The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-24
ROBERTS AT THE RHEN0STER.
HE is GETTING CLOSE TO TRANS
WALLS FRONTIER.

Beers Who Had Occupied the North
Bank of the Rhenoster Fled Dur
ing the Night and Before Roberts
Administration Drove DeWet's
Men Before Him-Warren Won n
Hard Fight at Douglas More
About AIafel<ing.
London. May 23.-The war office, late
this evening, published the following from
Lord Roberts:
South Bank of the Rhenoster River,
May %, 1:30 p. m.-We found, on arrival
here this morning, shat the enemy had
fed during the night. They had occupied
strong position on the north bank of
the river. which had been carefully in
trenched. but they did not think it advis-
able to defend it when they heard that
Ian Hamilton's force was at Helbron,
and that our cavalry, which had crossed
the Rhenoster some miles lower down the
stream, were threatening their right and
rear.
THE bridge over the Rhenoster, several
culverts and miles of che railway were
destroyed.
Tan Hamiltcn's force ldrove the Beers
under Ret DeWet before them from Lind
ley to Heilbron. The passage of the
Rhenoster was strongly disputed Our
less might have been heavy but for well
concerted plan which brought Smith Dor
r.ens brigade on the enemys flank just
at the right moment.
'The officer commanding at Boshof re-
ports that upwards of $50 Free Staters
have. surrendered during the last few
days. and that they have given up 800
rifles, 100 horses and a large amount of
ammunition.
''Kelly-Kenny reports that three compa-
nies of yeomanry, who were sent to re-
pair the telegraph line and to clear the
country between Bloemfontein and Bosh-
of, have returned to Bloemfontein, hav-
ing performed the duty exceedingly WELL"
On the TransvaaI Frontier.
London. May "a, $40 a. m-Lord Rob-
erts is drawing near the frontier of the
Transvaal. His infantry are thirty-three
miles north OF Kroonstad, at the Rhenos-
ter river.
The Beers are retiring toward the Vaal
with their heavy baggage. They are re-
ported from Pretoria as already across
that river. Twelve thousand men and
fourteen guns compose the retreating
army Trains continue to run from Veron-
nging, at the Vaal, to Pretoria.
Foreign engineers assert that Pretoria
is able to stand a years siege.
The Boer forces continue to dwindle,
some correspondents asserting that only
about 24,00e of the hardest fighters yet
remain.
1t was announced at Pretoria Sunday
that the government purposed moving the
British prisoners from Pretoria. Lady Sa-
rah Wilson cables:
The fighting before the relief of Mafek-
ing was very hard A severe struggle pro-
| ceeded yesterday (May 16) from p. m. un-
til dusk. The Beers We're forced slowly to
retreat contesting every inch. At sunset
they still held the last position.
"Col Mahon entered the town in the
brilliant moonlight. The Beers were as
tired out as we were, and they never
guessed that an attempt would be made
to force an entry before morning. There
fore their surprise was complete They
| deserted their laagers, leaving lot of
food which was divided up among the peo-
pie of Mafelking.''
DR.. Leyds, according to the Brusser s
| correspondent of the Daily Express, has
quarreled with the Transvaal government.
A representative of President Kruger is
alleged to have demanded an accounting
respecting S2.5O0000, that has passed
through DIR. Leyds' hands. DR.. Leyds
is said to have replied that the money had
all been expended, and to have expressed
indignation when asked for an itemized
statement.