Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-05-29
ON THE QUEENS BIRTHDAY
Lord Roberts Reports the Crossing
of the Vaal by an Ad-
vance Column.
NO ENEMY FOUND SOUTH OF The RIVER,
Local Mines Found to De Uninjured
and Work Going On as Usunl-Be-
Iieved Roberts Will BE Before
Johannesburg by the Middle of
the Week.


London, May 2s. = The war Office has
received the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts:
Evolve Hook (Orange Free State), May
26.-An advanced portion of this force,
crossed the Vaal river on the queens birth
day, near Parys. Hamilton's column is at
1oens drift (on the frontier north of Wolve
Hoek). The local mines are uninjured and
work is going on as usual. There Is no
enemy this side of the river.
Hunter reached Vryberg May "a.
AS anticipated, the first news from
Lord Roberts after his long silence
was the announcement that the Brit
ish had crossed the Vaal river, This
is probably Gen. Huttons column,
which crossed at Parys, and may be
expected to make dash at the rail
road in the neighborhood of Potchef-
stroom, whence there is direct COM
munication with Johannesburg. Gen.
Hamilton's column is at Boschbank,
which is close to the river, about
eight miles northwest of Wolve Hook,
Lord Roberts headquarters, and may
be expected to also cross the Vaal
river and create diversion on the
flank of any federal force in the
neighborhood of Vereeninging. AS he
has only about Is miles to traverse
a speedy announcement may be ex-
pected that the British commander
in-chief himself has gained foothold
in the Transvaal, and that he will
reach the federal position south of
johannesburg in the middle of the
week.
i shrouded in Mystery.
The same secrecy which shrouded
the movements of the main army en-
velops Lord Methuen;s and Gen.
Rundle's columns, so, probably the
next official dispatches will show de-
cisive movements of these wings.
Rumble ought to be close to Bethle
hem by now and the experts expect
to hear of some decisive movement on
the Harrismith railroad, in which
operate in the direction of Van
Reenens pass.
Should the Pretoria bulletin an
nouncing the reoccupation of He'll
bron by the federals turn out to be
true it. will be a totally unexpected
development, as Gen. Ian Hamilton
occupied Hebron Tuesday and moth
ing has been heard from there since.
Blow Up Bridge.
Pretoria, May 2s.-An official bull
letin says:
1.-THE British have crossed the yaal at
Grobler's drift near Parys. The high level
H. III
by the fedeFaafs
"Gen. Dutoit advises +hat-tile burghers
are coming forward in force, determined
to fight to the end
After retaking Hebron the federals
followed the British as far as Wolve
Hook"
Free State Magistrate Surrenders
Newcastle, May rs. - Louis Koch, a
magistrate of the Free State, has sur
rendered. He says that all the bur-
ghers in the Harrismith-Nrede district
have returned to their farms and re-
fuse to continue fighting. If, as is re-
ported, President Steyn is in Nrede, he
will probably go northward towards
Laings Mex if he finds any followers.
Charges of Murder Withdrawn.
Pretoria, May %. = The prosecution
has Withdrawn the charges of murder
in connection with the explosion al the
Begbie factory at Johannesburg
against Messrs. Longville and Perret
Belgians, William Begbie and Thomas
Richards, a colored American. All the
accused were acquitted. An applica-
ton was made that the men be rear,
rested and put over the border, but this
was refused
Washington, May 2s.-ArchbishoI
Keane, of the Catholic university
here, who was commissioned by Pop
Leo XIII. to visit the various sees o
this country and make personal ap
peals in it's behalf, has been quite sue
cessful up to date in the matter o
raising the required $1,0O0,o0O, witt
which to endow chairs at the institu
aion and facilitate it's work. He ha:
lust finished tour through the see:
of st. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago
and Milwaukee, from which abou'
one-fifth of the sum needed has beer
realized.
Coroner Holds Gardiner.
Chillicothe, O., May 2s. = Corone
Smith rendered verdict in the cas-
r,4l - ha ~, IF q pn1nre,