Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-05-12
At THABANCHU .
Ten Thousand Burghers Now Near
That Place.
THE BATTLING AT THE ZAND
Afrikamders Had SIX Guns There and
Held Their Positions Until the
British Forces Were Very
Near Them.

LONDON, Nldy l..-SO qulCkIy nus A-"i"
Roberts advanced that his cavalry Is
only 20 miles from Kroonstadt, while the
main army is only II miles behind it;
hence, in about day, the British will be
within striking distance OF the Orange
Free State headquarters. The critics
differ largely in opinions rs Ia whether
any determined stand will be made there.
The presence Of 10000 Beers in the
neighborhood of Thabanchu is confirmed.
They are holding line 20 miles north t"
southeast Of Thabanchu a Boer patrol
was sighted Thursday at Thabapatchoa,
and detachment of Brabant's horse
pursued the burghcrs. who retired after
some fighting. The Brabants then took
up n position on hill which they are
now holding There were few casualties
on the British side. The Boer headquar-
tiers are at Eden. More fighting is ex
pected.
The South African Review asserts that
a member of the Legislature Of Cape Col
ony offered money to a man to shoot SiI
Alfred Miner, the British high commits.
>ioner. Affidavits on the subject are said
to be in the hands Of the attorney gen
eral. The Review demands the arrest of
the legislator. who is described as n
prominent bondsman from Piquetberg.
Details of the fighting near the Zand
river show that the Beers had six guns.
They held their ground until the British
were within 800 yards of them.. when
they retired owing to demonstrations
that were being made on their TANKS
The Lancashires and SnsseXes made a
charge. and one account says each rcgi-
ment carried kopjc at the point of the
bayonet.
Report From Roberts.
The war office has received the follow
ing dispatch from Lord Roberts:
"Riet Spruit. May 1O.-We have had a
successful day and have driven the enc
my from point to point French, with
Porter's and Dickson's brigades of caval
rs and Hutton's mounted infantry. cross
ed the Zand at Vernmenlens kraal and
worked northeast to Maatchappy. the en-
envy opposing them continuously.
"PoleCarew' division. Gordon's cav
airy brigade, j battery. Henry's and
Rosso's mounted infantry crossed IA drift
near the railway bridge. My quarters
accompanied this portion
with the infantry we are eight miles
north OF the river. The cavalry and
mounted infantry are at Nentersbilrg
road; fuckers division is at Declfon,ein
noord: Hamiton's force and Broadwood'>
cavalry are making for IL crossroad neal
Nentershurg.
when last heard from, Hamilton
force had met with stubborn resistance.
Smith-Dorrien's force was engaged in
protecting IIamiton's rear.
1.-THE drifts are extremely difficult. and
much baggage is still to come up. We
will march at daybreak and push on as
far as possible in the direction of Kroon.
stalt.
"The casualties so far reported are foul
killed and three wounded. Returns from
the cavalry and Hamilton have not yet
been received
Another Account.
A special dispatch from Riet Sprut.
dated May 10. describing more fully the
successful operation. says:
General Hamiltul's scout had on two
previous days ascertained the Beers pc.
sition and strength. On Wednesday
night the Cheshire regiment crossed the
river. ntrcnched themselves and prepar-
cd to hold the passage for the regiments
following them.
AT daybreak on Thursday the main
body crossed ut two or three points. The
mounted infantry We're then in action
driving off the advance Beers prelnra-
tory to IL general forward movement. The
Beer right first gave way. but Tucker
and Hamilton had Il tougher task on the
left. The Beers had six guns and served
them well, working with gren, determine
ton, but the British worked up closer
and closer, their guns meantime firing in
ceSsanty.
The East Lancashire and Sussex reg,
mcnts by II o'clock had worked well to
the front. The order was given. and.
like flash. the two regiments sprang
forward simultaneously. and in few
moments had secured two commanding
ridges.
The advanced line was now within
100 yards of the Beers main trench,
and the latter We're already losing heart
from the demonstration on their flank,
bur they kept up rapid, though wild,
fire.
AT this moment the final charge was
ordered and away went the Lancashires
and the Sussex regiment again, but the
Beers could not stand and they fairly
boiled. and the rout of the Beers along
the whole line was then complete"