The sun., 1900-05-24
NEARING VAAL RIVER.
The British Advance In South Africa
Continues Steadily.
OCCUPATION OF Hebron.
GENERAL Baden-PoweI Talks of the
Defense of Mafeking and Says
Military Rule Was Accepted
Loyalty by Civilians.

London, May 23.-Once more Lore
Roberts is advancing in force. The wal
az hroonstadt is over and already til,
main British army is about 20 mile.
north of its former resting place. Judg
ing from the dispatches OF Lord Robert.
1T Honing Sprut Station, while flankin.
him on either side Of the railroad, Gen
eral french's cavalry and General lar
lialnlton's mounted infantry are botl
slightly i'll advance of Lord Roberts AND
threatening to cnvclop the Boer position
which extends for 20 miles due north
General French probably crossed tile
ithenoster river near the junction with
iIoFminS Spruit- which runs thence ii
Iiolning Spruit Station.
The main British army will probably
advance along tie railroad while General
French canvergcs from the west and
General Hamilton from the east. Against
this overwhelming force the Bocrs will
probably follow their usual tactics of re-
firing t. positions which doubtless have
been prepared i'll advance for their oc-
cunGtiun.
General French and General Hamilton
are separated from each other by about
40 miles, while Lord Roberts is within II
miles Of General French and 80 miles Of
General Hamilton.
Since the last dispatch left Horning
Sprnit, Lord Roberts has doubtless still
farther advanced and by now is either
engaging or following the retreating
Beers. Definite dispatches make it clear
that the Vaal river has not yet been
crossed, as nearly 40 miles intervene be-
tween it and Lord Roberts advance flank
ers.
The small number of casualties sus-
tanned by General Hamilton in his occu-
patton of Hebron bears out the theory
that the Beers will make no strenuous
resistance until the Vaal is reached or
until even later.
Dispatches from Heilhron say that the
Boer General De Wet had 1000 men
posted on an adjacent hill. but that he
retired when General Hamilton ap-
preached. President Stoyn fled from
Heilbron May 20, and his destination
is not known.
Mafeking's Bravery.
The first word received from Colonel
Baden-Powell at Mafeking heightens
rather than diminishes the reports here.
tofore cabled Of the gallantry exhibited
by the garrison during the closing days
of the siege. In an interview with the
correspondent of the Reuter- Telegram
company May IL, Colonel Baden-powel
said:
My great endeavor is to prevent the
relief force from trying to rush into the
place before they are strong enough toI
do so. 1t would be better to make Ger.
tain of relief in two months than to be
beaten III an attempted relief in one
month. You remember il was said in the
old days in Zuluand that the natives
called me Cmhala Panzi ('thc man who
doesn't rush thingsl.
The knowledge that the whole empire
was watching with appreciation the good
light of the garrison has been worth IN
extra pound of rations Il day to the garri.
son. 1t was difficult to persuade the civil |
ans of the necessity of submitting to
martial law. We had our little difficult
ties, but later there was a loyal accept.
lnce of the military administration, and
here was no trouble at all. The devotion
If the nurses and women generally was |
most marked"
)ers for messages, Baden Powell looked |
embarrassed and said:
These chaps have got an exaggerated |
dea of the Importance of my personality. |
look upon myself as the fgurehead of
he good ship Mafeking. 1t has been her |
stout canvas and shape and her brave
lull that really showed the ship along and |
brought her safely through the stormy
'ruise. So whenever read nice things
people say of ME I take it that they are
laid inasmuch as l am the head repre-.
tentative of the garrison"