Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-05-04
Remaining 1875 at SmithReld Make
Good Their Escape,
BOERS LEAVE THABA NCHU
Brits.b Occupation Of Brandfort Most
Important News since Cronje's
Capture Boers surprised.

Allwal North, Cape Colony, May A.
smithheld was occupied by Gen. Harts
brigade. out OF the no Beers IN the
town twenty-five were captured and
the rest decamped
Ladybraud was recently full Of Boer
wounded who have now been removed
70 Ficksburg.
EVACUATE THABA NCHU HILL
Thaba NChu May 4-The Beers
have evacuated Thaba N'Chu Hill, and
are believed 20 be sul trekking, though
one Eun has sheled the camp inter-
mitungly Scouts report that some of
the Beers retired from Wepener They
believe the Beers evacuated the position
during the night trekkng northward In
three directions.
Gen. French left today Cen Rumble
IS In command here. IL Is expected
Gen. Brabant will effect junction at
any moment.
FRANKFORT OCCUPATION M
pORTANT.
London. May News Of the occupa-
ton of Brandfnrt was issued by the war
Office az 10 o'clock this morning confirms
ing "a despatch previously received by
the Associated Press. This is consid-
cred the most important communication
received from the front since the cap
turo OF Gen. Cronie and the relief OF
Ladysmlth The fact that the position
gives the key 10 one OF the main roads
leading 10 the Drakensberg passes,
which probably may be the means Of
cooperating with Gen Butler later on,
provides an advance base OF supplies
etc. and az the same time menaces the
Beers now southeast OF BlOemf0ntein, IL
obviously the reason for the Importance
attached by AL hands 10 the intelli-
gence.
The Boer army which was at Brand
fort commanded by Gen. Delarey Is
presumably retiring on Winburg
which win possibly be the next imme-
/ date objective Of the British. AT
| Brandfort. IS miles nearer the Trans
/ vaal capital. Is Lord Roberts head
| quarters
BRITISH PUBLIC GRATIF1ED.
What particularly gratides the Brit
] ish public Is the evidence that the army
/ Of Lord Roberts I'm the Free state has
| recovered rs mobility ana Is again ca
]
vance so long retarded
/ IL Is hardly expected the Beers viii
make much Of a stand south Of Kroon-
stad and possibly not there N Lord
! Roberts succeeds IN capturing Winburg.
| thus interpOsing between the main
federal army and the Boer forces In the
neighburhoOd Of Thaba N'Chu and Hout
Mex. I'm which case the latter would be
forced 20 move farther to the eastward.
| IN which direction their mobility would
| probably enable them 20 reach the
Bethlehem and Harrlsmith line OF safe
~.
The only opposition which the Brit
| ish encountered at Brandfort seems TO
to have come from the lrish-American
commando
The central British army is now IN
harmony with the extreme left al Bos-
hof under Lord Methuen. and the eX-
IRENE right az Elandslaagte. under Gen
Butler, so that movements OF these
wings IN cooperation with the main
army may shortly be expected.
SURPRISED THE BOERS.
Warrenton, Cape Colony, May A
| British slx-inch wire gun opened un-
expectedly on the Boer lager yesterday
al a distance of ~ miles, throwing
hundred pound ehells With wonderful
| accuracy. and causing the hasty retreat
Of the burghers The bombardmenl
continued today az al points By how
tiers and field guns, supported by two
! companies N the Munster regiment, The
Beers being driven from shelter anc
their guns being put out OF action.