The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-15

White RAG Then Fire upon the
British.
London. May Is. 4 a. m.-The sItua-
ton at the seat Of war In South Af-
rica Is as satisfactory. fro he
British view point, as the most San
Suine friend could have hoped q
week ago. The occupation Of Kro ~
stad especially places the whole OF the
Orange Free State in British poss as-
sion. 1t is evident from Lord Rob-
erts' last dispatch that the Free
Staters are scattering TO their homes,
while the Transvaalers have gone
| northward, declining To fight longer In
the Orange Free State. What little
resistance the former still are likely
to make. seems to be centering at
Lindley, whittier President Steyn has
transferred his government.
Il is evident that the strategy or
Lord Roberts, and the rapidity OF his
advance have bewildered and dis
heartened the Beers. as their resist
ance since the British reached Zand
river has been slight. The only point
where they seriously attempted to
check the advance seems 10 have been
on the British right. where they de-
Tended with some vigor two koptes,
which eventually were carried by the
East Lancashires and Sussexes, the
Beers finally retreating. leaving q
group of gunners dead on the top or
one of the hills. The only point in the
Free State where the Beers seem in
E.vz1 RrsGa .
| front, is on the southeast, where
Generals Rumble. Campbell and Bra
| bant are holding them in check west
of Ficksburg and Ladybrand, and are
| gradually pushing them back. as well
| as effectually defeating all their efforts
to break through and threaten Lord
| Roberts communications.
There is no further news regarding
| the advance of the relief column to
| Mafeking, but ii is possible that Lord
Roberts successes will result in fore
/ ing the Beers to ratse the siege
Geneva Siding, Friday. May IL
Morning-The British forces have ar
rived here, marching splendidly, Gen
eral French in the advance. Firing
was heard yesterday in the direction
of his force. Some of the Inniskillings
| had approached kraal, where a
| force of Beers We're concealed.
A white flag was flying in the kraal.
| wv nile the were
! their horses a deadly fire was poured
upon them from the windows OF the
| farm houses. killing several of the
| Inniskilling. Several of them We G
| captured most OF whom had b. N
wounded. 1t is understood that the
railway to the Zand river will re
| completed tonight. The line was al
most entirely destroyed north Of the
river, but beyond where the British
| are, the Beers retreated from their
| positions too hastily to do much dam
age.
London. May 12.-11:35 a. m.-Lord
Roberts telegraphs to the war office
under rate of Geneva Siding May 11th,
evening, as follows. my headquar-
tiers, with Pole-Crew's division,
marched twenty miles today and are
now at Geneva Siding, fourteen miles
from Kroonstad and about six miles
from Boshrand. where the Beers are
holding an entrenched position. Cor
don's brigade is in touch with them:
fuckers division is short distance
southeast, and Hamilton's force is
still further east. Broadwoods brigade
overlooked a part OF the enemy's con-
voy yesterday at Polgieter's. south
east Of Ventersburg and captured sew
eral wagons and some prisoners.
French, with Porter's and Dick
sons brigades and Hutton's mounted
Of this place.
1--WE have taken nearly 100 prisoners
during the last two days. All the
Free Staters who could give a good
account OF themselves have been dis
armed and allowed to return TO their
farms. The nights are getti-g much
COLDER
2:30 p. m.-The war office has re-
ceived the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts:
"Bishrand. May IL, 9:02 a. nj am
eight miles of Kroonstad. he enemy
evacuated the first line OF entrench-
ments during the night. We are now
accommodating towards Kroonstad.
General French's cavalry crossed
the drift over the vaalsop river at
4:30 O'Clock last evening. just in time
to prevent passage being opposed by
the enemy"
THE BRITISH IN KROoNSTAD.
The war office has received the fol-
lowing dispatch from General Rob-
erts:
"Kroonstad, May IL, p. m.-En-
tered Kroonstad at 1:30 o'clock with
out opposition today, when the Union
the few British residents.
THE procession entered the town
headed by my body guard, all of
whom were colonies and after my stan
came the North Somerset Imperial
Yoemanry, followed by Pole-Carew's
division. consisting Of the guards and
the Eighteenth brigade Of navals, the
Eiehty-third. Eighty-fourth and
Eighty-dfth batteries, two 5-inch guns
manned by the Royal Artillery conn
pany and the Twelfth engineers. The
rest OF the force encamped around the
town.
President Steyn fed last evening af-
ter vainly endeavoring 20 persuade
the burghers TO continue opposing ~.
The Transvaalers said they would no
longer fight on Orange Free State soil
| and made of for the vaal river. Free
Sta.ers have gone to their homes"
being made use OF this morning and
then deserting. Many OF the Free
| Stafers have gone to their homes.