Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-05-17
BRITONS VICTORS.
A Great Struggle Along the Banks
of the Vet River.
The English Troops Win "A Series OF
Stubborn engagements and the
Enemy Retreats, After suffer-
ing Considerable Loss.

The British casualties were slight.
The engagement on Saturday was
severe and lasted from 9 in the moru-
ing until in the afternoon.
The British losses were five killed
and 25 wounded-mostly Welsh Fusi-
leers. The British took batch OF
prisoners, including the Swedish ann
bulance, which they allowed to re-
turn. The Beers, in their hurried re-
treat, left IS dead.
Vet River, May Cen. Pole-Carew
started at daybreak Saturday on
19-mile march. He first came into
contact with Beers holding the river
at l p. m. The British soon had two
batteries in action and later they add
ed two naval nine-pounders and two
siege guns.
Gen. Hutton started early to find
the drift on the west. When this was
discovered it proved to be strongly
held and protected by two guns. The
British speedily engaged the Beers,
who enfiladed the dismounted firing
line with a Maxim, but Gen. Hutton
pushed forward his own pompom ana
Maxim and forced the Beers to
leave the river bed.
The encounter was terribly hot.
Later lnt NHOle bflllsn IOIcc crossed
the river.
London, May 8.-The Beers are ev-
arywhere retiring before the British
except on the Natal frontier and
at Mafeliing-to the inner circle OF
their defenses.
Fifteen thousand British are now
operating on the western frontier of
the Free State. As the deadlock at
Warrenton has been broken and the
Beers are retreating, there is nothing
formidable. except distance, between
Warrenton aud Mafekng. The most
hopeful adyices from Mafeiling on
April % were that the garrison would
be barely able to hold out for Il
month At that time the fever was
spreading.
The Lorenzo Marquee correspond
ent of the Times says. Command
ant Snyman is 50 alarmed at the
prospect of having his retreat cut off
that he has appealed for permission
to retire nurthward from Mafeking
to intercept Col. Plumer."
Smalldeel, May S.-The movement
that eliminated in the capture of
Winburg and Smalldeel was part of a
great general movement extending
from Gen. Hunter on the west to Gen.
Rumble on the east. Lord Roberts
admirab bic strategy resulted in plar
ing everywhere five British to one
Boer. Out of what appeared the in
.axtricab bic confusion of divisions and
hrigadee order was quickly evolved
and the Beers were compelled to meet
Lord Roberts under unfavorable con-
,ditions.
On Saturday the Rocrs held real
iy strong position, from which, ear
iier in the campaign, they could only
have been forced by hard fighting.
Gen. Hamilton's arrival ut Winburo,
although not directly outfanlling the
Eoers. made their position extremely
uncomfortable. Gen. Hutton's move
ment on the left was even more sue
,cesSful than at first imagined. Forty
Beers were killed.
London, May 9.-Four thousand
British cavalry watered their horses
on Monday at Zand river, % miles
beyond Smaldeel, where Lord Rob
erts continues to date his dispatches.
The scouts who have been searching
the country for miles along the
stream found no Beers south of the
river. The enemy are laagered in
unknown force on the north bank
Thus the British advance guard is
within 45 miles of Kroonstad.
London, May 10.-Gen. Hutton's
mounted infantry brigade, including
the Canadians, with part of Gen.
Frenchs cavalry, crossed the Zand
river on Tuesday and began to work
it's way cautiously along the railway
northward, in the track of the retir-
ing Beers.
About 5000 horsemen were proba-
bly, engaged in this advance. Gen.
Hutton, before he was joined by a
part Of Gen. French's force, had a
sharp fight. This was on Monday,
when he reached the river and saw
the Boer convoys on the other side
and pressed forward. intending to
cross and capture them. The Beers,
however, opened fire with from eight
to ten guns, forded the river above
and below. seemingly in thousands,
and sought to enyelop the British.
Gen. Hutton fell back several miles,
the Beers following until other Brit
ish cavalry reinforced Hutton. Dur
5ng the night the Beers retreated
London. May 11.-Members of the
house OF commons were freely betting
Hast evening that Lord Roberts would
be in Pretoria in two months. The
ministerialists are building confident
hopes upon the plans he has commu-
nicated TO the war office.
From $4,000 to 10000 is the highest
estimate of the Beers under the COM
mand of Gen. Botha, who is said to
have i6 guns. Gen. Eotha and Gen.
De Vet are reported TO have quar-
relied
Lord Roberts is pressing hard after
this force with $1,000 men and 40
guns, and 10000 more men are easily
available.
Must Keep the Old Faith.
Chicago, May 7.-The report of the
constitutional commission +o +ba