The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-08

picketed their horses on the south side
of the Vet river, eighteen miles north
of Brandfort. The mead of Lord Rob-
erts columns has thus advanced
thirty-two miles from Kares siding in
two days, or fifty-three miles north Of
Bloemfontein. Little powder was
spent. The British work was hard
marching, the Beers retiring out of the
reach of the British shells. The CORE
spondents supplement Lord Roberts
plain statements with a few details.
AS General Hutton, with the First
mounted infantry brigade, drew near
Brandfort, he saw a khaki clad body
or troops ahead of him. He was sur
prised, but thought they must be the
British. Soon, however, they opened
fire upon the British, who replied heav-
lily. They were the Irish-American
brigade from Lourenzo Marques, and
it is reported that the Irish lost
severely.
The BOer flag was flying over Brand
fort as the British entered the town.
Several British wounded were found
in the hospital. The Boer postmaster
gave up the keys of the public build
ings to Captain Ross.
Lord Kitchener arrived at Brandt
fort at noon and Lord Roberts at dusk.
NAA~A II y q i SNCCp-I
ing the country northward. The ex-
pectation is that the infantry advanced
will be continued toward KroonstadI
Immediately. Although no prisoners are
taken, and although no hot pursuit
was attempted, the news greatly
cheers London. Nevertheless. it has not
been received with the fine RAPTURE
that attended the first successes of
Lord Roberts.
General Hunter crossing the Vaal at
IVf-1rn-NA- hrf~re Nh- 4 ; g TO 1
king 195 miles beyond, almost within
a calculable interval. 1t is now re-
garded as quite possible that Mafe-
king may be succOred before the
queens birthday.
The debate in parliament on the
Spion KOp dispatches proved a disap-
pointment to the supporters of the
government The ministerial paperS
confess to a certain amount of incon-
sistency and weakness in the state
ments of the spokesman of the gov
On the other hand, as The
Standard points out. the opposition
profess to De we'll satisfied with the de-
bate, as they believe it has injured the
government and has rendered Lord
L~ansdowne's at the war
office difficult.
Wepener is to be garrisOned with a
strong force from General Cherm-
side's division, commanded by Lord
CastletOn.
11eHTy W. LuCys "IIllIS III II Ddlly
News, says he has ascertained that
Sir Alfred Miners letter against la
dies visiting South Africa was written
as the esult of an intimation from
Queen Victoria.
T~habanchu May 3.-Dedayed.)-The
Beers have evacuated habanch hill
and are believed to be still trekking,
though one gun has shelled the camp
Unfortunately. Scouts report that
some of the Beers retired toward WEEP
-- ~ D@Arc ~
ated the position during the night,
trekkin nOrthwardly in three direc-
tons.
General French left today. General
Rumble is in command here. 1t is ex-
pected that General Brabant will eff
feet a junction at any moment.
The position gives the key to one OF
the main roads leading to the Drakens-
berg passes, which possibly may be the
means of cooperation with General
Butler later on, provides an advance
base of supplies, ETC., and at the same
time menaces the Beers now southeast
of Bloemfontein-
ROBERTS ADVANCES HIS HEAD
QUARTERS.
n Boer army which is at Brand
fort, commanded by General de Larey
is presumably retiring on Winburg
which will possibly be the next imme-
date objective of the British. Brand
fort, t~hirty-five miles nearer the
Transvaal capital, is now Lord Rob
erts' headquarters.
What particularly gratifies the Brit,
ish public is the evidence that tbs
army of Lord Roberts in the Orange
Free State has recovered it's mobility
and is again capable of undertaking.
the general advance, SO long retarded
1t is hardly expected the Beers viii
make much of a stand south of Kroon'
stad. and possibly not there if Lore
D1I~~+ S,,aaAaIc IN 90 Tfrrinc Wiz
burg. thus interposing between tn
main federal army and the Boer forces
in the neighborhOod of anC
HaOuk.
The only opposition which the Brit
ish encountered at BrandfOrt seems t
have come from the Irish-Amerlca
command.
The central British army is now il
line With The extreme left at BoShoi
under Lord Methuen. and the extreme
right Al ElandSlaagte, under Genera
Butler - that movements of thes'
wings in cooperation with the arm.
may shortly be expected.
AIiwal North. Cape Colony. May 4
SmiJhfieIi was occupied yesterday b!
General Harris brigade. Out of the %
Beers in the town. fifty were captured
and the rest deCamped-
Warreutou. Cape Colony, Ma A!
British 6-iuch wire gun opened uneX
pectedIy on the Boer laager yesterda,
al 4 distance OF SSN II IN Il 4diL IHileS
throwing IO0-pOund shells with wonder
full accuracy and causing a hasty re
treat IF the burghers. The lombard
m-nt continued today at all points b
howitzarS and field guns, supported b
two companies. the Beers being drive
from shelter and their guns being pu
out of action.
BRITISH ADVANCES.
London. May 4-The war office thi
evening issued the following from Lor
Roberts dated Brandfort, Friday
May 4th:
The mounted infantry have gone o
TO the Vet river. The rest of the fore
will march there tomorrow. The raj
way has been repaired to this place.
Hunter reports that the passage
the Naal has been carried at Windsor
ton without opposition
News OF the occupation of Brandon