The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-28

LONDON May 2s. a;2o a. m.--When Lord
Roberts wrote his first dispatch on Trans
vaal territory yesterday, shortly before .
o'clock in the afternoon, he was fifty-one
miles from johannesburg and seventy
seven miles from Pretoria. His immensely
superior forces had passed the Vaal river,
their last great natural obstacle, at three
points.
The Vaal has curve 90 eighty miles on
the west to Zand drift on the east The
concave of the curve IL toward the Free
State. Thus Lord Roberts. advancing along
the railway, was in a position TO strike any
part of the crescent by shorter lines than
those by which the Beers could reinforce
the threatened points. The Beers retreated
almost without show OF defense. Gen.
French and GEN Hamilton apparently did
not fire shot
First to Cross the River.
or Lord Roberts immediate force. eleven
men. belonging to the Eighth mounted in
fantry were the first TO ford the river
They came upon a Beers patrol looting at
Vieljohns drift, and a sklrmish lasting ten
minutes followed Three hundred Beers
tried feebly to hold the Nereenlnging coll
liery hut were dsodged.
The Boer rear guard IL at Moyerton ten
miles south OF Vcreeniging. Their main
body is moving toward the Kip river hills
that cove the south side of Johannesburg.
situation at Pretoria.
While Lord Roberts soea infantry, $1,000
horse and $50 guns are moving on johann
nesburg and Pretoria, through a parched
and deserted country. tho situation at the
AL tug A4.f
is thus described by an observer who sent
his message by private hand TO Loursnzc
Marquee. yesterday:
'erhc situation both from a military and
a politIcaI point Of view has become very
critical President Kruger yesterday adj
mitted that for tine FIRST time, matters are
very grave. The Boer determination Ia 20
trust everything 60 n last Sinrd on the
Gatsrhnd mountains, 20 the north of Pots
chcf0strpom where 3,ga kainrs arc digging
tfcnchee 10 that point every available
man and gun has been sont.
western Transyani D~fenseiess.
''The whole Of the western bcrdor of The
Transvani from end 10 end. r. dcfeuseless,
and Gen. Baden Powell con march in when
b,, likes Lord Roberts, on the other hand.
win encounter the greatest resistance. Tne
Reer andaavnr IS 20 lure the British Into
ANhtaAtftN+"H'ff-"f
attack. an excuse thus being given them
| for the destruction of property. The Trans-
vaaI government will not dare destroy tne
mines and property without an rKcuec.
Nuch dynamite has been sent down the ias
and Isorpo eases iio ready at Zuurfontein.
| near Johannesburg
"r,en louis Bntha ana Gen I.acaa Meter
| have pleaded for She preservaticn ~ prop"
| rrty Both are large landed rfoprelcre
| ana fear conascati1n hut they haye not
| received satisfactory replies from Prafiaent
| Kruger.
rorefgner~ Suggest schemes.
..sean~bile. many French ana German
aavauiurern have come forward wiih
| s-hftn,a and Inventions for blowing up
/ tho Yfit!sh troops some u these having
/ received tacH permission - expert
I non, One German invention is Tor
/ use on railway, whore I lies perfectly
1 concealed until the weight % passing
/ train cxplodea the charge.
! Gen Lucas Meter rays surrender would
! be at once proposed by the Beers. but that
| everybody fears the iEn0miny - being the
| one 20 make the proposition lie dAlareE
I fbat hs Is assured that hls mcu Win NOT
| stand. President stoyu ard Ar. Ncitz The
| Trausvan} state sesre AIRY. 1ro strongly ep-
1 povod 20 peace but Mr Kruger Ia no, so
( much against a.
President hfAEef q pro- ttWAA4"hN tH tNt
| turghers asking their vogeF for ~ against
/ continuing the war is understood 90 say
they c.u quit nov &ith the prospect ~ re-
tanning thclr farms, or continue to the Bit
ter end Ruu0rs are current IN Lord Rob
er,s' army that the Beers intend 20 sur
render.
Several correspondents wire he London
rapera that there are lo0.p0 foreigners ia
the Boer ranks. but this r. hardly credit
bile,
BATH. Probable AZ LaiDg's srk.
The Indications are that pitched bat
! tie is imminent at Laing's Nek. where
Cen Butler faces the Beers. reinforced
and seemingly determlnd with an esti.
mated strength Of from 500 TO 1000 men.
The relnforeements include large party
from Iadybfand and fresh commandoss
from Pretoria.
Londoners are doubtful of ne Boera
Displaying tie same tenacity of fighting "a
at LAdysmlth.
Arresting suspected Rebels.
The British are confident that when the
moment arrives they viii be able To force
the passes.
! Tuo hoxaz az dynamite fuse have been