The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-11
STUBBORN
RESISTANCE.
Beers Contest Every Step of the
British Advance.
Lord Roberts Reports a Success
full Days Work.
MAKES EIGHT MILES.
Beers Pushed Back All Along
the Line.
They Leave No Bridges Stand
ing Behind Them.
MAKES EIGHT MILES.

London, May H. 1O.5O a. m.-Loru
Roberts telegraDhs to the war office
from Rietspruit under date Of May TO-
evening, as follows:
1--WE have had a successful day and
have driven the enemy from point to
point. French with Porter's and Dick
enson's brigade of cavalry and Hutton's s
mounted infantry crossed the Zand at
Vermentens Kraal and then worked
round in a northeasterly direction to
Maatschappy, being opposed continu-
ously by the enemy Pole-Carew's di-
vision and Gordon's cavalry brigade,
augmented by j" battery of the royal
horse artillery. and by Henry's and
Ross mounted infantry, crossed the
river by drift near the railway bridge.
MY quarters accompanied this force.
With the infantry portion we are eight
miles north Of the river The cavalry
and mounted infantry are at Ventors
burg road station and fuckers division
is at DeelfOntein NOrd- Ian Harnu-
tons force and BroadwOod's cavalry
brigade were making for the cross roads
near Ventorsburg when 1 last heard
from them. Hamilton's column met
with stubborn resistance and Smith
DOOrein's brigade was engaged for
some hours in protecting the rear and
flank of his force.
The only casualties reported at pres
ent are: Killed, rank and file, four:
wounded. five. No returns yet received
from the cavalry nor Hamiltons force" "
A BAYONET CHARGE.
Rietspruit, Thursday, May TO- morn
ing.-The Beers opposed the British ad-
vance, holding positions north of Za1d
Drift back along the whole line from
General Hamilton on the east and Gen
eral Hutton on the west. Chiefly artll-
lery was engaged. The Sussex regiment
bayonet and the East Lancashires cap
tured another
The British loss is insignificant.
General Hutton had a series of ar
tiliery duels the BOers always retiring.
Twenty Beers We're taken prisoners.
The advance continues. The Beers are
fighting half-heartedly. The Free
StaterS are sick Of the war.
BOERS DESTROY THE BRIDGES.
London, May 1.-THE Daily Express.
in its second edition this morning pub
fishes a dispatch dated Rietspruit May
10, morning, describing the crossing of
the Zand river by the British. 1t says:
THE rear guard of. the Beers, with
their guns. resisted the advance. The
mounted infantry. two batteries and
pOmpOms cleared the way and the third
cavalry brigade acted as a screen be
fore the main column. General French
was on the left and General Hamilton
on the right. The Beers had DESTROYED
all the bridges during their retreat
1T is impossible to ascertain the
Boer losses, but they are thought to be
heavy. Those of the British, consider
ing the important advance made are
considered light"
p MILES FROM KROONSTAD.
London, May l1.-SO quickly has Lord
Roberts advanced that his cavalry is
only " miles from Kroonstad. while the
main army is only IL miles behind them
hence in about a day the British will
be within striking distance of the
Orange Free State headquarters. The
critics differ widely in opinions as tC
whatever any determined stand will be
made by the Beers. The presence OF
10000 Beers in the neighbOrhOOd OF
.Chaba NChu is confirmed. They are
holding 20 miles north to southeast oi
Thaba NChu.
Boer patrol was sighted Thursday al
Ihaba Patchoa- A detachment of Bra.
bants horse pursued the burghers. who
retired after some fighting Brabant
then took up position on a hill which
ne is now holding. There We're few
casualties on the British side. Tb,
Boer headquarters are at Eden. Nor,
lighting is expected.
The South African Review assert,
that a member of the legislature O
Cape Colony offered money to a MAJ
to shoot Sir Alfred Miner. the British
nigh commissioner. Affidavits on tht
subject are said to be at the hands O
the attorney general The Review de
mands the arrest of the legislator. VIII,
is described as a prominent bOndsmal
from Piquetburg
FREE SKATERS CONCENTRATING
Maseru, BasutOland Thursday Ma
1O.-The Free Staters are concentratin,
strongly in good position on the 10
rannaberg hills, lying eastward of tn
direct line from Thaba N'Chu to Win
burg President Steyn was with then
yesterday. but is believed to have eon
northward after inspiriing the burghe or
with predictions of approaching Roe
successes through the assistance q
thousands OF foreigners, who he sal
were pouring into Delagoa bay.
General Rundle's division canine
last evening on the banks of the I,iftl
Leuw river between Thaba N'Chu AM
Ladybrand