The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-09
ADVANCE OF LORD ROBERTS.
BRITISH LINE is FAST APPROACH
ING KROONsTAD.

Empty Stomachs mt Mafeking.
Great Waste of Horse Flesh.
London, May 9, 4:10 a. m.-Four thou
sand British cavalry watered their horses
at zand river. Monday, twenty-five miles
beyond Smaldeel, where Lord Roberts con-
tinues to date his dispatches.
The scouts who have been searching the
country for miles along the stream have
found no Beers south of the river. The
enemy are laagered in unknown force on
the north bank.
Thus the British advance guard is with
in forty-five miles of Kroonstad. The
Free Staters, in the expectation that
Kroonstad will speedily become untenable
are, according to Information from Loren
20 Marquez, preparing to transfer their
government to Heilbron, little more than
fifty miles northeast.
The proclamations of Lord Roberts ap-
pear to have little effect upon the inhab-
ltants of the invaded district. Every
farm is found deserted. except by the
women and children. All the men are
away fighting.
Correspondents at headquarters are now
wiring freely concerning the incidents
connected with the occupation of Small
deel Some evaporation is expressed at
the ease with which the Beers escape with
their transports before the very eyes of
the British. For instance, when the
British entered Smaldeel, the Boer OK
wagons coolly outspanned only five miles
away as If in contempt of the ability of
the British to overtake them.
Lord Roberts is described as rightly
unwilling to sacrifice his horses for the
sake of comparatively minor advant-
age" Nevertheless, the waste of horse
hesh in spite of all precautions, is enor-
nous.
smaldeel is village of only score of
dwellings, but Ii expanded in one night
TO vast canvas city and the glow of
the camp fires was like the scene in an
iron smelling district The city is likely
TO fade away in day by the immediate
progress of the infantry TO zand river
Many Empty Stomachs.
The tidings from Mafeking are gloomier
than ever Everybody there has an emp
ty stomach and a pinched face. The
natives are no longer given even porridge,
and the whites now have nothing but a
quart of that substance and a pound of
horse sausage daily.
Everything else eatable has gone In
sufficient food, wet trenches and cold
nights are deadly to the health of the gar
Si@SA. MS COm66 from re-
liable natives. Lady Sarah Wilson, I'M
der date of April q, says:
The Beers now number 4,500, includ-
ing young Eloff President Kruger's
grandson. who has sent for more guns
Progress of the British.
The British column is reported 10 have
reached Taungs, thirty miles north of
Warrenton. According 90 Pretoria ad-
vices, the British are nearing Vryburg
fc holt -xaroxr hnfrr VKr,
and Mafeking. Gen. Hunter is prob
ably not in personal command of this re-
lief column.
His forces embrace 10000 infantry and
from 5000 to 5000 horsemen, an army far
greater than has hitherto been supposed
Lord Methuen is apparently a subordin-
ate While the relief column is moving
coward Vryburg Gen. Hunter is appar-
entity preparing an orderly advance north
east along the Vaal rived to participate
IN the Pretoria advance as Lord Roberts
left flank.
Cape Town correspondents learn that an
important movement in Natal is expected
Within the next four days. Gen. Bul,er is
rapidly completing his transport organiza-
tion.
The proceedings of the Transvaal vo.ks-
raad indicate President Kruger's undimin-
ished tenacty of purpose. In the course
OF the debate he said that should he be
sent to St Helena the republican cause
would stlll go on. Gen. Louis Botha and
Lucius Meyer are in Pretoria consulting
with the Volksraad.
British Advance Goes on.
London. May S.-The following dispatch
from Lord Roberts has been received at
the war Office:
"Smaldeel, May THE railway from
brandfort to this place has been consider
aDly damaged and the bridge over the Vet
river has been hopelessly damaged This
ueays supplies coming up Every few
YARDS charges of raekaroeE have been iaid
Under the rails. This might have created
loss of life. but was fortunately discovt r
ed by West Australian ufantryman.
Winburg has been occupied by the High
land brigade"
In spite of these wrecked railroads the
5ritish advance goes on steadily. Lord
teooerts outposts are apparently about
WE'VE miles moth of Smaideel Cen Bra
pant has Joined Gen. Rundls at Thaba
Mehu, whence they are moving forward
me country is all quiet in that direction
"a reconnaissance made by Gen. Rumble OF
.ne Boers recent positions al Thaba Nchu
resul'ed In their being pronounced i'm
piesnable and their evacuation is reportad
10 nave been due to the receipt of an ur-
geht message from President Steyn. The
.t,oers are said to be moving northwari
put their immediate destination is not
"hNANhDoutE VI tue bFitlSn cavalry
uuder Gen. French is shll a mystery,
Wnlle Gen. Kelly-Kennys and Gen.
Shermside's divisions are also unaccaunt-
MafeLing Needs Relief.
dispatch from Cape Town. dated to-
day, says:
Lord Roberts phenomenal advance is
hot only utterly demoralizlng the Beers.
Dut Is striking terror into the rebel COZ
onists.
The relief of Mafeking is expected at
any moment"
Inc Cape Town correspondent is slight-
~ optimistic as regards Mafelng, judg-
ing from the direct dispatches. The Brit
Ish FORCES south of Mafeking are still
nelrly 200 miles from their objective,
,mhie the latest advices from Mafeking
nseh dated April 20. show little amelio-
iaIlon in the conditions there.
Inc dispatches say;
with the exception of p little rifle fire
al at the outlying trenches. everything is