The sun., 1900-05-07
HAVE CROSSED VAIL RIVER
Barton's Brigade Has Success
fully FOrded the Stream
at WindsOrtOn.
BOERS ARE TREKKING NORTH
General BaIto Hanging on to Their
Rear and Shelling Them. Par
ticulars of the Capture of
Brandfort. Boer De-
tenders Flee.

Warrcnton, May 6.--The Vaal river
has been successfully crossed at Windsor
ton by BartOn's brigade, with whom is
General Hunter, commanding the divi-
sion. The Beers have evacuated Wind
sorton and Klipdam. They are trckking
northwafd and are fighting for all they
are worth. Barton is hanging on to their
rear and shellng them vigorously. .!udg-
ing from the clouds of dust, the retreat
ing Beers must be in very large numbers.
Brandfort, May 6.-Ihe capture Of this
town was the result of an admirably CON
ceivc1 and well executed combined move
ment. The night before The British adj
vance 1000 Beers moved here taking up
Il strong line Of defense with the avowcd
Glicct Of opposing the British to the Bit
ter end. AZ il result Of the strategy of
Lord Roberts they were forced to retreat
hastily, nearly losing il convoy of guns
and abandoning tie defense Of the town.
Lord Roberts was present while the
operations were III progress on Il kopje
north Of Nnrre, iii which position he WAS
in photographic communication With each
colnmn.
On the right Bruce Ilanilton's brigade
moved castwardly along the line Of Il
kopie communicating by Il road with the
railway. LII close touch followed Max
wells hligade with WavclrS on his left,
all under the command Of Lieutenant
General Tucker. General Pole-t arew's
division formed the center advance, com-
posed Of Jones and Stevenson hrigates,
while Iutton's mounted infantry, made
up mainly Of Canadians, Australians and
New Zcalan,lpls, made Il wide detour and
arrived ut the east Of the town.
The night before the occupation of
Bramtlfort the British seized two small
kopics commanding Il deep and ugly
spruit which it was known the Beers
daily occupied. General Polc-Carcw or
tlpred two battalionS of guards to move
silently after nightfall and occupy the
knpjes. which was done without opposi
tion. This greatly facilitated the adj
vance. MS the Bners relinquished TIA,
spruit. allowing the passage Of the whole
force unopp0Sed.
About three hours after the advance
hogan heavy artillery firing was heard t,
the right. Maxwell. finding that the
Beers had two guns posted in Il good po
sition. engaged them with his artillery n
Il 400 yard range Both sides fired FIJI
ruuSly. but the Beers guns were so0i
completely silencod.
Then gun fire was heard to the left
where General Hutton had come int
touch with the Beers. who We're holdins
Il strong POSITION. Owing. however, L
the unexpected arrival of the British
the Beers left several small knpics I'm
occupied. and. srizing these, General Hut
ton opened fire with his battery, sendin
Colonel Anderson to uutilank the Boer
on the left. The Beers unable to with
stand the shyapnel. evacuated their kol
jes and streamed across the plain towar
n small kopje immediately above, con
manding the town.
As tho; retreatcd the battery place
several shells with great accuracy anon
them, and they Immediately retreate
from their second position, a move thi
was perceived hy Hutton, who sent
part Of his troops in pursuit. Rinin!
ton seized the kopie vacated by I'll
Beers. Thcreupon the Beers rctire'
leaving the town at the mercy of I'll
British.
Meanwhile Colonel Anderson. trying
outflank, found the Rocrs main position
His galloping Maxim received Il hcay
pompom fire and was obliged to retire.
On the other side Maxwell forced Il
Boers' position
All the British movements were ca
ried out like clockworI. The casualti,
were very teW. ht'lf advance prcSen
cd il superb spectacle rs the long frol
pushed slowly forward After The +
frent Of the Eocrs The whole monnt,
infantry was scnt in pursuit ana cutcrl
the town ut , d. m. clpse behind the +
treating Boers, hut THE latter wcrc L
quic; 10 he oyettairn.
While General pplcC Carow's divisi,
was occupying the town Gencml Zinc
ei.s division wits engaged with ior
Of some 5000 Beers on tile British liSl
southwest Of the town.
During tie artillery ducl Waycll's y
gadc came under lie concentrated fire
The Borr guns and WAS forced to retii
The Beers finally retired with two ga
disabled m;rtling good their retreat.
Tho prisoners say that there we
about G0D0 Eoers in the town, incluIi
1000 who had been opposed to the Br
iSh Ill Thahanchu
Gave /, May Party.