The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-12
Lord Roberts Somewhere I'm the VII
cinity of KroOnstad, Where the
Enemy Was Expected to Staad.
sTEYN IN ACTIVE COMMAND
LEADING THE FREE SKATERS IN
THE LADYBRAND DISTRICT.
Attempting to Cut Roberts's Commun-
fcations-Gen. Butler Advance
ing ON HeIpmakaar.

LONDON, May II, 4:30 a. ma British
column 1900 strong, has arrived at Vry-
burg, 100 miles from Mafeking. 1t reached
there Thursday, and although harassed by
the Beers, is pushing swiftly forward. Fifty
miles south of vryburg, at Taungs. is Gen.
Hunters main body moving slowly and
contending with considerable forces. The
pick of his mounted men are the 5000, who
are going without wheeled transport, and
at a rate that may possibly bring them to
Mafeking on Monday or Tuesday next.
Lord Roberts's narrative closes with
Thursday evening, but he continued his
march yesterday toward Kroonstad, and by
this time he must know whether the Beers
intend to fight there.
winston Churchill says there were only
1000 Beers opposing the British at Zand
river Another estimate is that 5000 made
a rear guard action while many other thou
sands with conveys retired without firing
shot.
President Steyn and council of the lead
ers OF several thousand Free Staters in the
Ladybrand and Ficksburg district deter
mined to submit to the men the question of
continuing the war or not at a great OPEN
to fight on. Steyn, who appears to be in
active command. began to advance toward
the British and came into contact on
Thursday with Campbelrs brigade and
Brabants horse twenty miles northeast of
Thaba N'Chu. A smart engagement en-
sued, with no positive success on either
side, except that the Boer advance was
stopped, General Rumble has placed his in
fantry along a twenty-mile front In such
way as to bar Boer advance toward Lord
Roberts's communications With the ex-
ception of Brabant's Colonials. General
Rumble has no horsemen. The cavalry are
all with Lord Roberts's advance.
According to Pretoria telegram, General
Butler is moving from Elandslgaate in the
direction Of Helpmakaar and the British
vanguard engaged Boer patrol of Italians
on Thursday. Twelve Italians are reported
as routing fifty British. The dispatch also
says that British reconnoiteriting parties
have invaded the Transvaal near Fourteen
streams. and that the scouts on both sides
meet frequently with varying results.
Lord Roberts yesterday telegraphed to
the War Office from Rio spruit, under date
of May 10, evening. as follows: Eve have
had a successful day and have driven the
enemy from point to point. French, with
Porter's and Dickson's brigades of cav
airy and Hutton's mounted infantry
crossed the San at Vermentens kraal and
then worked around in northeastern di-
rection to Maastchapy, being opposed con-
tinuously by the enemy. Pole-Carew's di-
vision and Gordon's cavalry brigade aug
mented by j Battery of Royal Horse Ar
tillery and by Henry's and Ross's mounted
infantry, crossed the rived by drift near
the railway bridge. My quarters accom-
panied this force. With the infantry por-
ton We are eight miles north
of the river. The cavalry
and mounted infantry are at ven-
tersburg road station and fuckers divi-
sion is at Deilfonteinord. Ian Hamilton's
force and Broadwood's cavalry brigade
were making for the cross roads near ven-
tersburg when / last heard from them
Hamilton's column met with stubborn re-
sistance and Smith-Doorien's brigade was
engaged for some hours in protecting the
rear flank OF his force.
'The only casualties reported at pres
ent are: Killed. rank and file, four;
wounded five. No returns yet received
from the cavalry nor Hamilton's force"