Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-08
Destruction Of Portions Of the Rail.
way snd Vet River Bridge
Cause Delay.
Impressive scens at the Meeting Of
the Volksraad Kruger Still
Hopeful.

lu0 OVppllSS COMING w. I1SSiS ASSs Ii
yardB charges OF rackarack had been
laid under rails. This might have cre-
ated loss of life, but fortunately was
discovered by West Australian infan-
tryman. Winburg was occupied by the
Highland brigade
In spite Of these wrecked railroads the
British advance goes on steadily. Rob
trts' outposts are apparently about
twelve miles north Of Smalldeel. Bra
bant Joined Rundle at Thaba N'Chu,
whence they are moving forward. The
country is all quiet in that direction.
"A dispatch from Cape Town dated to-
day says: Roberts phenomenal adj
vance is not only utterly demoralizing
the Beers, but is striking terror into the
rebel colonists. The relief Of Mafeking |
Is expected at any moment.
The Cape Town correspondent is
slightly optimistic as regards Mafeking,
Judging from direct dispatches. the
British forces south Of Mafeking being
still 200 miles from the objective.
London. May The onrush of Lord
Roberts army continues The left wing
advanced on Saturday from the Vet
river to Smaldeel without meeting any
resistance. The Beers had retreated
toward Kroonstad, their rear guard be-
ing ten miles away. They had left be-
hind large quantity Of forage and
railway material, and the British had
also captured Maxim gun and twen-
ty-five prisoners.
Lord Roberts. who has become q
great imperialist. lays great stress upon
the gallantry OF the Canadian and 9TH.
er colonial troops In forcing the passage
OF the Vet under hot shell and mus.
kerry fire, and special correspondents
supply details which serve to- prove
that there 10 an honorable emulation
among them. and that 1t is hard to hold
any of them back. The Queenslanders
were conspicuous for their bravery.
SEtaldeel IL about one-.ifth OF the dis
taye between Bloemfontein and
Kl3onstad is another fifth.
As Winburg is reported unofflcially
to have been occupied on Sunday by
the right wing under Gen. Hamilton.
after Q sharp fight and q hot pusuit.
and - the Beers retired on the same
day from their positions east of Thaba
N'Chu and left Gen. Rundle's division
free TO march northward, there is
nothing to retard Lord Roberts adj
vance.
His two wings are closer together
than they were when the northward
advance was begun week ago, and
unless there Is an eastward diversionsto
Senekal both of his columns can head
for the Zand river and be massed at
I Kroonstad.
Gen. Hamilton's march on Winburg
was conducted with great spirit, and
he had hard fighting on the way. De-
tails OF the cavalry charge and the
work OF the Highland brigade are be
ginning to come In.
Gen. Hamilton's management OF hi:
troops was excellent. and the fines
qualities of the British cavalry and in
lantry were brought out. His pursui
of the enemy after the battle is re,
ported to have been sharp and harass
ing to the Beers, who fell back SO rap
idly that they could not carry off tw,
4 guns, which the British captured.
Lord Roberts has not reported Off
cially upon the movements Of his righ
wing since Friday, but dispatches re
specting the occupation OF Winburi
come from his camp. There has been
theory among military men that Lor,
Roberts would send a strong columl
thru Senekal and Bethlehem to Harri
smith and open the way for portio
of Sir Redvers Buffers force across tn
mountains into the Free State.
Gen. Butler has three divisions, an
the experts have not believed that the
would remain idle in front OF Biggars
berg, but would cooperate activel
with the commander-in-chief in tn
Free State operations. The next fe,
days will settle this disputed question
Lord Roberts conviction that hi
northward march would draw of tn
Beers from their intrenched position
at Thaba N'Chu has been justified
their retreat northward and eastwar,
Gen. Rumble has occupied, withol
sacrifice OF life. the impregnable line (
high hills, which could only have bee
taken with heavy Losses by o fronts
attack. Lord Roberts does not ask h
men to work miracles, but studit
closely the dynamics OF the science
war.
It IL not improbable that the siege !,
sMafeking may be abandoned befo
Gen. Hunters column is within mea
{ urable distance Of the town. There a.
already rumors from Pretoria that Il
Beers forces will be called south al
that there will be general cOncentr'
tionsof the burghers against Lord Ro
erts on the Vaal river. Gen. Hunt
meanwhile is marching on and driviI
the Beers before him.
Details of Gen. Barton's engageme
with the Boers at Rooidam show tn
the Fusillier battalions fought wi
steadinsss and pluck. and that the II
perial yeomanry. under Col. lfeyric
pursued the enemy mile aftes nj
when the kopjes were taken.
More Boers Around Mafslk119.
Lonrensos Marques. May Ia q
patch from Plumer'a camp. bsArt
lste of April Is. states that ths ~
aSeund Mafeking have been - i6al
sl1ASeseed. ana thelf atrengt