Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-04
british At BRANDTOR1'
Occupation Of That Position Most
important News Since Capture
Of Cronje.
Said to Be the Key to the Advance
On Pretoria a New
Base.
junction and Co. Operation With
Butler Nay Now Be Atfeo ted
War News.

O0AAVS AOy NVW OU nuVV SVV a
War News.
London, May 4.-The new occupation
OF Brandfort is generally considered
the most important communication re-
sceived from the front since the cap-
ture OF Cronje and relief Of Ladysmith.
The fact that the position gives the key
to one of the main roads leading to I
Drakensberg passes, which possibly
may be the means of corporation with |
Butler later on, provides an advance !
base of supplies and at the same time
menaces the beers now southeast of
Bloemfontein, is obviously the reason
for the Importance attached to the In
tellIgence.
Roberts, Report.
London, May 4.-Roberts reports to
the war office, under date of Bloemf0n-
tein, May 3: Eve occupied Brandfort
today without much opposition and
without. hope. many casualties The
First brigade OF mounted infantry
covered the left flank of5the Fourteenth
brigade. Seventh division. and the
right flank was supported by the FIJI
teenth brigade. Pole Carew's division
advanced directly on Brandfort. The
Boer army, which was under command
OF Delarey. retired in a northeasterly
direction"
Thaba N'Chu. May s-The Beers
have evacuated Thaba N'Chu hill and
are believed to be still trekking, tho one.
gun shelled the camp intermittingly.
Scouts report that some of the Beers
have retired toward Wepener. They
believe the Beers evacuated the posi-
tton during the night. trekking nortf-
Hardly in three directions. French left
today. Rumble is in command here. Il
80 expected that Brabant will effect a
junction at any moment.
London, May 4.-Lord Roberts gem
erals advance toward Pretoria may now
4 properly be said TO be In progress.
Troops are pressing back the Beers
north OF Thaba n Chu. while Gen. Pole
Carew, with the Eleventh division. is
thought to be esthreatening their rear In
the vicinity OF the headwaters OF Os-
spruit.
1t is the general belief in London that
Lord Roberts dispositions are such
that the Beers east OF Thaba N'Ghu
and also those in the neighborhood of
Ladybrand will shortly be compelled to
retreat toward Winburg in order to
save their communications. Apparent-
ly there is no escape for them to the
southwark, since Gems. Brabant and
Chermside command all the roads ir
that direction. 1t seems that the ma
1ority Of Gen. French's cavalry is still
at Thaba N'Chu, where the fighting
continues, tho intermittently. The
British hold sanna's Post and occup,
positions on the ridges north of kor,
anna's spruit.
1t is regarded as likely that Lore
Roberts will shortly attack the Boer
at Brandfort unless they evacuate TIL,
town. 1t is said that the Beers hay,
prepared intrenchments on all TIL
strategic kopjes OF Importance nea
winburg and kroonstad and that Lor,
Roberts in order to flank these posi-
tions will be compelled to deploy hi
army over an immense extent OF coun
try. Operations all along the line o
Od dtlle dIG ViONlh6 AtAaoA
and II is expected that the British pro
gress will be slow.
Among the British troops at Kimber
ley activity is manifest, and the impres
zion is gaining ground that Gen. Hunte
with the Tenth division Will shortl
start for Mafeking Col. Baden Powe
sends message to the war Office tellin
Of severe bombardments and numerou
casualties, but he declares the garriso
Is in good spirits and prepared to hol
out indefinitely. 1t ia pretty general
recognized that. while the colonel al
sumes a cheerful tone. the prlvatlons er
Gured by the besieged force are of tt
most serious character. and 1t is arden
ly hoped in London that relief may me
terfalize sooner than II can If the gal
rison has to wait for Gen. Darlington
cover the immense distance betwee
him and Mafeking.
All dispatches agree that hencefort
Lord Roberts will not err on the sit
OF leniency. 1t is said that the con
mander in chief admits that he W,
guilty, Immediately after the occupatit
OF Bloemfontein. OF ill-advised philal
thropy. and that he has assured his of
GERS and men there will be no furth
excuse for complaint on this score.
has divided the Orange Free State In
districts for administrative purpos
and has detached small body OF troo
TO patrol them and to confiscate horse
cattle and even farms as penalty for o
position to the imperial arms. Lo
Roberts appears to be determined
make the country behind him too barr
to suetain the enemy. Critics Of II
course are beginning 70 ask In parli
ment what 1t to become OF the non-coi
batants in the area thus denuded of I
means OF sustaining life? The Cover
ment replies that Lord Roberts may
trusted to cause no more hardship
peaceful Orange Free Staters than
XXX Inevitable.
The debate on the Splonkop disas'
In the house Of commons Is expected
q 81 bring lively developments.
British Gold Coast Colony.
Accra. British Gold Coast Color
May 4.Sir Frederic Mitchell Hodgs'
governor OF the colony. ID stiil 1t X