The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-05
BEFORE THE OJEEN'S BIRTHDAY
THAT IS THE DATE FIXED FOR
THE LONG-EXPECTED SUCCOR
OF THE BELEAGUERED
LORD ROBERTS IN BRANDFoRT
Gen. Kitchener Is Also in the For
mer Stronghold of the Beers,
Who Are Trekking to
Points of safety.

/ LONDON, May 5, 4:05 a. m.-The mount.
ed infantry, with Lord Roberts, among
which are the Canadians, have picketed
their horses on the south bank of the
Vet river, eighteen miles north OF Brand
fort. The head of Lord Roberts column
has thus advanced thirty-two miles from
karee Siding in two days. or fifty-three
miles north of Bloemfonteln. Little poW-
| der was spent. The British work was hard
marching, the Beers retiring out of the
reach of the British shells The cor
respondents supplement Lord Roberts
plain statement with a few details AS
Gen. Hutton, with the First mounted IN
fantry brigade, drew near Brandfort, he
saw khali-clad body of troops ahead
of him. He was surprised, but thought
they must be the British. Soon, however,
they opened fire upon the British, who
suffered heavily. They were the Irish
American bridage from Lourenzo
Marques, and 1t is reported the Irish lost
heavily The Boer flag was flying over
Brandfort as the British entered town
Several British wounded were found in
the hospital. The Boer authorities gave
up the keys to the public buildings to
Capt. Ross.
Lord Kitchener arrived at Brandfort at
noon and Lord Roberts at dusk
Gen. French's cavalry are sweeping the
country northward. The expectation IS
that the infantry advance will be con-
tinued toward Kroonstad. Although no
prisoners were taken and although no hot
pursuit was attempted, the news greatly
cheered London. Nevertheless it has not
been received with the fine rapture that
attended the first successes Of Lord Rob-
erts.
Gen. Hunters crossing the Vaal at
Windsorton brings the relief of Mafeking,
1876 miles beyond almost within a cal
culable interval. 1t is now regarded as
quite possible that Mafeking may be sue
cored before the queens birthday.
BOERS WANT PEACE.
The Daily Express publishes an inter
view with Abraham Fischer, of the Boer
peace commission, given one of its re-
porters at Boulogne sur Mer, before the
Maasdam sailed for the United States
Mr.. Fischer said:
IF we are at war with the British it
is not because we wished or ever did wish
see whether we cannot end this war.
Neither of US desired it. But we have
both been misled or goaded into it by a
combination to forward political and
financial interests. Our u TINA u1n was is
sued under the belief that our destruction
had been determined upon. We believed
all our concessions had been rejected and
that nothing we could offer would prevent
an attack upon us for the purpose of de-
stroying our independence and seizing our
territory Since then your prime minister
has declared that you want no territory,
and your colonial secretary told parlia-
ment that he intended in his September
dispatch to accept nine-tenths Of our con-
ditions. If these speeches had been made
in September instead of October and No
vember We never would have formulated
an ultimatum Therefore we come, in
the light of these belated assurances, to
see if the war can be stopped. That is
the object of our mission, and its only OBJ
ject We will gladly consent to submit
all questions of guarantees and indemnity
to the decision of any imperial tribunal.
Grant US that and we will lay down our
arms tomorrow"
BRITISH SUCCESSES.
The war Office this evening Issued the
following from Lord Roberts dated
Bloemfontein, Friday, May 4:
The mounted infantry have gone on
to the Vet river. The rest of the force
will march there tomorrow. The rail-
way has been repaired. Hunter reports
very satisfactory news--that the Passage
of the Vaal has been carried at Windsor,
ton without opposition
BRABANTS POSITION.
BRABANT'S CAMP, May / (by runner
to Observation-Disclosures S division now oc-
cupies strong position on the range Of
hills on the Ladybrand road, about twen-
ty miles from Wepener. The troops are
confronted by a large force of Beers, who
recently occupied Wepener, and who have
now been located in the mountain known
L., 49, arfIn bie
morning the Borderers horse, under Col
Maxwell, came in contact with the er
outpoSts, but returned to camp after To-
eating the enemy. Later group of 500
Beers was discovered marching past the
Boer position, but the British were unable
to tell whether they were friend or enemy
until they had disappeared in a hollow a
few miles away, when they proved to he
a Boer commando
BOER PRISONERS FOR CEYLON.
COLOMBO, Ceylon, May At is expect
ed that batch of Boer prisoners will be
sent here. The imperial government has
approached the Ceylon authorities on the
subject and asked them to suggest a good
site for a camp.
BOERS LEAVE TIIABA N'CFU HILL
THABA N'CHU, May 3-The Beers
have evacuated Thaba N'Chu hill, and
are believed to be still trekking, though
one gun has shelled the camp inter-
mittingly Scouts report that some of
the Beers retired toward Wepener. They
believe the Beers evacuated the position
during the night, trekking northwardiy
in three directions. Gen. French left to-
day. Gen. Rumble is in command here
1t is expected that Gen. Brabant will eff.
feet a junction at any moment.
BOERS DRIVEN OUT.
WARRENTON, Cape Colony, May A
British six-inch wire gun opened unex-
pectedly on the Boer laager yesterday at
a distance of seven and a half miles.
throwing hundred-pound shells with won,
derful accuracy and causing hasty re,
treat OF the burghers. The lombard,
ment continued today at all points, by
howitzers and field guns, supported by
two companies of the Munster regiment.
the Beers being driven from shelter and
their guns being put out of action.
BOERS SHIFT GUNS.
LADYSMITH, May 1.-The Beers bava
shifted their guns on the range of hills
facing the British in front of Glands.
laagte and have posted a long Tom on a
hill in the direction of Vessels Mex.
BRITISH IN SNiTHFIELD.
ALIWAI NORTH, Cape Colony, Nav
A-Smithfeld was OccuDsed vesterdav hx-