Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-05-11
BOBRS IN FULL RETREAT.
The British Are Fighting Their Way
to KrOOnstad

Enemy Driven Out Of Very strong
observation-disclosures Operating with a
Force $4,000 strong.
After thoroughly acquainting himself
with the disposition of the various forces
of the Beers, Lord Roberts began gener-
al advance on Pretoria. The initiative, 80
long maintained by the Beers, is now taken
up by the British. Moving north from
Bloemfonten, Roberts got the enemy on
the run in an open country and rushed
across the Vet river on Friday and Satur-
day. Apparently the Beers we're driven
at every point, and with heavy losses of
men, guns and animals. Some of the
British troops in their forced marches COW
cred over so miles in three days. Brand
fort, Smaldeel and Winburg fell in rapid
succession, and the British came into pos
session of more than 40 miles of the main
road from the Free State to Natal, thus
opening a considerable part of the country
for Buffers advance. The British are 60
miles nearer Pretoria than they were a
week ago, but they are still nearly 200
miles away.
Naturally the disastrous defeats have
tended TO discourage the Beers, but they
show no signs Of yielding, and good judges
fore Christmas. The British casualty list
foots up total loss of about 10000 men,
and of this number 1928 are known to
have been killed and 2C92 have died from
wounds and disease. The war has already
cost the British treasury more than S115,-
000, 900, and this is but a small part Of
what the British taxpayer will be called
upon to pay. London's Impotence for an
advance on Pretoria evidently had no eff
feet on Roberts, who appears to have wait
ed till he was prepared to keep his army on
the move; but there is very different
feeling in the British metropolis now that
the advance Is actually under way.
Lord Roberts crossed the Xand river yes
terday in great force, with heavy naval and
siege guns, and attacked the Beers, who
occupied strong position 90 miles long.
After some sharp fighting he drove them
from their entertainments, and they are
in full retreat, closely pursued by cavalry
and horse artillery operating in three col
umns. Pole-Carew's and fuckers entire
divisions and four brigades of cavalry are
taking part in the operations, a total prob
ably of about "a, 900 men, including TO-
900 mounted troops. With this compare
lively tremendous force, it does not seem
probable that the Beers can do more than
cover the retirement of their heavy guns
and supplies to Kroonstad. 1t would APP
pear that the topography of the country
north Of the Zand offered the best possible
opportunity for defence, the hills being
high and precipitous.
Roberts great mounted force, however,
probably was able so seriously to threaten
the Boer line Of retreat while the infantry
and artillery were engaging them on the
front that the position soon became unten-
able. As Lord Roberts has succeeded in
turning the enemy out of this strong posi-
ton without great loss 10 himself, it does
not seem likely that there will be much de-
lay in advancing on Kroonstad, which is
the most important strategic position be-
tween Bloemfontein and Pretoria. Kroon-
stad commands the direct railway to Pre-
toria, and also loop line through Potchef-
stroon to Johannesburg. 1t is the key to
the Transvaal, and is the natural store
house of supplies for an army crossing the
Vaal river by either line of railway. The
possession of this stronghold is of greater
Importance to Roberts, perhaps, than the
direct cooperation of Gen. Butler with his
army. 1t will enable Generals Methuen
and Hunter 10 cooperate with him from
the west, and will give direction to the
turning movements in the level reaches of
the Transvaal toward Johannesburg and
Pretoria.