Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-12

II
ated the first line Of entertainments DUR
ing the night. We are now reconnoiter-
Ing towards Kroonstad.
London. May Il. Roberts telegraphs
the war otiice under date OF Geneva
Siding. May II. evening:
my headquarters. with Pole Carew'e
division, marched twenty miles today
and is now at Geneva Siding. fourteen
miles from Kroonstad and about six
miles from Boschrand, where the Beers
are holding entrenched positions. Gor-
don's brigade Is In touch with them.
fuckers division is q short distance
southeast and Hamilton's force is still
further east.
.Broadwood's brigade overlook s
pArt Of the enemy's convoy yesterday
at Potgister's Laager, southeast of
Ventersburg, and captured several
wagons and some prisoners.
French, with Porter's and Dickson's
brigades and Hutton's mounted infan-
try, Is come distance due north of this
place.
We have taken nearly 100 prisoners
during the last two days. All the Free
Staters, who could give a good account
OF themselves, were disarmed and al
lowed to return to their farms. The.
nights are getting much cooler.''
london. May 12.-Lord Roberts cen
trail column OF hghting men marched at
daybreak yesterday morning in the di-
arection Of Kroonstad. the present
stronghold Of the Beers in the Orange
Free State, which is twenty five miles
distant from the most advanced British
position. What resistance, II any, they
encountered. the war Office closed at
midnight without making known. It is
believed. however, that the Beers are
falling back only when compelled to do
90. 30 that they have q repetition OF
ThursdAy. Gen. Hamilton's mounted
infantry and Gen. French.s cavalry are
leading the British forces. They made a
start yesterday from sventersburg and
s6ventersburg station. respectively, and
At 10 thought that unless they have met
fierce eresistancest they must have gained
I 4 position not many miles distant from
the Boer intrenchments around Kroon-
stad. ,.il
Along the railway. following the
mounted men who formed the wings of
the advancing army, marched Gems
Pole -Carew's and fuckers divisions. ac-
compnnied by the commander in chief.
The whole force in motion covered %
miles of country. Advices as to the
result Of these wide, momentous move
ments is eagerly awaited In London.
Thursdays fighting appears to have
been marked by many brilliant man
euvers and by much heroism on both
ades.
The British closed the day with vic-
tory perching on their banners. but the
Beers had forced their foes to earn their
triumphs. Gen. French moved against
the right wing Of the Boers. and his
dasting leadership and the spirit OF his
men, combined with the superiority Of
his numbers, soon shattered the Beers
formation and started them in retreat.
Yet, notwithstanding the fact that the
right wing was falling back the Beers
left held doggedly to its position and
gave Gen. Hamilton's troops all they
wanted TO handle. Indeed the Beers who
Sopposed the advance OF the British right
even adopted the aggressive tactics and
compelled Gen. Smith Dorrien's brigade
10 wage furious fight In order to pro.
tect the rear flank OF the main column
Several Brltish were killed. and they
had number OF wounded, but the cas-
ualties on the whole were comparatively
light considering the impetuous charac.
ter OF the fight.
Important developments In Lord Rob.
erts rear are beginning to be feared
however. Unofiicial dispatches report
( the Free State Beers are concentrating
IN a crescent formation extending from
the Korannaberg hills north OF Thaba
u N'Chu TO q point several miles south.
east OF that town. What IL the objec
of this gathering Of troops remains Il
be seen. but Gen. Rundle. whose head.
quarters is at Thaba N'Chu, is reported
to be expecting an attack on his out,
posts. Already he has been In contac
with the enemy and shots have been ex'
changed.
Lord Roberts line OF communication
lies some some forty miles west OF tn,
4 Boer force in the Koranaberg hills. blu
the field marshal seems to have pro
vided adequately for its defense. TIL,
divisions OF Gems. ChermEide Colvill,
and Kelly-Kenny ought to be some
4 where north OF the Bloemfontein-Lady
brand,road. where. presumably. they ar
stationed In anticipation OF Just such
development 40 now seems to be de
hning itself. Nevertheless, London 4
disappointed at realizing that the Brit
ish don't seem. after all, to have estab
lished an effective barrier between tn
Beers and the southeastern part OF tn
Orange Free State.
30 far a. can be Judged from the dis
4 patches received In London the Boer