The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-07
ROBERTS MAKING PROGRESS.
DOING BETTER NOW THAN WAS Ex-
PECTED AT HOME.

Report of the Crossing of the Vet
burg Received with Much Salts
factiOn-Boer Accounts of the Cap
ture of BrandfOrt Say the Federal
Forces Were Weak-ERorts in Be
half of MafeI<ing.
London, May z, 4:10 a. m.-Lord Roberts
IS making better progress than anyone had
dared to hope, and is meeting with sue
cess at all points.
The only news of. the actual occupation
of Winburg is the incidental reference 10
it in the dispatch from Vet river describ-
ing Gen. Pole-Carew's operations, but as
the latest news of Gen. Hamiton's opera
tions, dated Saturday morning, was that
he was then preparing TO force the difficult
pasasge over Little Vet river on the
Bloomfontein-W Winburg road, there can be
no doubt that the news of the occupation
is accurate.
The Boers following their customary
practice. had evacuated their positions on
the Vet river during Saturday night AS
Lord Roberts advanced along the railway
and Gen. Hamilton, twenty miles to the
East. threatened the two wings of the
Boer forces. it would not be surprising TO
hear that they had also evacuated Win
burg.
Gen. Hamiltons advance will prevent
the Boer forces in the direction of Thaba
Nchu joining their main army near Win
burg.
Gen. Rumble on Saturday had arrived
in pursuit. of the Beers seven miles
north of Thaba Nchu, compelling the
Beers to retire in an easterly direction.
FederaIs Were Weak.
A Boer account of the capture of Brand
fort says:
THE federal forces. although weak in
numbers, offered strong resistance, but
they were forced by the overwhelming
force opposed to them 70 evacuate the
town"
Gen. Hunters progress, although slow
er is satisfactory.
The idea that the relief of Mafeking is
in sight, however, appears 70 have been
premature. The Beers in that quarter
are still stoutly resisting the British ad-
vance. According to a dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Cape Town, a special
expedition to the westward left Kimber-
ley few days ago, and will endeavor to
relieve Mafeking, while Gen Hunter and
Lord Methuen are operating on this side
of the Vaal river in conjunction with
Lord Roberts army.
From Lorenzo Marques comes various
rumors that Col. Plumer has been REIN
forced and is again advancing toward
Mafeking. Another report says that Mafe-
king has been relieved and Gen. Lommer,
with 5000 Beers, captured at Fourteen
Streams. Women have been placed in
the government offices in the Transvaal in
order to relieve the burghers for active
service Two New South Wales Lancers,
who escaped from Waterfall prison, has
arrived at Delagoa bay after a dangerous
journey.
The Volksraad will meet in Pretoria to-
day. Probably the sitting Will be memo
rable.
The johannesburg shell factory has re-
sumed work with Austrian, italian and
Greek workmen.
Free Staters DemornIized.
The Lorenzo Marquee correspondent Ct
the Times, telegraphing Sunday:
Gen. Botha has been to the Free State
70 rouse the burghers, but has returned
disheartened and disguised.
From an unimpeachable source I learn
that h has openly stated to friends that
the Free Staters are so completely demor-
allied that it is hopeless to expect any
thing from them'