Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1900-05-31
CROSSED THE VAAL
Decisive Forward Movement Of
Roberts Army,
ENGLISH PUSHING VIGOROUSLY On,
Not Far From Johannesburg and Pre-
] form ISoeTs WIN Make Their Last
4 stand In the Lydenburg Hills
A The BOers Are Discouraged.

London, May est is ofiicnlly an
Aounced that the British have crossed
Ahe Vanl river, The news came IL
Abe following dispatch from Lore
Roberts:
evolve Hook, Orange Free State
May 20.-An advanced portion OF thii
force crossed the Vaal river upon the
queens birthday, near Parys. Ham
ilton's column Is at Boshbank. Our
scouts are now in Viljoens drift ION
The frontier OF Wolye lloek). The
local mines are uninjured and work IL
going on MS usual There IL no ene-
my ON this side Of the river.
Hunter reached Vrybcrg May a."
The column that crossed the Vaol
river is probably General iutton,,s'
which crossed at Pnrys and may he
expected to make dash at the rail-
road in tie ucighborhood OF PotcheI'
strolu, N,h,as there is direct com
munication to Johannesburg,
General llamlton's column Is ut
Bopchbnnk, which Is close to the riV'
er, about eight miles from Wolve
Hook, Lord Roberts's headquarters,
and may he expected to cross the Vaal
river and create diversion upon the
flank of the caemy in the nelghbor-
hood of Veereclningen, AS he has
only about fifteen miles TO traverse,
speedy announcement that the
British commuuder-in.chlef himself
has gained n foothold in the Trans
wal; and that he win reach the fed
eral position south OF johannesburg
NE middle of the coming week,
The same secrecy which covered
she movements OF the main army en-
velops Lord Methun's and General
BUNDLES columns, so, probably, the
next official dispatches will show de-
cisive movements Of these wings, Rum
die ought TO be close to Bethlehem
by now, and the experts expect to
near of some decisive movement upon
the lIarrismith railroad, in which
part of General Buffers force will CO.
operate In the direction Of Van Rec
mems pass.
Should the Pretoria bulletin an
nouncing the reoccupation Of He'll
bron by the federals turn out to be
true il will be totally unexpected
development, as General Hamilton oc'
cupied Hebron Tuesday and nothing
has been heard from there since.
The Beers, as usual, must either be
enyeloped or 20. Very special efforts
will be made to cut off their retreat,
as Lord Roberts is now determined to
capture them If possible. lie relies
on Ian Hamilton, whose combination
of fire and prudence justliies every
confidence.
If the Beers escape toward Pretoria
Roberts will likely follow swiftly and
be at Pretoria in less than week
1ne Beers say they have retaken
Heilbzron. General Roberts will
neglect that but will guard the rail-
way which he will not wait to repair
before going to Pretoria.
General Butler, Mt Laing's Mex, Ii
eight or nine marches from johann
nesburg, supposing that the road is
ClNuls iNbbNll uhNohSN iNhph NNNS
che Beers at Volksrust uneasy, and 80
will facilitate Buffers advance,
General Hunter, when at Mafeking,
will be eleven marches from Pretoria
and 1t is impracticable, therefor, for
the Beers to make any serious resist
ance at Pretoria, where to wait would
M to be hemmed in between three
British armies.
The Boer plan is to retreat to the
Lydenburg hills, which would post
pone, but not avert the catastrophe,
but the condition and strength OF the
Boer forces after the coming weeks
operations remain to be seen. Possi'
bly, the difficulties Of supply may COM
pei General Roberts to pause on the
Vaal and repair the railway, thus CIV
ing time to General Butler and Gener.
al Hunter to invade the Trnnsvaal, II
is probable however, that Lord Rob
erts will prefer the holder course and
try to end the war right now.