The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-26
AT THE TRANSvAAL FRONTIER.
FRENCH PROBABLY RECONNOITER-
ING THE VAAL'S FORDS.

Beers Are fastening Across to the
Expected to Cross the yaaI To-day
or To-morrow-No News of War
Preparations Allowed to Leave the
TransvaaI Boer Money Greatly
Deprecated.
London, May 2S, $3.50 a m.-The latest
intelligence from Lord Roberts headquar-
ters at Vredefort station, flied Thursday,
5:45 p. M, was that the British were rap
idly advancing.
Gen. Hamilton had effected junction
with Lord Roberts. The country in front
of them was clear of Beers to Viljoen' S
drift The Beers were evacuating all
their positions south of the Veal river,
and 5000 had already crossed to the north
bank Probably Gen. French's cavalry
is already accommodating the fords of the
Vaal.
War office observers expect that the
next dispatch from the field marshal will
be dated in sight of the Transvaal from
tier. Mr.. Bennett Burleigh, wiring to the
Daily Telegraph, from Vredefort Thurs
day evening, said Lord Roberts would
doubtless cross the Vaal river on Satur-
day or Sunday.
While the British in overwhelming
force are thus rapidly approaching the
Transvaal the movements of the Beers
are enveloped in mystery.
Shutting OF the News.
Every one seeking to cross the Portu-
guese border from the Transvaal is
searched for newspapers and letters. Dis
patches and mail letters containing even
harmless references TO the war are sup
pressed, and the only news that has
emerged from the Transvaal during the
last ten days has come by word of mouth.
According to these oral reports, yes
terday the Beers were quarreling among
themselves.
Transvaal paper money was circulating
at 50 per cent discount. Becket's firm
was giving fl in gold for f5 in paper.
Commandant Schultz has been appoint
ed to defend Johannesburg, and all the
British subjects have been turned out
The Transvaalers fear that the British
will blow up the bridge at Comati poort,
thus cutting off their supplies from Della
goa bay, and comma ando of 500 is guard
ing the bridge against any such attempt
by British raiders.
Concern is expressed at Pretoria with
reference to the possibility that Gen. Car
rngton may come down from Rhodesia
with 5000 men, to cooperate with as many
more entering the Transvaal by the way
of Mafeking. Horse sickness is said to
have broken out among Gen. Darlington S
animals.
scheme of Cecil Rhodes.
Mr.. Cecil Rhodes is at Beire, Portu-
guese East Africa. Mr.. Fuller, a member
of the Cape Parliament, who is supposed
to be a confidant of Mr.. Rhodes. said in
the course of a speech at Cape Town yes
terday, when proposing the health of Mr..
Rhodes, that the latter was working to
consolidate South Africa from the Zambesi
TO Table bay"
Advices from Mafeking dated May 20,
say
The Beers are entrenching at Polfon-
TEN, ten miles east of Mafeking."
The Baralongs, stimulated by the Brit
fsh successes, attacked the rebel natives
at Reitfontein, May 10, and took much
loot.
Refugees from Mafeking are passing
through Taung's, bound for the Cape.
Two thousand Beers are near Ficks-
burg besides small rowing parties that
come into contact with the British while
feconnoitering. President Steyn was with
these Beers last Monday organizing and
Inspiring them and drafting recalcitrants
into the service.