Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-08
IN REAR OF ROBERTS
Beers Cut the Railroad Between
Brandfort and Smaldeel.
DELAYS SUPPLIES COMING Up
Garrison at Mafeking in Terribly
Reduced Circumstances.
CECIL RHODES AT CAPE TOWN

LONDON May S.-The following dis
patch from Lord Roberts has been received
at the war office:
"SMALDEEL. May THE railway from
Brandfort to this place has been consider
ably damaged and the bridge over the Vet
river has been hopelessly damaged. This
delays supplies coming up. Every few
yards charges of rackarock have been laid
under the rails. This might have created
loss of life, but was fortunately discovered
by West Australian infantryman.
"Winburg has been occupied by the
High and Brigade
In spite of these wrecked railroads the
British advance goes on steadily. Lord Rob
erts' outpOsts are apparently about twelve
miles north of Smaldeel. General Brabant
has Joined General Rumble at Thabanchu,
whence they are moving forward. The coun-
try Is all quiet in that direction.
A reconnaissance made by Cen Rumble
Of the Beers recent positions at Thaban-
chu resulted in their being pronounced i'm
preEnahle and their evacuation is reported
to have been due to the receipt of an ur-
gent message from President Steyn. The
Eoers are said to be moving northward.
but their immediate destination is not
known.
The Whereabouts of the British cavalry,
under Gen. French, is still a mystery.
while Gen. Kelly-Kennys and Gen. Cherm-
sides divisions are also unaccounted for.
Rebels Are Dismayed.
A dispatch from Cape Town. dated today,
says:
Lord Roberts phenomenal advance Is
not only utterly demoralizing the Beers.
but is striking terror into the rebel col
onists-
The relief Of Mafeking is expected at
any moment"
The Cape Town correspondent is slightly
optimistic as regards Mafeking, judging
from the direct dispatches, the British
forces south of Mafeking are still nearly
200 miles from their objective. while the
latest advices from Mafeking itself, dated
April -. show little amehOratiOn in the
conditions there.
The dispatches say:
with the exception of little rifle fire
at the outlying trenches everything is quiet
The slight epidemic of typhoid is abating
as the result of the medical precautions
The enemys artillery, with the exception
of two tive-pounders, has apparently been
withdrawn.
Attack Expected April "a
1T was learned April 81 that the enemy
intended To attack and the entire garri-
son stood to its arms. When day broke
Col. Baden-PoweH took up a position on
the lookout and the heavy rattle of mus
kerry and the boom Of four guns convinced
Us that an attack was about to occur. But
il became apparent that the Boer officers
could not persuade their men to advance
Through glasses We saw the officer Yainly
urging their infantry forward. The enemy
reformed and retired Our men fired
shot in the hope Of inducing the enemy to
come to close quarters.
'.The narive distress has been alleytated,
many Of them slipping through the lines.
1.-THE men 81 the garrison forego their
sugar ration for the benefit Of 'he women
and children
AFTER the bombarGment April "a all was
comparatively quiet.
''Tha besieged are celebrat ting the 2OOth
day Of the siege with horse dinners, and
Col. Baden-Powell sent a message TO Lord
Roberts, saying:
".After two hundred days Of siege, I de-
sire 10 bring 70 your lordships notice the
exceptionally good spirit Of loyalty which
pervades all classes of the garrison. and
the patience II everybody at Mafeking in
making the best Df things under the long
strain Of anxiety. hardship aud privaticns.
which is beyond all praise and a revelation
to ne.
The men. half of whom are not accus-
TONED TO the use Of arms, have adapted
themselves 10 their duties with the greatest
zeal and readiness. The pluck and devO-
ton of the women have been remarkable.
With such spirits our organization runs
like ClOCkwork. 1 have every hope it will
pull US through
Cecil Rhodes at Cape Town.
Mr. Cecil Rhodes arrived az Cape Town
without any demonstration being made. He
goes to Beira, Portuguese East Africa, and
thence to Rhodesia, probably visiting Cen
eral Sir Frederick Darlington.
1t is announced that no more Boer pris-
oners will be sent 10 ST. Helena
A special dispatch from Lorenzo Marques
says the colOred American citizen named
Richards. who was committed for trial by
the special court on the charge of murder
IN connection with the explosion at Begbie' s
works, is alleged 70 have said he was Of
fered 5000 TO blow up the foundry.
The same dispatch says thai when Presi-
dent Kruger heard OF the explosion he
dramatically exclaimed:
as there God.