Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-05


Colombo, Ceylon. May At is ex-
pected that batch of Boer prisoners
Will be sent here. The Imperial gov
eminent has approached the Ceylon
authorities on the subject, and has ask
ed them to suggest good site for a
camp.
BOERS SHIFT GUNS.
Ladysmith, May 4.-The Beers have
shifted their guns on the range of hills
facing the British in front of Glands
laagte and have posted long tom on
hill In the direction of Vessels Mex.
INDISCRIAIINATE SMELLING.
Thaba N'Chu, May 4.-The Beers
have evacuated Thaba N'Chu hill and
are believed TO be still trekking, though
one gun has shelled the camp indis-
criminately. Scouts report that some
OF the Beers retired toward Wepener.
They beiieve the Beers evacuated the
position during the night trekking
northwardly in three directions.
BRABANT EXPECTED.
General French left to-day. General
Rumble is in command here. 1t is ex-
pected that General Brabant will effect
junction at any moment.
FRANKFORT OCCUPIED.
London. May 4.-News of the occupa-
ton OF Brandfort was issued by the
war Office at 10 o'clock this morning
confirming the Associated Press news.
1t Is generally considered the most inn
portant communication received from
the front since the capture of General
Cronje and the relief OF Ladysmith
AN IMPORTANT KEY.
The position gives the key TO one OF
the main roads leading to the Drakens-
berg passes, which possibly may be the
means of cooperation with General
Buller later On. provides an advance
base of supplies, etc, ard at the same
time menaces the Boers now southeast
OF Bioemfontein.
The Boer army which Is at Brandfort
commanded by General DeLarey, is
presumably retiring OH Winburg. which
VIII possibly De the next Immediate OBJ
jectivc OF the British
Brandfort. thirty-ilve miles nearer
the TransYaal capital, is now Lord
Roberts headquarters.
ROBERTS GENERAL ADVANCE
nat particularly gratiies the Bril-
tisn public is the evidence that the
army of Lord Roberts in the Orange
free State has recovered 1t ability and
Is again capable of Undertaking tho
general advance. so long retarded 1t
hardly expected the Beers Will make
much of q stand south of Kroonstae!t
and possibly not there il Lord Roberts
e.
intcrposing between the main federal
army and the Boer forces in the neigh
borhood of Thaba N'Chu and HoutnelS
III which case the latter would be fore
cd to move far to the eastward in
which direction their mobility would
probably enable them to reach the
Bethlehem and Harrismth line of
sd .aty. The only opposition which the
British encountered at Brandfort seems
como ri h 4
command.
The central British army is now in
line with the extreme left at Boshof
under Lord Methuen, and the extreme
right at Elandslaagte, under General
Butler so that movements of these
wings in cooperation with the arm
may shortly be expected.
London May 4.-Lord Roberts report
to the War Onice May 3, on the occu-
patton of frankfort follows:
1--WE occupied Brandfort to-day with
out much opposition and without. l
hope. many casualties The first brigade
of Mounted Infantry covered the left
flank of the 14th brigade of the 7th Di-
vision, and the right flank was support
ed by the 18th brigade. Pole-Carew's di-
vision advanced directly on Brandfort.
The Boer army. which was under COM
mand OF DELANEY, retired III a nOrth-
casterly direction.
SUFFOLK REGIMENT DISASTER.
London. May 4.-The Gazette this
evening contains General rrench's re-
port of the disaster to the Suffolk Regi-
ment January 8, which he attributes
entirely to the fact that a majority of
the four companies of the regiment en-
gagged We're seized with panic and re-
tired. He pays high tribute to the Off
GERS of the regiment and the men who
remained with them.
crnchr,0nns nono,r,nE