The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-13
Free Staters Are Scattering and
Many Go Back to Farms.
The Transvaaiers Announce They
Intend 20 Fight No More I'm Free
state Territory and Are Heading
for Their Own side of the River
The Rapid British Advance Has
Disconnected Them. and Disinteg-
ration Has Commenced-The Oniy
Free state Force Left IL on the
Southern Border Near Ladybrand.

LONDON, May Is, 4 a m.-The situa-
ton at the seat OF war In South Africa
is as satisfactory from tho British view
point as the mos. sanguine friend could
have hoped week ago. The occupation
OF Kroonstad practically places the whole
Orange Free State in British possession.
II IN evident from Lord Roberts last
dispatch that the disintcgration has COM
menced.
Free staters scattering.
The Free Staters are scattering 20 their
homes, while the Transvaalers have gone
northwarv, declining TO fight longer IN tho
Orange Free State. What little resistance
the former still are likely 20 make seems
10 be centering at Lndley. where presi-
dent Steyn has transferred his seat of
government. IL Ia. evident that the STRAIT
egy of Lord Roberts and the rapiditv OF
his advance have bewildered and dis
heartened the Boers. as their resistance
since the British reached Zand river
have been slight. Tho only point whero
they seriously attempted to check the adj
vance seems 20 have been on the British
right where they defended with some
vigor the two kopie- which were eventual
W CtrFlel DN lHt f<h-t lsdntdShiffS ana
sussexes, the Boers finally retreasing.
leaving a group OF gunners dead on the top
of one OF the hills
Fighting tn the Southeast.
The only point in the Free state where
the Beers seem In any force. except at
Lord Roberts front. IL on the southeast,
where Gems. Rundle. Campbell and Bra
bant are holding them in check west Of
Ficksburw and IAdybrand, and are grad
ually pushing them back as we'll as ef-
fectually 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 Rosrrts sue
cess viii result In forcing the Beers 10
raise the Siege.
Beers short of Ammunision.
Pretoria advices. via TSourenxo Marques.
state that the Beers supply OF smokelcss
powder is exhausted and that all at
tempts TO manufacture a fresh supply
have been unsuccessful. dispatch from
Cape Town. dated May IL rays that Lord
Strathconas horse have gone 90 the front,
and that Lord castietown has been sp-
pointed commander OF the wepcner dis
trict
Roberts Reports From Kroopstad.
The war Office has received the follow
ing dispatch from Lord Roberts;
'KRooNsTAD. May i2. 2 .. nj en-
tered Kroonsiad az ! 80 D. M. without
opposition, today. when the Union Jack
was hoIsted amid cheers from the few
British residents
Steyn Itees Hurrirdiy.
president steyn fed last evening, az
ter vainly endeav0ring 10 persuade the
burgherA 70 continue opposing. The
TrAnsvaaiers said they would no longer
tight on Orange Free State soil, and made
on for shs Naa river. Free Stafsrs ac-
oused the Transvaaisrs % having made
use OF them and then dansrting. Many ~
the Free Staters have gone 30 their
homes.
Procession Enters the Tewn.
''The procession entering tho town was
headed by my bodyguaTd. all of whom
were colonels. and after my stan and for
eigR officers came tho North Somerset
imperial yeomanry. followed by pola-Ca-
rew's division. consisting 0f the Guards
and N. Eighteenth brigade Of nayals.
the Eighty-third, ElghtY-fourth and
Eighty-nfth batteries. two E-inch guns
manned hy the Royal artillery company
and the Twelfth engineers. The FIRST ot
tbs force eucamped around the town
Boer Capital Moved Again.
Before leaving Kroonstad President
Steyn issued q proclamation making Itnd.
icy the seat of government u the Free
state
Gems Rotha and pewet accompanied
the Tfansvaalsrn."
lord Roberts teiegraphsd 70 the war
Office under date ~ Geneva siding May II.
evening. aa follows;
MY hea6quarters. ard P0la-Czrew's
division. marched twenty miles today. and
are now 81 Geneva ssalng four miles from
Kro0neiad. and about six miles from
HaRhrand. where tna Beers ara holding
lntranenss positlone Cordon's hrIgaas
is ia touch with them. fuckers division
is a snort distance southeast and Hauii-
tons force s. Etlu further east. Broad
woods e brigade overlook a part 81 this
snsmy's convoy a. Po,gieter'a iaARer,
southeast ~ venteaaburg. and captured
several wagons and some prisoners.
French. with Porters and Dickens brig
AIDES aud Huttou's mounted infantry. is
some distance due north of this place.
I'VE have taken nearly 100 prisoners DUR
ing the last two days All the Free stat.
ers who could give good sc-cint o, them-
selves have been disarmed and allowed to
return TO their farTnA
The nights are getting cooler
On the southern Horder.
EDA%, May 1.-THE Beers retrca.sd
gons what today but IL Ia lnuoyslble 10 sav