Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-11
Advance Has Reached Ventersburg,
a Days March From Kroonstad.
BOERS MAKE LITTLE OPPOSITION
Force of 10000 Said to Be Concen-
trating at Thabanchu.
PLOT TO SHOOT MILNER

CAPE TOWN. May 11.-Lord Roberts
wires that he is at Ventersburg; that he
is continuously opposed. but that he is
making progress.
LONDON. May 11.-Lord Roberts tele
graphs to the war office from Riet Spruit,
under date Of MAY TO- evening, as follows:
"Wc have had successful day and have
driven the enemy from point to point.
French. with Porter's and Dickson's bri-
padcs of cavalry and 1Iutton's mounted in
fantry. crossed the Zand at Nermentes
kraaI. and then worked round in a north
casterly direction to Maatschaphy, being
opposed continuously by the enemy. Pole
Carews division and Gordons cavalry bri-
gade augmented by J. Battery of the
Royal Horse Artillery and by Henry's and
Roses mounted infantry. crossed the river
I,y a drift near the railway bridge.
My headquarters accompanied this force.
With the infantry portion We are eight
miles north of the river. The cavalry and
mounted infantry are at Nentersburg road
station. ana fuckers division Is at Deel
Fonteinnord. Ian Hamton's force and
Broadwu"d Cavalry Brigade was making
for the cross roads near Nentersburg when
last heard II ON them. Hamiltons column
met with stubborn resistance, and Smith
DOrens brigade was engaged for some
hours in protecting the rear and flank of
his force.
Tile only casualties reported at present
are: Killed. rank and file. I: wounded. =.
No returns yet received from the cavalry
nor Hamiltons force
Roberts Moves Quickly.
So quickly has Lord Roberts advanced
that his cavalry is only twenty-five miles
from kroonstad. while the main army Is
only eleven miles behind them. Hence, in
about day the British will be within strik-
ing distance of the Orange Free State head
quarters. The critics differ widely in opin-
ions as to whatever any determined stand
Will be made there by the Beers.
The presence of IL, 900 Beers in the neigh
borhood of Thabanchu is confirmed They
are holding a line twenty miles north to
southeast of Thabanchu. \ Boer patrol
was sighted Thursday al Thabatchoa a
detachment If Brabart's horse pursued the
burShers, who retired after some lighting
The Brdbants then took up Il position on a
Ell, which they are now holding. There
were few casualties on the British side. The
Boer headquarters are at Eden. More fight
ing il expected.
The South African Review asserts that n
member of the legislature of Cape Colony
offered money to man TO shoot Sir AL
1red Miner. the British high commissioner
AfndaVItS on the subject are said TO b.. in
the hands Of the attorney general The Re
view demands the arrest of the legislator
who is described as prominent bondsman
from Piquetberg.
Beers Massing at Thabnnchu.
MASERC. Basutoland, Thursday, May
1O-The Free Staters are concentrating
strongly i'll good position ON the koranna-
berg hills. lying eastward of the direct line
from Thabanchu to Winburg. President
Steyn with them yesterday but is be-
Heved to have gone northward after in
spiriting the burshers with predictions of
approaching Boer successes through the