The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-05
Irish-Americans the Only Troops
to Oppose the British.
They Are Believed to Have Suffered
Of Mafeking Measurabiy Nearer
Heavily-Hunter's Force Crosses
the vaal At wfndsorton, 60 the
westward. and brings the Relief
Than IL Has Beeu for some Time
1T IL Not Believed the Beers VIII
Seriously Oppose Roberts Un-
til Kroonstad In Reached.

LONDON. May s. 4:o6 a. m.-The mount
ed infantry with Lord Roberts. among
which are the Canadians. have picketed
their horses on the south bank OF the Vet
river. eighteen miles north of Brandfort.
The head OF Lord Roberts columns has
thus far advanced thirty-two miles from
Karee siding in two days. or nfty-three
miles north OF Bloemfohtein.
Little powder was spent. The British
work was hard marching. the Beers rctir-
ing out OF the reach of the British shells.
The correspondents supplement Lord Rob-
erts' plain statements with few details.
Ffght with Irish-Am ericaas.
A. Gen. Hutton. with the First mounted
infantry brigade. drew near Brandfort he
saw khaki-clsd body OF troops ahead OF
him. He was surprised. but thought they
must be tho British. Soon. however, they
opened fro upon tho British. who replied
heavily. They were the Ir!sh-American
brigade from Lourenxo Marques. and 1, Is
reported that the Irish lost heavily.
Capture of Brandfort.
Tho Boer nag was flying over Brandfort
as the British entered the town Several
British wounded were found IN tho hospi-
tai. Tho Boer postmaster gave up the
keys of the public buildings to Capt Ross.
Lord Kitchener arrived at Brandfort at
noon and Lord Roberts at dusk. Gen.
Frsnchs cavalry arc sweeping tho coun-
try northward. Tho expectation IL that
the infantry advance will be continued
toward Kroonstad.
London Greatly Cheesel.
Although no prisoners were taken and
although no hot pursuit was attempted.
the news greatly cheers London. Never
theless Il has not been received with the
rapture that attended the first successes
of Lord Roberts.
Relief of Mafeking Possible.
Gen. Hunters crossing tho vaal as
windsorton brings the relief OF Mafekins,
iS miles beyond. almost within caicula-
bic interval. II 10 now regarded as quite
possible that Mafeking may be succorei
before the queens birthday.
Gen. Noberts' Report.
The war ofiico this evening issued tho
following from Lord Roberts. dated
Bandford. Friday. May 4:
''The mounted infantry have gone on to
march there tomorrow. The railway has
been repaired TO this point
Hunter reports the very satisfactory
news that tho passage OF the Nsal has
been carried at Windsorton without oppo-
sition."
Next Fight at kroonstad.
7, IL hardly expected the Beers will make
much of n stand south OF kro5nstad.
and possibly not there IL Lord Roberts
succeeds In capturing winburg. thus In.
terposlng between the main federal army
and tho Boer forces In the neighborhood
OF Thsba N'chu and Hout mex. IN whicn
case the latter would be forced 10 move
farther 20 the eastward. IN which direc-
tion their mobility would probably enable
them to reach the bethlehem and Harri-
unith line OF safety.
General Advance Expect~d.
The central British army II now In har-
mony with the extreme lef, at Boshof, un-
der Lord Methuen. and tho extreme right
at Glands laAgte. under Gen. Euller, no
that the movements OF these wings In co..
operation with the main army may shorty
be expected.
Debates n disappointment.
The debate In parliament on the apion
kop dispatches proved Disappointing 10 the
supporters Of the government. The min
isteriaiist papers confess 70 n certain
amount of inconsistency and weakness In
the statements OF the spokesman of the
government. ON ting other hand. as ths
Standard points cut. the opposition pro-
sess to b well satisfied with ths debate.
as they believe tt has rendered Lord I.ans-
downe's continuance at the war once aiffi-
cult.
wspener IL 20 be Earrisonsd with
strong force from Gen Chermsde's ciyi-
sion.
Hombardment at wsrrenton.
wARRENTOS. Cape Colony. May A.
The British rIx-inch wire gun opened un-
sxpectedly on the Beer iaager yesterday
at distance nf seven and ons-hAif miles,
throwing hundred pound shells with won
derfui accuracy and causing a has;y re-
treak of the burghers. The Commandment
continued today al ali points by howiizers
and field guns. supported BY two com
panies of the Munster regiment The
Beers are being driven from shelter and
their guns being put out OF action
smithAeid IL Occupied.
ALTwAL NORTH. May s-smithneid
was occupied by Gen. Harts brigade. Out
OF 40 Beers in town. twenty-five were
captured and the rest decamped
Laaybraud WAS recently full of Roe