The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-05-10
THE TUG OF WAR.

The Beers will probably make stand
at the Iand river TO check the rapid ad-
vance of Lord Roberts.
Twenty. eight non commissioned Brit
ish officers and men have died from dis.
case In the various hospitals.
General Hamilton, on the British,
right engaged and defeated BOer force
on the Little Vet river .infllcting serious
loss
General Hunter, commanding the left
wing, continues to push on. though he
is meeting with more opposition than
General Roberts
A dispatch states that the Beers
around MafekinR have been gradually
reinforced and that their strength IL
estimated at 5000
The total Of British officers and men
killed, wounded and prisoners in the
South African war up TO April 81. as
reported by the War Office, is ID, I21
Beers to the number Of 1000 have re-
treated toward Kroonstad, but II Is re.
ported that they intend to make stand
az Virginia, % miles to the northeast
The American negro charged with
being implicated in the explosion at
the Begbie foundry is alleged TO have
said he was offered s2j, 900 20 do the job.
Confidence is felt by the hundreds
Of British subjects who have just been
expelled from the Transvaal of Lord
Roberts ability TO bring the war to a
speedy and successful termination.
1t now appears probable that Lord
Roberts main army will halt for some
days at Smaldeel. in the Orange Free
State, as the Beers ere in f9.5G g; Iand
..,.CE and me bridge over the Vet river
is hopelessly damaged.
The Beers are everywhere retiring
before the British, except on the Ma
tai frontier and at Mafeking. to the in
ner circle Of their defences. They ap-
pear determined not to fight until the
KroCnstad hills are reached.
Fourteen Streams, where for six
weeks the Beers have fired across q
Vaal at the British near Warrentvn,
has been evacuated A British force
under Colonel Paget has crossed the
river and joined General Hunter.
President Kruger. in opening the new
session of the NolksrAad at Pretoria,
said he was pleased to see that the
sympathy Of the world was on their
side in the war. He also declared that
the republics finances were sufficient
10 bear the expenses Of war and that
the mines were Furnishing.
Mafeking dispatch says while
Lord Roberts message implies that re-
lief will be expected at the earliest by
MAY IS. it seems possible that the
siege may continue till June. The
commissariat has begun TO make horse
flesh sausages. A new BOer lager has
appeared at the Southwestern outposts.
The fever is spreading. y
General Roberts forces are encamp-
ed at Swaldeel Junction. beyond the
Vet river. and the Beers are reported
10 be in retreat toward Iind River
and KrOonstad The British executed
successful turning movement and
captured q Maxim gun and twenty
five prisoners. Lord Roberts has now
advanced sixty.three miles north OF
BloemfOntein.
A scheme of the Free Skaters which,
had il not been discovered, would have
enabled them to strike serious blows
has been unearthed by the British. AT
almost every farm house Mauser and
Martini rifles, with large supplies OF
ammunition, have been concealed. AS
Lord Roberts advanced the Free Skaters
were 10 rise as an army in his rear and
threaten his communications