The Van Buren press., 1900-05-19
GEN. BULIER'S ADVANCE.
The British War Office Gives Out
the Official Report of Gen.
Buffers Movements.
AN ADVANCE OVER THE BURNlNG VELDT.
The Retrcating Beers Had Fired the
Grass, Making the British March
a Particularly Arduous One-Dun-
dee Once More Occupied by the
British Forces.


London, May Is, 1880 p. m.-The war
Office furnishes tardy confirmation OF
the press story telling of Gen. Buffers
move on the Biggarsberg, in dispatch
from Gen. Butler, as follows:
"Kemp's Farm, May 15.-The follow
ing kilograms sent to Roberts are now
repeated to you. They begin under
date of May 13:
Kept the Enemy Occupied.
"In accordance with instructions to
keep the enemy occupied at the Big
garsberg, on May II, concentrated
the third cavalry brigade of the second
division and some corps of artillery at
Sundays river drift, on the Help
makaar road, and directed Bethune TO
advance on Greytown with the Be-
thune mounted infantry, the Umvoti
rifles and the Imperial light infantry.
On May 12 we moved to Waschbank,
and Bethune to Pomeroy, while Gen.
Hildeyard, from Eandslaagte, occu-
pied Indoda mountain.
Up WithOck Hill.
"On May 10 | sent Gen. Hamilton
with three battalions, up the steep
slope Of Withock hill. The third cav
airy brigade crowned n hill on each
side of the main road, and Bethune at
tackled by the Pomeroy road from
three sides. The enemy hurriedly
abandoned the position, which they
had strongly intrenohed, and retired
TO the mex in front of Helpmakaar,
whence we hope to dislodge them to-
morrow, as many of them have retired.
We have gained the summit OF the
the berg with the loss Of only few
men wounded.
British Loss Small.
81 advonce tomorrow on Beth, and
IIildeyard moves on Vessels mex.
"Our small loss, | think, was cer-
,ainly due to the excellent troop lead
inc of Generals Hamilton and Lord
Dundonald and Col. Bethune."
A second Dispatch dated May IA,
says:
The Enemy Evacuated.
"The enemy evacuated Helpnakaar
mex during the night, leaving a rear
guard of about 1000 men in front OF
us. These we have forced back
throughout the day under considera'
BILE difficulties, as they fired all the
grass on top OF the berg as they re-
treated, and the wind being unfavora'
BILE to us, we were scarcely able to see
at all. halted the infantry, who
marched very well through the hot
smoke at Beithu. The cavalry have
not yet been reached, being some
miles ahead. We have taken few
prisoners. Our casualties are small"
A Third Dispatch.
A third dispatch, dated from Kemp's
Farm, May Is, says;
"DundonNld reported late last night
that he had driven the rear guard on
10 the main body Of the enemy, neal
Enrnlinden, where they occupied in
force strong position with three pow,
erful guns. Maj. Cough, with the
composite regiment, maneuvered &c
the right round their left flank and
they retired. Dundonald then halted
lie was 25 miles, as the crow flies, from
his previous nights bivouac and had
covered nearly forty miles during the
day In waterless country, most oi
the time riding through smoke. thinh
his pursuit very fine performance.
The beers strength.
From prisoners learn that the enc,
my numbered over 1900 at HelpmM
kanr, and being now joined by thos;
who left Van Jonder's pass, they must
total nearly 1900 men.
Hildeysrd reports the occupation OF
Vessels mex, and is repairing the
line"
Judging from the above dispatches,
the British advance Is little more than
I'm urduous march,
Doer Hendinesa 10 Retreat.
The Beers who were active at first,
later appear TO have shown the same
readiness to retreat which Is now
marking the movements Of the federal'
In the Free State.