New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-05
BRANDFORT THE PIVOT.
GENERAL ROBERTSs OPERATIONS ON
GREAT SCALE
tCopyright; 1900; BY The New-York Tribune.I
rBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUHEl

Copyright; 1900: BY The New-York Tribune1
tBT CABLE TO THE TRIBUHE.I
London, May 3, / a. m.-The pivot upon which
General Roberts's army seemed 10 be turning in
its advance northward has been shifted fourteen
miles from Karee TO Brandfort. General Pole
Carews division advanced directly upon the
town on Wednesday, with fuckers division sup
porting II on the eastward from the Winburg
road. and with brigade Of mounted infantry
securing the district west of the railway. There
was artillery practice. and two Boer guns were
disabled. General Delarey's army retreated be-
fore superior force, and Pole Carew's brigades
entered the town without severe fighting or
serious losses
The British line now extends from Brandfort
across the Winburg road to Houtnek and Thaba
Nchu where the Beers are reported TO have evac-
uated their positions and are ''trekkfng" north
ward. Resistance 10 the British advance has
ceased at each end Of the line. and the advance
toward Winburg and Ventersburg was resumed
At the pleasure Of General Roberts. The War Of
nee announced tidings from General Roberts him.
self at midnight He had made Brandfort his
headquarters. The mounted infantry had started
Tor the Vet River and the infantry were about to
1oiioW. The campaign northward had opened in
earnest not only in the Free State. but in the
west General Hunter had reported the passa ge
of the Vaal River at Windsorton without oppo-
kIiion. This news. which General Roberts de-
scribes as very satisfactory" indicated that the
flank Of the Boer position a Fourteen Streams
had been turned thirty miles northwest of Kim
beTley. and that a relief column had started for
Nafeking
Some military writer's refer Brandfort as
General Roberts's objective in the operations of
the last ten days, and describe Ian Hamilton's s
advance at Houtnek as a feint to draw off the
Boer forces from the railway. This theory is
hardly in accord with the facts since the fight
ing Al Eoutnek and Thaba Nchu has been too
Serious and protracted to be regarded as a feint
and as Brandfort has not been held by the Beers
difficult operation at any time General Rob-
eriss chief object during the remainder OF
the campaign cannot be anything less than
continuous advance across the Vet and
the Vaal and over the Witwatersrand to
Pretoria, and in accomplishing his purpose he
viii vary his methods and follow the line Of
least resistance. His operations cannot be con-
dEcted at a great distance from the railway
upon which he must depend for supplies and
naturally the course of the army will be a series
or curves and zigzags, crossing and recrossng
the Bloemfontein- Pretoria single track line
During the last few days force has been alter
nately applied at Karee and at Houtnek. at
eacn end OF Robertss line of advance, and the
Beers have been driven back at points thirty
miles apart. Resistance having been overcome
fort. and the turning movement toward Win
burg is continued with the natural effect OF
driving the Beers away from Thaba Nchu and