The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-11
POLITICIANS
ARE BETTING
ON ROBERTS.
Say he win be In Pretoria In Two
Months-Building Hopes on
His Plans.
CROSSING OF THE zAND RIVER
Accomplished Sooner Than Expected.
CHEEKY Telegram From Baden

LONDON, May II, 1905 a, m.-Mem-
bers Of the house Of commons were
freely betting in the lobbies last even
ing that Lord Roberts would be in Pre-
toria in two months. The ministerial
lists are building confident hopes upon
the comprehensive plans he has COM
munlcated to the war Office. Predlc-
tions are definitely made he will enter
Kroonstad next Monday, and 1t is be-
lleved that his advance is probably al
ready reconnolterlng the vicinity of
ventersburg, where the hill country be-
gins again.
Beyond Kroonstad is an intricate and
dIflcult country and II the Beers
should elect to fight It is possible they
could check the progress of the British
until Lord Roberts numerous cavalry
had had time to ride around their
flank and threaten their rear. From
1900 to 10000 is the highest estimate Of
the Beers under the personal command
Of General Botha, who is said to have
forty-slx guns. General Botha and
General DeWet are reported to have
quarreIed.
Lord Roberts Is pressing hard after
this force with $4,000 men and 40 guns
and 10000 more men are easily avail
able.
Lord Roberts concise summaries of
results are not supplemented by any
up to-date press kilograms. The cor
respondents are confined in their narra-
tives to events two or three days old so
far as Lord Roberts is concerned.
Advance Troops Fired On.
President steyn with 10000 men, is
reported to have been east of Thaba
NChu yesterday (Thursday) noon and
battle was then Imminent. The ad-
vance troops of General Rumble and
General Brabant were being fired on.
According to advices from Durham,
dated Thursday, General Buffers army
is showing activity" but complete
news embargo is imposed upon the cor
respondents with him.
Parties bf Beers are still holding the
mountains adjacent to Springfield. New
Zealand scouts burned the homestead
of farmer named Greyllng, In whose
house arms were found at Deering.
During concert for the relief of the
sufferers from the Beghie works explos-
Ion, given Saturday evening, at Pretor-
ia, In the gaiety theatre, the doors were
suddenly closed and every man in the
audience was commendeered. All the
horses were taken from the convey
ances outside.
Newspaper Correspondents Released.
President Kruger has released the
Daily Mail correspondents, Messrs.
Haiioweii and Hofmeyer.
Yesterday the foreign merchants at
Lourenzo Marques held an indignation
meeting to protest ngainst the new
regulations whereby blankets, clothing
and bully" beef are declared contra
band. Twelve thousand cases of sup
plies are now in bond there, and as
much more is expected. Two French
vessels carrying goods consigned to
Lydenburg have been stopped. The
alarmist tone of Lord salisbury's Prim-
rose League speech Wednesday has
been much discussed In the lobbies OF
parliament and the impression is that
the apprehension of the premier are
even more serious than he expressed.
The Times publishes letter from
Blomfontein describing the Kooern
spruit disaster. The writer gays that
this was due to a Criminal neglect of
the most primitive precautions in war"
and asserts that an advance guard of
single troop would have averted the
mlshap.