The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-09
The B0ERS 4. &; ;
STAND FAST.
Recommending Columns
Sent Out by Roberts
Discovered Them
in Force.

London, May 9-While Lord
Roberts headquarters are still at
Smaldeel, he has sent forward his
cavalry and finds the Beers strong
Nv posted and in considerable force
at the Zand River drifts, about ten
miles north of Smaldeel. The rail-
road and bridges are in bad shape
and the British advance is likely
to be halted a few days for repairs
and to give the troops a rest after
their rapid marching Of the past
few days.
The War Office has issued the
following dispatch from Lord Rob-
erts:
Smaldeel, May s.--General Hut.
ton, with mounted infantry, recon-
noitered yesterday to the Zand
River and found the enemy in con-
siderable force. General Broad
woods brigade of cavalry, with
General Ian Hamilton's force, per-
formed the same operation with
much the same result.
General Hunter reports that he
occupied Fourteen Streams yester-
day without opposition, owing in a
great measure to the able DISPOSE
tions made by General Paget on
the left bank Of the Vaal River at
Warrenton, where his artillery fire
rendered the enemy's position
practically untenable. A slx-inch
gun was found most useful.
AS the Sixth and half the Fifth
Brigades Of infantry advanced
under cover Of the artillery, the
enemy retired precipitately, aband-
oning their clothing, ammunition
and personal effects.
The following dispatch from Lord
Roberts has been received at the
War Office:
Smaldeel, May THE railway
from Brandfort to this place has
been considerably damaged and
the bridge over the Vet River has
been hopelessly damaged. This
delays supplies coming up.
Every few yards charges of
rackarock have been laid under the
rails. This might have created
loss of life, but was fortunately dis
covered by a West Australian in
fantryman.
"Winburg has been occupied by
the Highland Brigade. "
Other Smaldeel dispatches say
that General Hunters advanced
camp of the Colcuial regiments is
tonight settled at Lodgelegen
(Welgelegen?) siding.
According to reports the Beers
intend to make big stand near,
the Zand River.
The railroad has been repaired
to the south side of the Vet River
and the engineers are busy maxi
ing deviation arcoss the bed.
A British camp is now being
formed at Fourteen Streams, says
a Warrenton dispatch of May 7.
The old railroad bridge can be re-
paired in z week.
A Boer prisoner says the burgh-
CTS, WHO uuHDCl 1o,oOO ilCu, dig
now on their way to Christana.
A dispatch received at Lorenzo
Marques from Colonel Plumer's
camp. bearing date April %, states
that the Beers around Mafeking
have been gradually REINFORCED,
and their strength is estimated at
5000.
Colonel Plumcr has succeeded in
communicating with Mafeking by
means of carrier pigeons, and is
endeavoring TO communicate with
the southern relief column.
The Standard hears that infor-
nation has been officially received
of a plot to assasslnate Roberts,
and that the latter has been warn.
ed The Parliamentary Secretary
of the War Office, Mr.. Wyndham
announces that the War Office has
no information tending to confirm
the reports OF an alleged plot to
assassinate Lord Roberts.
The same dispatch says that
when President Kruger heard Of
the explosion he dramatically ex.
| claimed:
as there a God?"