The evening times., 1900-05-11


that Roberts vanguard of cavalry and
horse artillery in pursuit OF the Beers.
fleeing from his big army after the fight
north OF the Zand River, has passed con-
siderable distance beyond Ventersburg and
is pushing on toward Kroonstad-
The country beyond the Ventersburg
Hills is open and less favorable for de-
fence. Unless Kroonstad has been strong
ly fortified and the BOer forces are heavily
massed behind the Valsch River, its oe-
cupation may be expected within eight
hours.
AS Steyn's second capital and the key
to the Transvaal- its seizure will be 81
most as important as the capture OF
Bloemfontein.
From $1,000 to 20 600 is the highest es-
innate of the Beers under the personal
command OF General Botba, who, il is said,
has forty-six guns. General Botha and
General De Wet are said TO have qusrreled
during the northward movement.
General Roberts now has 40 600 men and
40 guns, and 10000 mere men are easily
available
From welgelgen comes a despatch sent
y
THE engagement on the Vet River caus-
ed the Beers to be dissatisfied with their
leaders II is learned from Pretoria that
the Beers intend to retire ultimately to
Lydenburg leaving TO the foreign merc--
naries the task of defending johannesburg
and Pretoria.
The foreign mereenaries are now ad
vocating the sending out of guerrilla par
ties from 300 to 400 strong, rather than
persistence in operations on a large scale.
but the Beers are not dashing enough for
that kind Of work. Whatever happens at
KrOonstad. there is little doubt that the
frontier will be strongly contested"
The latest despatch from General Rob-
srts. made public by the War Ofice was
sent from Riet Spruit at S:55 O'Clock last
night and details the operations of yester-
day in beating back Botha's army toward
KToonstad.
The despatch indicates that, because of
the great amount Of territory covered by
the forward movement north Of the Zaad
River, General Roberts advices on the de-
tails Of the situation and condition OF the
troops was necessarily incomplete. On the
whole, however, the day was successful,
from the British point Gf view. General
Roberts despatch follows:
"Riet spruit May 1o.-S:55 p. m.
We have had successful day and
driven The enemy from point TO point
French, with Porter's and Diekson's
brigades Of cavalry and Hutton-s
mounted infantry, crossed the Zand
at Vernmenlens kraal and worked
northeast to Maatchappy, the enemy
opposing them continuously.
'Pole-Carew's Division. Gordons
Cavalry Brigade. Battery. Henry's
and Rosso's Mounted Infantry crossed
a drift near the railway bridge Ny
quarters accompanied this portion.
With the infantry, We are eight
miles north Of the river. The cavalry
and mounted infantry are at Nenters-
burg Road. fuckers division is at
Deelfonteinnoord. HsmiIton's force
and BrOadwOod's Cavalry are making
for a cross road near Ventersburg.
When last heard from Hamilton's
force had met with stubborn resistance
mith-Dorrien's force was engaged for
hours in projecting Hamilton's rear.
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 Kroonstad
The casualties so far reported are
four killed and three wounded. Re-
turns from the cavalry and Hamilton
have not yet been received.
ROBERTS"
Details Of yesterdays fighting near the
Zand River show that the Beers had six
guns. They held their ground until the
British were within see yards Of them.
when they retired, owing to demonstrations
that were being made on their TANKS
The Lancashire and Sussex regiments
made a charge. and one account says that
each carried kopje at the point of the
bayoneL