The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-12

LONDON, May l2, 4:3o a. ma British
column, 5000 strong, has arrived at Vry-
turg, 100 miles from Mafeking. 1t reached
there Tuesday. and. though harassed by
the Beers, is pushing swiftly forward.
Fifty miles south Of Vryburg, at Taungs,
is Gen. Hunters main body. moving slow
ly and contending with considerable
forces. The pick OF his mounted men are
the 1900 who are going with the wheeled
transport, and at rate that may pos
sibly bring them TO Mafeking on Monday
or Tuesday night
Roberts stfn Moving.
Lord Roberts narrative closes with
Thursday evening. but he continued his
march yesterday towards Kroonstad,
twenty miles distant, and by this time ne
must know whether the Beers intend to
fight there.
Mr. winston Churchill says that there
we're only 20oo Beers who opposed the
British at Zand river. Another estimate
is that $500 Beers. with six guns, made a
rear guard action. while many other
thousands. with the convoy, retired with
out firing a shot.
Free staters Resolve to Fight On.
President Steyu and a council Of the
leaders OF several thousand Free Staters
in the Ladybrand and F"cksburg district.
determined TO submit to the men the
question OF continuing the war or not at
a great open air meeting. The fighting
men decided to fight on, Steyn who ap-
pears to be in active command. began
to advance toward the British. and came
into contact on Thursday with Camp
bells brigade and Brabant's horse. twen-
ty miles northeast of Thaiba Menu. \
smart engagement ensucd with no sue
AIVor al that the
advance was stopped. Gen. Rumble has
dispo@ei 1000 infantry along twenty
mile front in such a way as to bar
Boer advance toward Lord Roberts COM
munieations With the exception OF Bra
|. bants coIonials. Gen. Rumble has no
horsemen. The cavalry are all with
Lord Robertsi advance.
BuIier starts to Move.
According to a Pretoria telegram Gen.
Butler IS moving from Elandslaagte in the
direction of Helpmakaar and the British
vanguard engaged a Boer patrol or ltal-
lans on Thursday. Twelve Italians are re-
ported as routing fifty British. The dis
match also says the British accommodating
partles have invaded the Transyaal near
Fourteen Streams. and that the scouts on
both sides meet frequently with varying
results.
Mnfeking Relief Party.
A dispatch 10 the Daily Natl from Cape
Town. dated Tuesday says the Mafeklng
relief force has passed through Nryburg
Pretoria Hears of IL.
special dispatch from Pretoria. dated
May 10. says:
kinv relief force of 5000 is advancing along
the Bechuana railway by forced marches
night and day. 1t reached Vryburg yes
terdsy."
Roberts Describes His Work.
Lord Roberts teiegraphs TO the war
offhoe from Riet srruit, under date OK May
10. evening. as follows;
I'VE have had a successful day and
have driven the enemy from point 10
point French. with Porter's and Dick
haunted infantry. crossed the zsnd at
Vermentens krsal and then worked round
in a northeasterly direction TO Maais-
eappy being opposes ePhSisnSus aysan snd ~ oore Sq
aor's cavalry brigade. sugm-atsd BY Il
battery OF tha Royal horse al sllery and
by Henry's and Ross mo. m9sntsa mtantry, NJ
way bridge. Ny quarters Accompanied
this force With the infantry portion We
are eight miles north ot the river: Lne
,ersburg road station. and fuckers divi-
sion IS al Deeifonteinnord- Ian Hsmii-
toms forces and broadwood's eAyaIry ori-
safe were making for the cross roads near
Nentershurg when last heard from them
HRu.uton's column met with stubborn re-
sStanCe. and smith -lboFflth hfAkaAe was
engaged for some hours IN protecting the
rear and flank Of hts force.
ssT~he drifts are extremely difhcuit ana
rnslch baggage has stih 20 come up. We
shan however march AZ dayhreas and
push on as FAR poss1ole in kroonStad
'srhe only casualties reported az present
are: Kinsd-Rank and file. four, wound
sS-Flva No returns yet received from
the cavalry nor Hamilton's forces.
The Crossing of the kand.
The Daily Express. in its second edi-
ticn this morning publishes dispatch
dated Relt spruit. May 10. morning de-
scriblng the crossing OF the EaEd river
by the British TX says.
The rear guard of the end o. ne Boers,
With their guns. resisted the advance. The
mounted infantry. two batteries And pom
paus cleared the way. and the Third cav
airy brigade acted as a screen before the
main column. Gen. French was on the
left and Gen. Hamilton on the right
The Boers had destroyed all the bridges
during their retreat
''lt is impossible - ascertain the Boer
losses but they are thought 10 he heavy
Those og the British. considering the I'm
poytaAt advance made. are considered
iisht"
Another Account of It.
4 special dispatch from Reit spruit. dat
ed MAY 10 describes fully yesterdays sue
cessful operations Il says.N
Gen Hamiltons scouts had on two
,rsts{osts dayz asCertafneA the Beers pCSi-