Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-05

LONDON, May 5.-4:05 a. m.-Fhe
mounted infantry with Lord Roberts,
among who are the Canadians, have
picketed their horses on the south bank
OF the Vet river. eighteen miles north
Of Brandfort The head of Lord Rob-
erts coluns has thus advanced thirty
two miles from Karee Siding in two
days, or fifty-three miles north OF
Bloemfontein
Little powder was spent. The Brit
lsh work was hard marching, the Beers
retiring out of the reach of the British
shells. The correspondents supplement
Lord Roberts plain statements with
few details +
AS Gen. Hutton, with the first mount
ed infantry brigade drew near Brand
fort he saw khaki clad body of troops
ahead Of him. He was surprised, but
thought they must be the British.
Soon, however, they opened fire on the
British, who replied heavily. They
were the Irish-American brigade from
Lourenzo Marques, and it is reported
that the Irish lost heavily.
The Boer flag was flying over Brand
fort as the British entered the town.
Several British wounded were found i'll
the hospital The Boer postmaster
gave up the keys of the public bust
ness to Captain Ross.
Gen. Kitchener arrived at Brandfort
at noon and Lord Roberts at dusk.
Gen. French's cavalry are sweeping
the country northward. The expecta-
tion is that the infantry advance will
be continued toward Kroonstad i'm
mediately. Although no prisoners
were taken and although no hot pursuit
was attempted, the news greatly cheers
London. Nevertheless it has not been
received with the fine rapture that at
tended the first success of Lord Rob
erts.
Gen. Hunters crossing the Vaal at
Windsorton brings the relief Of Mafe-
king, 1876 miles beyond, almost within
a calculable interval.
The Daily Express publishes an in
terview with Abraham Fischer, of the
Boer peace commission. Mr. Fischer
said
IF we are at war with the British
it is not because we wish or ever did
wish to quarrel with them. AS we
believe the British do not wish TO
quarrel with us, we have come to see
whether we cannot end the war.
Neither of us desire it, but we have
both been misled or goaded into it by
a combination to further political and
financial interests.
"Our ultimatam was issued under
the belief that our destruction had
been determined upon. We believe
all our concessions had been rejected
and that nothing we could offer would
prevent an attack upon US for the pur-
pose of destroying our independence
and Selling our territory.
olICb IuSn Jul plilliS 11luAoNSl Aeio
declared that you want no territory
Ind your colonial secretary told par
lament that he intended, in his Sep
!ember speech, to accept nine-tenths of
Dur conditions.
IF these speeches had been made in
September, instead of October and No
vember, we would never have formu-
lated an ultimatum.
Therefore, we come, in the light of
these belated assurances, to see if the
war can be stopped. That is the object
of our mission and its only object
We will gladly consent to submit all
questions of guarantees and indemnity
to the decision of any imperial tri-
bunal. Grant us that and we would
lay down our arms tomorrow
Mr. Fischer also said that the repub-
lies would be willing to submit to a
tribunal from which foreigners were
excluded.