The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-24
His Infantry Are at the Rhenostcr
River Cavalry Already Across.
PRETORIA FORTIFlCATIONS COMPLETE.
II Can Withstand a Years Siege, but Jo-
hannesburs Is lnpTepared.
DR. lEYDS WOULD GIVE NO ACCOUNTING
Refused To Tell How lie spent
x2,500.o00 and Threw Valuable
Papers Into the FIRE,

london, May a. $40 a, m.-Lord Rob-
erts Is drawing near to the frontier of
the Transysal, His infantry masses are
thirty three miles north OF Kroonstad
at the Hhenoater river, Some thousands
of cavalry are already across the river.
The Boers are retiring toward the Vaal
with their heavy baggage They are re-
ported from Pretoria as already across
that river. Twelve thousand men and
fourteen guns compose the rotreatins
army, Trains continue to run from We
ronuigeu, in the rransyaal to Pretoria
Foreign engineers assert that Pretoria
10 able to stand a years siege. According
to dispatches from Lourenzo Marquee thp
fortlhcatons are described as complete,
but JohannesDurE has not been put en-
tlrely in state OF defense. The Trans
yaal government papers and the war chest
have been removed to Lydenburg,
Foreigners continue to leave the repub-
lie Tho Dutch cruiser Friesland is at
Delagoa BAY, It is reported, to furnish an
asylum TO the neelns liollsnders ana
passage to Europe
The Boer forces continue to dwindle
Some at the correspondents assert that
probably only about $4,000 Of the hardest
lighters now remain, although there are
detached parties in various parts of tho
TranBvRal,
one OF the ouriUas- pieces OF gossip sent
from tourcnGo Marquee H. that several
women tried TO siambok Presidcn kru-
ger, who Was rescued by his body guard.
lie rarely leaves the presldenc~ now, but
Works necessarily, holding councils at
daybreak aud during the night 1t was
Al
government proposed removing the British
prisoners from Pretoria
Mafeking dispatches continue TO pour
Into London, relating the events imme-
dlately preceding The relief ANA the entry
OF the troops. rho correspondence agree
thar the Canadian artillery, Major Gndous
seven guns ala splendid work Same OF
them assert that the Canadians did "pbso-
lutoly essential work In the hghtiug."
about IN the evening OF the day be-
fore shs-reict after Colonel Mshon and
Ctlonel Plumer had d,seated the Beers
nine miles from Mafeling, Major KART
laN'ea ana Nlne scouts entered the town
Tho Beers we're then retgeating. At 4
O'Clock ON the following morning 100 men
including the Canadians arrived with
including thu Canadians. arrived. with
looo' which were received with wild dem.
%siratlona The armored train and de-
lachmeut then pushed forward to Came
Tree fort. the scene of the unsuccessful
soltles Ia December Tho Beers had evao-
uated on the east They wer, pursued and
lhe correspondent telegraphhg these facts
thursday afternoon. closed a., dispatch
tnuN' we caught up with the rctroatlng
Boera and have them now surrounded
Lady Sarah Wilson has MANAGED Ia net
throush message from MateNnv. dated
IhnrSday' and announcing the entry OF
the relief column She SAYS: "Ths hght-
ing before tho relief was very hard
severe struggle proceeded yesterday lMay
l@ from n. m until dusk The Honrs
we're forced slowly TO retire. contestng
every lnoh AZ sunset they stu held tho
last POSITION.
Colonel Mahon entered the town In The
brilliant moonlight The Beers We're ss
'fed out "a we wore and they never
GUESSED that an attempt would be- made
10 foree an entry before morning There
tore their surprise was complete. They
aessried their laageys. leaving a lot OF
1000, which was divided up among the Doo-
pie OF Matching"
The ensn 'rng az the squadron OF Re-
tnnhes Horse appears TO have been quite
aS had as was at i.al reported Colonel
sethune, thinking thoro we're no poera a,
hrSheid, determined 10 20 toward New
'aetie as short cut The adyauee aauad.
ron was hurrying b make Vryheld betorc
nara IL left the main body behind ami
tIotted into the ambush. The paers had
Max'ms and the British. seeing they had
no chance to retire dashcd forward 10 A
po,nt within twenty yards OF the noer
lsuS' rive officers and slxty-three men
wefo KILLED or wounded Rethune ordered
ma four other sQUadrons 10 retire
or Leyds. according 10 tho Brnsseis
eorfespcndent Of the Daily Express. has
euarre1ed with the NNnsvaal government
representative OF President Kruger Is