The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-07
IN full RETREAT.
Beers Are Retiring in. the Di-
reetiOn of KrOOnstad,
Closely Followed by the Army
of Lord Roberts.


London. May THE capture of Win |
burg by the British is confirmed and
the main advance TO Pretoria proceeds
with the machine-like precision and
rapidity which has characterized all
Lord Roberts forward movements. BY
the occupation of Winburg, Gen. Ian
Hamilton puts himself nearly parallel
with Lord Roberts and only 29 miles
eatward while he has the additional
advantage of being connected with his
chief by means of the railroad that runs
from SmaldeeI or Winburg road station,
as it is sometimes called. to Winburg-
The only feature of the carefully de-
vised plan of general advance that is
not disclosed by the swift developments
is the part Gen. Butler has elected to
take in the operations. At present there
are no indications of any movement on
the part of the Natal army. Doubtless
a few days or less will bring out the
British line of action before Biggars-
berg. Lord Roberts is nine miles north
of the Vet and SO miles north of Bloenl-
fontein. Evidently he is not letting
grass grow under his feet though the
Beers seem equally anxious to retreat
towards Kroonstad and are so doing.
At the time this dispatch is sent there
is nothing new from Gen. Hunter, but 1t
is presumed he is pushing steadily for
ward in the direction of Mafeking, aid
ed by the aggressiveness of Barton's
and Paget'S brigades.
The critics of the afternoon newspa-
pers view the situation with the great
est satisfaction.
A special dispatch from Smaldeel
(Winburg road station) dated 9:04 p. NJ,
Sunday May 6, gives details of the oc-
cupation of Winburg by the British 1t
says:
News has just come here that General
Hamilton is giving the Beers no rest
! and that they are falling back hurried
/ ly. He entered Winburg today after a.
brisk fight, in which the Beers fell back
so quickly that one of their guns, in ad-
| dition to a maxim was abandoned. The
same dispatch describing the crossing
/ the Vet river by the British says:
| THE Boer forces entrenched on the
/ opposite bank prepared to contest the
! crossing. Our guns were brought into
play and terrific shell fire was direct
ed on the BOer lines. At the same time
! the Queenslanders under a heavy fire
! dashed across the river, and advancing
! in the open completely turned the Boer
| right It was dusk, but nothing could
| stop the gallant Australians. They
pushed on again, seized a commanding
kopje and, by brilliant movements and
continuous rifle fire, drove off the enc
my in the darkness. The first CLEAN of
| dawn this morning found the enemy in
full flight, and our men after them
and by o'clock this morning, we enter
ed this important strategic point
A dispatch from Boshof dated Friday,
| May 4, says Gen. Methuen made a re-
connaissance from there the day prev
| iOuSly to the neighborhood of SjartkOp-
| piesfontein locating the Boer 1aager
| After an unimpOrtant exchange of fire
the Beers removed their Iaager.
fairly strong force of Beers was
seen moving northwards. Gen. Methuen
then returned to BoShof.
BOERS IN FULL RETREAT.
London, May Lord Roberts re-
ports to the war Office in a dispatch
dated Smalldeel, May 6, afternoon, as
follows:
I'VE crossed the Vet river this morn
ing and are now encamped at Smalldee
Junction. The enemy is in full retreat
towards Zand river and KrOonStad. The
mounted infantry just before dark yes
terday. 1t was very dashing affair
The Canadians, New South Wales, New
Zealand Rifles and Queensland mounted
infantry We'd with one another in tn,
/ determine ton to close with the enemy
Captain Anley of the Essex regiment
commanding the Third infantry bat
talon, behaved in a very gallant man,
."The naval guns and the artiller,
made excellent practice with two five
inch guns used for the first time witt
this force
I'VE captured a Maxim and twenty
five prisoners. Our casualties are yer,
few, only fifteen wounded, one killet
and three missing
) The British arrived here without op
position. The Beers last train left lat
Saturday night. The Boer losses yes
terday on the west flank We're fort,
killed Their rear guard remains be
hind kopjes ten miles distant. There i
much railway forage and corn here. I
is stated that the Beers are retreatin
towards Kroonstad- The Zand rive
bridge is reported to have been des
troyed.
BoERs RETIRE FROM THABA NCHJ
London May 7-7:20 p. m.-The war OF
fee has received the following dispatc
from Lord Roberts, dated Smalldeel, Ma
T. 10:55 a m--General Hunter, after de
feating the enemy. May 4, Joined hand
with General Padgett, near Warrentowi
The enemy left 13 killed and some prison
ers We're captured. Our losses were sigh
Hunter speaks in high terms OF tn
gallantry of the Yeomanry under Colont
| Maybrick
''T'he enemy have retired from the fror
! of Thaba N'Chu and the exceedingl
strong position they held is now occupie
! nv q dixriGi