New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-11
TOO STRONG FOR THE BOERS.
oTTNTMRFRED AND OUTFLANKED THE
BUTCHERS CONTINUE THEIR
RETREAT.
f-,rr-.E... 800: By Tie New-rerk rrlhune.l

L-7ry-zAt: 1890: By Tie New-Tork Tribunal
rBv CABLE TO TIE TR1BUNE.I
London. May Il. 4 u.-GeneraI Roberts has
r9r hampe-ed his advance with mere infantry
than he needs He had TWO divisions-Tucker's
and Pole-Carew's-when he crossed the Zand
yesterday. and the only infantry within call was
the Highland Brigade at Winburg and another
brigade within supporting distance. He had at
least three divisions on the line Of communica-
lions. but preferred 10 advance toward Kroon-
stad with TWO rather than five divisions, and IN
this way 70 reduce the strain upon his transport
system. He had four cavalry hrigades and
large body Of mounted infantry and heavy naval
guns and Royal Garrison Artillery. N addition
10 z great force OF horse artillery. The contrast
between this reconstructed army and the army
corps which went 10 South Africa with Butler IS
striking. A large mounted force with guns OF
long range has been substituted for an infantry
force with guns Of inferior range and few
cavalry supports. General Roberts has con-
ver-ed the British army into a mobile force ad-
uirabiy adapted for operations against the
Boers.
The march from the BloeutOutein-Thab ba Nchu
Hne 70 Tentersburg has been made with remark
able celerity. and every halt has been brief.
General Roberts's bulletins state that the army
reached the Zand on wednesday night and
forced she passage Of the river early yesterday,
gradually driving hack the enemy from q strong
position on the hills south OF ventersburg AS
his position was twenty miles IN length It ex-
tends across the railway from the west eastward
toward the road leading from Senekal 10 Kroon-
sad. The British line was longer two columns
havi2g gone from Smaldeel and Winburg and
having Ui5=ned out their front in order 10 turn
The position ~ each end. Sl1irmishng began
soon after the dry bed Of the Zand had been
crossed. and was continued all along the line
from O'Clock until 12:3o when the Beers were
III full retreat no-thward.
The Dutch position was so long that the
Fag-rnenr was not a rear guard action. but
1-iiberatc Z feeble. attempt 10 block the prog
-ess = General Roberts's army. If the casualties
were light i was because full use was made Of
lr7 Brir.Eh superiority il artillery. The Beers
being 0ut1Umbered. 0utmanO=uvred and out
-ass-d- fel back upon Kroonstad, hotIy pursued
OF cavalry and mounted Infantry along the rail-
way and rhe Eentersburg road 10 Kroonstad and
he sene5aI road northward- 4 fresh Boer de-
tsat occurred in the Ventersburg district about
t1-rry-tive miles south of KroonsJad. While
tene-al Roberts Goes not describe il 4 battle
IN q frontal attack and serious losses on either
SIDE. the G=feat OF the Beers seems 10 have been
aerisre. They were gradually enveIoped with
mounted troops and forced 10 abandon positions
q great natural strength.
Tlf country beyond the Ventersburg hills is
open and less favorable for defence. Unless
Arocns-ad has been strSngIy fortified and the
Aaer forces are heavily i.assed behind the Valsch
River IT'S occupation may be expected within
t9rry-esnt hours As Steyn's second ca pftal and
he key 70 the Trarsvaal IFS seizure viii be al
most as important as the capture Of Bloemfon-
ten
The most -eraarkable fea lures Of the last fort
Ai1- operations are the mobility of the Brit
sn columns and The efficiency Of the transport
serT--a The bulk q the work falls 10 the
mounted force and II is no longer slow moving
efantry campaign. SIX supply trains were al
-1s F-t River Tuesday. and the railway VIII
Sionaly be tn operation 10 the Zand to-day. All
ne Preparations Cor the forward movement had
'een thoroughly made. and "I3obs" from his
saa-e cart directs the operations all along the
NE and pays cut wire which sends the bulletins
y victory n London.
no details z the days engagement had been
-FeeiFed in Fleet Street ~ midnight. and there
l = Hitle news from any quarter Mafeking was
1acially reported a. being well on April p
sAeTsl Hunters progress ard line of direction
s'e not known The situation in Natal was IN
eAsnged. INF.
REPORTS FROM LORD ROBERTS
LoEdon Gay 10-Lord Roberts reports to the
var ofsce as fellows:
1 -ahle Cart Headquarters at the Front. May TO-
luxurious COMFORT no EXTRA CHARGE.
sIasy lVsnis Limited 70 Cincinnati. Indianapolis