
Lorenzo Marquee yesterday:
The situation, both from military and
political point of view, has become very
critical. President Kruger yesterday ad-
mitted that for the first time matters are
very grave. The determination is to trust
everything to last stand on the Cats
Rand mountains to the north of Potchef-
stroom, where 1900 Kafiirs are digging
trenches. To that point every available
man andsgun have been sent.
The whole of the western border of
The Transvaal from end to end is de-
fers less and Gen. Baden-Powell can
march in when he likes Lord Roberts,
On the other hand, viii encounter the
greatest resistance. The Boer endeavor is
T. lure the British into appearing to
threaten johannesburg with attack, an
excuse thus being given thsm for the des-
uucIion OF property The Transvaal gov
erpment will not dare destroy the mines
or Pfoperty without an excuse. Much
oynamite has been sent down the line,
ana 10000 cases lie ready at zuurfontein,
near Johannesburg
Gen. Louis Botha and Gen. Lucas
Meyer have pleaded for The preservation
OF property. Both are large landed pro-
pletors and fear coniscation, but they
rave not received satisfactory replies
rom President Kruger
Plan to Blow Up british.
Meanwhile many French and German
alVenturers have come forward with
.Chernes and inventions for blowing up
lhe British troops. Some of these have re-
(,Fea tact permission to experiment.
ONs Se man invent on IS for use on
I@i"ay, where Il lies perfec ly concealed
uuul the weight of a passing train ex-
plodes the charge
n. Lucas Meyer says surrender wou' d
pe at once proposed by the Beers. but that
oneryoody fears the ignominy of being the
'ie 10 make the proposals. He declare
s!'at ne Is assured that his men viii rot
SSauu' PRESIDENT Steyn and Mr.. Reitz the
idhsVaal secretary, are strongly opposed
w peace but Mr.. Kruger is not so much
against it,"
resident Kruger's proclamation to the
"uIsners asking their votes for or against
""lnulng the war Is understood TO say
udt lhcy can quit now with the pros1ect
Vi retaining their farms or continue 10 tn
'ter ehu. Rumors are current IN L-rd
toDerts' army that the Beers intend II
surrender
several correspondents wire the London
p'Pers that there are 1900 foreigners in
IDLE.
May BE Pitched Battle.
Ine indications are that a pitched bat-
1s p rs imminent at Laings Mex, where Gen.
NuIer faces the Beers, reinforced ana
stefningly determined with an estima e
strength Of from 5000 to 10000 men. The re-
IIH9rcemeuts include a larga party fr m
Laaybrand and fresh c6mmandoes from
Pretoria.
zen Buffers officers are doubtful of the
.olHty Of the Beers to display the same
,1rVHaclty as In the fighting al Ladysmith
ne British are confident that when the
lne passes
iWo boxes of dynamite fuse have been
louhd under the Newcastle City Hall
Heh' Butler is causing numerous arrests
bl SNEDeptaA rel