Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-03-22
ARE MASSNG ON THE VAAL.
Soer Forces lntrenching ,
vereeninging,
ROBERTS MANeUveRs FOR TIME
Afriksnders Said to he Preparing to
Make stand Near border Line Of
tho Two Republics between BIoem-
foateln end Pretoria.

London, March 19.-The Beers ar
believed to be intrenching at Vereen
inging, a village on the Vaal, where
the river is crossed by the railroad be
tween Bloemfontein and Pretoria.
While President Steyn, with the Boel
commanders behind him, is still in thi
field at Kroonstadt and Ventersburg
and there Is a rear guard at Brandfort
| or Winburg, the march northward does
not seem likely to be seriously OPP
| posed.
Gen. Pole-Carew, with the guards
has arrived at Springfontein, and is
probably already in touch with Gems,
Gatacre and Clements.
Gen. Roberts, In his midnight report,
said nothing about the Dutch rear
guards. These have probably disband-
ed, and there Is no obstacle in the i'm
mediate opening OF railway communi-
cation from Bloemfontein to the Or
ange river.
Lord Roberts stat:c that two con-
tingents of the Free T.'tate forces are
on the border of Bias = bland awaiting
the terms of his proclamation before
surrendering. The burghers are aban-
doning Steyn and preparing to give up
their arms and return to their farms.
The campaign in the Free State Is vir-
tually over.
The report that a relief column has
been organized at Kimberley has been
confirmed. 1t Is recruited from volun-
teers and local forces and stiffened
with regulars. Gen. Kitchener has
clearly been at work there, and the
seizure Of Boshof is connected with the
movement. AS there Is a Boer force
at Fourteen Streams, the column will
have severe fighting before 1t can cross
the Vaal and clear the western bor-
der.
Three days later news has come
from Mafeking, where the garrison was
holding out well on Friday week and
had been able to seize the Beers ad-
vanced trench south Of the town.
1t appears that President Steyn owed
his escape from Bloemfontein to
subterfuge. The Beers were anxious
that he should surrender to the Brit
ish. SO as to avoid being made pris-
oner he announced his intention Of
visiting an outpost. Instead of doing
this, however, he jumped into car
riage which was waiting for him out
side the town, and, driving rapidly
away, soon made his escape good.
The occupation of Bloemtontein is
q peace measure of great efficacy. The
capital has welcomed Lord Roberts
soldiers, and is rejoicing that so far as
the Free State Is concerned the war is
virtually at an end. The influence OF
the capital Is felt north and south. The
forces blocking the advance of Gatacre,
Brabant and Clements are breaking
up. The commanders in the north are
thinning out nightly from desertion.
1t is stated in Cape Town that the
Free State prisoners captured at
Paardeberg may be allowed to return
home.
News comes from Lourenco Marquee
to the effect that Gems. Lucas Mayer
and Schalkburger had returned to
their farms. These are two of the best
generals, and it seems scarcely likely
that they should both have withdrawn
from the field. The loss of their
services would certainly, be a very
serious one for the burgher army.
The details Of the concentric move
ment upon Springfonteln are coming
In slowly. Ben. Brabant was too far
east to take part in it, and he was fully
occupied in accommodating the enemy's
position north OF Aliwal North. Gen.
Clements had forced the passage Of
the river at Noval's pont on Thurs
day morning and constructed a pom
toon bridge for carrying over his heavy
guns. Gen. Gatacre was moving for
ward rapidly toward Springfontein.