The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-27
~ South AFRICA.

In a despatch dated yesterday from Wolve
Hook, seventeen miles from Viljoen- Drift.
the junction Of the raileav from Hebron with
the main line TO Johannesburg Lord Roberts
announces the passage OF the Wal at a drift
near Parys by an advanced body Of his army.
He further reports Gen IIamilton's mounted
division AT Boschbank and scouting parties at
Vilioens Drift. A. the despatch was dated
early Yesterday morning, the next news should
bring some Interesting developments in the
situation. The force that crossed near Parys
has probably Potchefstroom for its objec-
tive. but according TO "a Pretoria despatch
Gen. de Wet had reported the occupa-
ton Of that place by the Federal troops,
so that in the event of n British advance 10
cut the railway between Klerksdorp and
JOHANNESBURG az Potchefstroom there may be
a conflict to hold back the British left. The
railway from Potchefstrnom to johannesburg
runs north for about twenty miles up the
east bank Of the MOOT River after which
II defects 10 the northeast 10 Rutgers
dorp. The country between the Vaal and the
railway il a good deal broken with three
parallel ranges Of hills running from southwest
TO northeast, the most northerly Of tho three,
the GatSrand. stretching from Potchefstroom
to Boksburg about ten miles TO the east
ward Of Johannesburg. The country 10
the eastward OF the railway from yiljoens
Drift TO the north ia much cut up by
the Kip River with its numerous tributary
spruits and the Blesbok Spruit that falls into
the Naal n short distance above the railway
bridge, There are. however, no Indications as
yet that there will be any serious resistance
until the great Witwatersrand, that begins only
some thirty miles east Of Mafeking and runs to
a point nearly seventy miles east OF Johannes
burg. has been reached. II is along this ridge
md among It's southern spurs that the princi-
pal fighting, should there be any. will take
place. There has been some talk of an adj
vance on Johannesburg and Pretoria from
Mafeking. The routes by which II would
have 10 be- made are widely separa. ed
by the Nitwatersrand and the broken
billy country north OF II, which ia cut up by
numerous streams flowing north. From Otto
shoop, which is about twenty-five miles east
from Mafeking. there are two roads, one nm
nins along the right bank OF the Marioo River
to Zeerust and Pella for forty miles. and
then east through RustenburR TO Pretoria. The
other runs nearly southeast through Lichten-
burg and Ventersdorp to Potchefstroom There
aro, however, trails across country south OF tho
Witwatersrand by which bodies OF mounted
troops with supply trains might move 10 Kr,i-
eersdorp and johannesburg without going near
the regular route al all. 1t was by one Of these
trails that the Jameson Raid marched to their
capture. The road to Pretoria would be more
difficult II defended.
Gen, Hunters column had reached vrybure
on Thursday and is probably pushing on to
Mafeking. There seems some intention on the
part oil the British Of making q move into the
northern part Of the Transvaal. ar their scouts
have been recommending the drifts south OF
Tuli. and report the principal one, Rhodes
Drift, on the road TO Petersburg. unprotected
and the country south OF 1t clear OF Boers.
There Is no definite news from Laings Mex
and the reports Of the movements Of the Free
Skaters west Of the Drakensberg Mountains are
too vague 10 enable an opinion to be formed OF
what is really going on. The reported reocc,-
patton by them OF Ficksburg, however. has a
certain importance.