Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-06-02
ROBORTS ARRIVES
AT THE vAAL RIVER
Expected That He Win Cross That
Stream Today and Enter
the T~ransvaal.
GEN. HUNTER OCCUPIES vRYBuRG
Forced March OF Over Eighty Miles
Is Made Under Great Disad-
vantagcs--Hutton's Column
az Vrctlc fort.

~
London, May 2S.-Thc latest inteill-
gence from Lord Roberts headqnar-
tiers at Nrcdcfort station, FLIED thurs
day at 5:45 p. M, was that the BRUSH
were rapidly advancing. General liam
ilton had effected n junction with
Lord Roberts. The country In front
of them was clear of Beers to VII
ioen's drift. The Beers were evacu-
ating all their positions south of the
vaai river, and 5000 had already
crossed to the north bank. Probably
General French's cavalry is already re-
connoitering the fords of the Naal.
War Office observers expect that the
next dispatch from the field marshal
will be tiptcd in sight of the Trans
yaal frontier. Bennett Burleigh, wir-
ing TO the Daily Telegraph from
Yredefort Thursday, said Lord Rob
erts would doubtless cross the Naal
river on Saturday. The British out
posts were then at Erste Geluk, nine
miles north OF Vredcfort, and twenty
six miles south of the Naal river. The
railway Is much damaged.
While the British i'm overwhelming
force are thus rapidly approaching
the Transvaal, the movements OF the
Beers are envcloped i'm mystery. The
last Pretoria newspaper TO reach Lou
reno Marquee was Il week old.
Everyone seeking TO cross the Por-
tugucse border from the Transvaal Is
searched for newspapers and letters.
Dispatches and mail letters contain
ing even harmless reference 10 the
war are suppressed. The only news
that has emerged from the Transvaal
during the last ten days has come by
word Of mouth.
According TO oral reports yesterday,
the Beers are quarrcling among
themselves. Transvaal paper money
was circulating ut 80 per cent dlS-
count. Becket's firm was giving 81
in gold for G5 in paper. krouse II
Klinkc, the engineers who opposed
the blowing up of the mines, have
bceen dismissed. Commandant
Schucttc had been appointed TO de-
fend Johannesburg, and all the Brit
ish subjects had been turned out.
The Transvaalers fear that the
British will blow up the bridge at
K~orpatipoort, thus cutting off their
supplies from Delagoa, and n com
mnndo of 500 is guarding the bridge
against any such attempt by British
raiders.
IL is asserted that President krue-
ger will retire to Lydenburg when
fighting is imminent at Johannesburg
and Pretoria. Concern is expressed
at Pretoria with reference to the pos
sibility that General Darlington may
come down from Rhodesia with 5000
men, to cooperate with as many
more entering the Transvaal by way
Of Mafeking. Horse sickness is SAID
TO have broken on among General
C~arrington's animals.
Cecil Rhodes is at Bcira, Portuguese
| East Africa. Mr.. Fuller, a member of
the Cape parliament, who is supposed
10 be a confidant of Mr.. Rhodes, said,
in the course of a speech ut Cape
Town YESTERDAY when proposing the
health of Mr.. Rhodes, that the latter
was working to consolidate South
Africa from the Iambesi to Table
bay"
Major General Baden-Powell de-
| clines to act on the suggestions of his
friends, that he should return TO Eng
land for rest. lie is determined TO re-
| lull HIS tCllN' NOllliliiliu dN 'AN Aoih''
London, Nav 2S.-Another advance
along the railroad toward Pretoria has
brought Roberts troops to Nrcdefort
road. n few miles north of Prospect,
where they arrived at noon Thursday.
In the meanwhile Methuen is pro-
crossing along the southern ban OF
the Naal river, with the object prob
ably of making n dash at Klerksdorp.
when he arrives opposite that railroad
terminus.
Uutton's column is apparently in
the ne~ighborhood of Nredefort, fifteen
miles west Of the railroad, whence It
threatens the federals' right flank.
The next couple of days ought to
settle whether Roberts will encoun-
ter serious opposition south of the
Naal. The best opinion believes the
next engagement will be fought Just
south of Johannesburg and that II
fight there, and probably one at La
ing's mex, will be the last pitched bat
Ties of the war. The latest indications
almost point to the latter being the
more stubborn of the two. 1t Is
hoped here that Butler will delay I'M
til Roberts is able TO detach a force
to seize Heidelburg and sever railroad
communications between Johannes
burg and Laing's mex.
W%arrenton, May 24.-Operations
have been pushed forward eighty
miles, one of General Hunters brig
AIDES having occupied Nryburg last
night. Considering the difficulties OF
the road, this is a remarkable achieve
ment for mixed force, short of ra-
tons, making forced marches. Water
is scarce. Some portions of the brig
ade have covered eighteen miles with
out n break. General Hunter per-
sonally goes to Nryburg today by
train.
Vredefort, May 24.-The British col
umns, after an unopposed march,
reached the Nredefort road at noon
today and are now only two marches
- a. Wal 49,