The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-05-08
BOERS
Continue TO Retreat-BIitish
Troops Jubilant.

LONDON, MAY SA:2O A. M.-rhe
Beers are everywhere retiring before the
British, except on the Natal frontier and
at Mafeking. to the inner circle of their
defenses. They appear determined not TO
fight until the K%roonstad Hills are
cached.
Lord Roberts is expected to do another
forty or fifty miles and then wait for u
time in order to bring up supplies and to
repair the railway. There are one or two
hints in the dispatches from the front
that he may rest for a few days at Small
deel.
Gen. French's 10000 cavalry have not
been mentioned i'm the official or unofi-
cial dispatches for four days.
1t is by no means likely that he Is idle,
and the conjecture is that he is either de-
touring toward Kroonstad or raiding the
Ladybrand district. Fifteen thousand
British are now operating on the western
frontier Of the Free State. As the dead
lock at WarrentoE has broken and the
Beers are retreating, there is nothing
formidable, except distance, between
Warrenton and Mafeking. The most
hopeful advices from Mafeking of April
% were that the garrison would be bare
ly able to hold out for a month. At that
time the fever was spreading. According
to advices from Maseru, Basutoland. sew
eral thousand Free Staters are north Of
~Ladybrand, where they nave collected
great herds. The district is rich in food
for men and horses and the Beers seem
resolved not to move northward, but to
be preparing to resist wher ethey are. If
they are lie talone they will menace the
line of communications after the main.
British army has passed into the Trans
vaal.
Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener per-
sonally directed the artillery in the Vet
river engagement.
Queen Victoria will send a signed pho
tograph to Col. Kekwich, the hero Of
Kimberley.
Six thousand four hundred and fifty
eight troops are now at sea on the way
to South Africa. No others are under
orders to go, except as recruits to fill up
the losses of regiments at the front.
SMAUDEEL, SUNDAY, MAY 6.-The
movement that eliminated in the capture
Of Winburg and Smaldeel was part OF a
great general movement extending from
Gen. Hunter on the west to Gen. Rumble
on the east. Gen. Roberts admirable
strategy resulted in placing everywhere
five British to one Boer. Out of wha
appeared to be inextricable confusion Of
divisions and brigades, order was quick
ly evolved and the Beers were compelled
to meet Lord Roberts under unfavorable
conditions.
What is more important IS that the
British are now able to wait. Their
front and strong positions are safe in the
knowledge that their Ranking columns
will advance and outhank the Beers.
Yesterday the Beers held a really
strong position, from which, earlier IN
til campaign, they could only have been
forced by hard fighting. Gen. Hamilton's
arrival at Winburg, although not direct
ly outfianking the Beers, made their po-
sition extremely uncomfortable Gen.
Hutton's movement on the left was even
more successful than at first imag1neu.
Forty Beers were killed.
The march there was short but Gen.
Pole-Carew's division marched SO miles
in four days.
Gen. fuckers division is marching on
our left today and Gen. Maxwells brig
ade will be able to eros the river before
night.
Lord Roberts has been very strict in
his examination Of the farms, with the
result Of disclosing the fact that neatly
every house in itself is a miniature arse
nal, Mausers Martins and abundant am
munition being found. If these had not
been found, the army would be leaving
in it's rear the material in arms and men
for a dangerous move of the inhabitants.
All along the railroad culverts, where
ever of any size, rave been utterly de-
stroyed, but the engineers hope to make
a detour in some cases and in others they
will fill up the gaps.
Three of the four spans of the Vet river
bridge nave been utterly destroyed and
it will be necessary to make a temporary
line down the river bed, as at the Mod
der.
Reports have been heard this afternoon
showing that more culverts and bridges
are being destroyed northward.
DIM nIEN CnI kDEEn