The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-25
~ SOUTH AFRICA,

Having evacuated their positions north Of the
Rhenoster River. the Beers have taken the only
cour-e left them In the face OF the overwhelm-
Ing numbers handled by Lord Roberts, and are
falling back behind the vaal. What their In
t~entions may he after crossing that river are
difficult To discern amid the confusing rumors
coming in from all directions, but they must be
regulated by possible movements up the Wal
from below klrrksdorp Already Il Pretoria de-
spatCh speaks of a large British force being at
Greylings Drift on the Naal. twenty-five miles
from WolmaranS Stad, which is about nfty-fye
miles southwest OF klerksdorp. The contin-
gency of movement from Mafeking has also
20 be taken into account. Meanwhile Lord
Roberts Is following up the retreating Beers
with his cavalry and mounted infantry. but at
last accounts had not come UP with them at any
| point.
In Natal Gen. Butler Is reported from the
Roer camp NJ Volksrust to be terrifying his ad-
vance at Schuins Hoogte, the scene Of one Of the
the British defeats in February, 1881. while he
has sent a force across the Buffalo River from
Ingogo. presumably to turn the LETT Of the Boer
position at Iaings Mex by the road running
north 10 Nolksrust. As this road runs under
Pog wani Hill. which was strongly fortified by
Gen. Joubert at the outset OF the war and
through n rough country. there may be some
brisk fighting before tho Beers are forced
10 retire. the more so as the Walker
stroom commando. the local levy, has
been brought up from the Free State TO
take part in the defence Of their own
district. some fighting ia also said TO have
taken place at Bothas Pass directly west Of
Schuins Hoogte. on the road leading into the
Free state. This road makes straight for
Nrede, thirty miles TO the westward. the latest
capital OF the Free state. Should Gen, Butler
succeed in forcing this pass. the position OF
the remaining Boer commands in the country
10 the southwark becomes critical. 1t Is already
reported that the commando at Ficksburg has
retired north TO Bethlehem.
The disaster that befcl a squadron Of Beth
une's Horse on sunday last was nj Scheepers
Mex. about eight miles southwest Of yryheid
The whole OF the squadron with its officers. Ave
In number. were either killed. wounded or capt
ur"d, According 10 the Boer account they
were met by the swaziland commando, the fight
lasting an hour, at the end Of which the British
had twenty-seven killed, twenty five wounded.
and the rest with two Maxim guns we're capt
ured, The Beers also report the surprise
Of a British patrol near Mount Prospect, south
Of l.ain9s Mex. in which the British lost twen-
ty-one killel and wounded Numbers Of Boer
families are said TO be trekkirg into the noun
tains in the northern part of the Transvaal, and
the Government archives are being removed to
Lydenburgh. WHERE large stores Of provisions
have been accumulated as also al n place called
Speloksn. further north. all which are rather
Indications of an intention to continue the re-
sistanoe than OF surrender. The statements
that Pretoria was to be abandoned are again
contradicted; the matter will probably remain
In doubt until the last moment.