Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-26
THE T%RANSvAAL.
BRITISH WILL HAVE CROSSED
THE VAAL BY SUNDAY.

Fighting Eminent at johannesburg
and Pretoria-Baden-Powell
Gives Up Prisoners.
London, May 26.-3:3O a. m.-The war
Office observers expect that the next dis
patch from the field marshal will be
dated in sight of the Transvaal frontier.
Mr.. Bennett Burleigh, wiring to the
Daily Telegraph from Vredefort, Thurs
day morning, said Lord Roberts would
doubtless cross the Vaal river on Satur-
day or Sunday. The British outposts
were then at Erste Geluk. nine miles
north of Vredefort and 26 miles south of
the Vaal river. The railway is much
damaged.
force are thus rapidly approaching the
T~ransvaal. the movements of the Beers
We're enveloped in mystery. The last
Pretoria newspaper to reach Lourenzo
Marques was a week old. Everyone seek
ing to cross the Portuguese border from
the Transvaal border is searched for
newspapers and letters. Dispatches n
mail matter containing even
references to the war are suppressed.
The only news that has emerged from
| the Transvaal during the last 10 days
has come by word of mouth.
According to these oral reports yester-
day the Beers were quarreling among
themselves. Transvaal paper money
was circulating at so per cent discount.
Breket's firm was giving Ell in gold for
E5 in paper. Messrs. Krouse & Klinke,
the engineers who opposed the blowing
up Of the mines, lave been dismissed.
Commandant schuttee had been appoint
ed to defend johannesburg, and all the
British subjects had ben turned out.
The Tr%ansvaalers fear that the British
will blow up the bridge at k~omalipoort,
thus cutting off their supplies from Del
agoa bay, and a commando Of 500 is
guarding the bridge against any such at
tempt by British raiders.
Tt is reasserted that President Kruger
will retire to Lyndenburg when fighting
is imminent at johannesburg and Pre-
toria. Concern is expressed at Pretoria
with reference to the possibility that
General Darlington may come down
from Rhodesia with 5000 men to CO.
operate with as many more entering the
Iransvaal by way of Mafeking. Horse
sickness is said to have broken out
among General C~arrington's animals,
Cecil Rhodes is at Beira, Portuguese
East Africa. Mr.. Fuller, a member of
the Cape parliament, who is supposed to
De a confidant of Mr.. Rhodes, said in
~ opSSCI DIT Sdp6COWn VeS-
terday, When proposing the health of Mr..
Rhdes. that the latter was working to
consolidate South Africa from the Yam
besia to Table bay.
Major General Baden-Powell declines
70 act upon the suggestions of his
flaenos Una ne should return to England
for rest. He is determined to retain his
active command at the front.
Advices from Mafeking, dated Nav %
say: The Beers are e~ntrenching at
~Polfontein, 10 miles east of Mafeking.
The northern railway is now repaired r.
a point within four miles of the town,
Ample supplies OF plain food are coming
in.
Major General Baden-Powell volun-
tarlly gave up SO Beers and II wounde
70 tne Boer commandment. who thanked
him for his kindness.
The Baratons. 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.
1.-The railway south of Mafeking is be-
Ing repaired rapidly, the bridge at
Taungs can now be used. Refugees
,Taungs bound for the Cape"
Two thousand Beers are near Ficks-
burg, besides small rowing parties thai
come in contact with the British while
accommodating. President Steyn was
with these Beers last Monday. organic
ing and inspiring them and drafting re-
icalcitrantS into he service.
The British are sweeping the country
far and wide. setzing horses, cattle and
grain. Yesterday President Steyn was
reported to be at Bethlehem with a small
force appealing to the Free Staters tc
defend their freedom and independence
Apparently he and all the Free Staters
he can assemble will not join the Trans.
walters. but. will remain in the north.
eastern section of the Free State.
On Tuesday there was heavy cannon
/ aiding at Mochenenz. near Bethlehem
The firing began at dusk. Why ant
with What result is not known at Mas
cru, where the news arrived yesterday
!, London, May 26.-The Times has th4
. following from Newcastle, dated Thur
:, day:
"The Beers are fortifying a very larg,
, semi-circular position. extending from
]. Majuba to Pongwana. Large number
: are en~trenching and six guns are visi
) ble."
General Butler has communicated t.
) the colonial government that Colone
l Bsthlehem's report of the loss of tn
squadron of Bethuen horse in an ann
T bush at Vreyheid. The report says tina
this regrettable affair was due to til
2 im%Detuosity of Captain Golf, who wa
: killed"