The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-04
BRANDFORT TAKEN
Key to the Drakensburg Passes
is Occupied
BY Lord Roberts Without Sc
riOus Opposition.
OF GREAT IMPORTANCE
Second Only to the Capture of
CrOnje's Army.
Beers Evacuate Thaba N'Chu
Hill, Trekking NOrthward.

London, May 4-Lord Roberts reports
to the war office as follows under date
Of Bloemfontein May 3:
1--WE occupied Brandfort today with
out much opposition and without
hope, many casualties. The first brig
ade of mounted infantry covered the
left flank Of the Fourteenth brigade Of
the Fourth division and the right flank
was supported by the Fifteenth brig
ade. Pole-Carews division advanced
directly on Brandfort. The Boer army
which was under command of Delarey
retired in a northeasterly direction"
BOERS EVACUATE THABA NCHU.
Thaba N'Chu, May 4.-The Beers have
evacuated Thaba N'Chu hill and are be-
leved to be still trekking, though one
gun has shelled the camp intermittingly
Scouts report that some of the Beers
retired toward Wepener. They believe
the Beers evacuated the position dur
ing the night, trekking northwardly in
three directions.
Gen. French left today. Gen. Rumble
is in command here. 1t is expected that
Gen. Brabant will effect junction at
any moment.
OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.
44DAtAOilt May news OF Ine OCCu-
patton of BrandfOrd was issued by the
war Office a 10 o'clock this morning.
confirming a dispatch previously re-
ceived by the Associated Press. It is
generally considered the most import
ant communication received from the
front since the capture of Gen. Cronje
and the relief of Ladysmith. The fact
that the position gives the key to one Of
the main roads leading to the Drakens-
burg passes, which possibly may be the
Tf On ,,
later on, provides an advance base of
supplies, etc, and at the same time
menaces the Beers now southeast of
t5Ioemtontein is obviously the reason
Tor the Importance attached by all
hands to the intelligence
WINBURG NEXT
London+May 4.-Ine BOer army which
was at Brandfort commanded by Cen
5'eLarey is presumably retiring on
WlnDurg, which viii possibly he the
next immediate objective of the British
Blandfort, 35 miles nearer the Trans
Naal capital is now Lord Roberts head
quarters.
What particularly gratifies the Rrit-
lsh public is the evidence that the army
OF Lord Roberts in the Orange Free
state has recovered its mobility and is
again capable of undertaking the gen
eral advance so long retarded
1t is hardly expected the Beers will
make much Of a stand south Of Kroon-
stadt and possibly not there. if Lord
Roberts succeeds in capturing Win
burg, thus interposing between the
main federal army and the Boer forces
IN the neighborhood of Thaba NCbu
and Houtnek, in which case the latter
would be forced to move farther to the
eastward in which direction their
mobility would probably enable them
10 reach the Bethlehem and Harrfsn1itb
line OF safety The only opposition
which the British encountered at
BrandIort seems to have come from the
Irish-American command.
me central British army is now in
line with the extreme left at B0shof
under Lord Methuen. and the extreme
Iight at Elandslaagte, under General
buIIer' so that the movement of these
wings in cooperation with the main
army may shortly be expected.
BRITISH OCCUPY SMITHFIELD.
- AllWal North, Cape Colony MAY A
smut thneld was occupied yesterday by
General Harts brigade. Out of the Ia
Boers IN the town % were captured and
the rest decamped-
Ladybrand was recently full of Boer
Wounded, who have now been removed
to Ficksbury =