The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-05
BRITISH AT THE WET RIVER.
THEY ARE NOW EIGHTEEN MILES
NORTH OF BRANDFORT.

Passage of the vaaI River Carried
at Windsorton without OppOsi-
tion-Roberts and Kitchener Are
at Brandfort - Capture of That
Place Regarded as the Most Inn
pOrtant Event Since CrOnje Sur
rendered-Britlsh Seem Well on
the Way North.
London, May 4-Lord Roberts report to
tbe war office dated May 8, on the occu-
patton of Brandfort follows:
we occupied Brandfort to-day without
much opposition and without, I hope.
many casualties. The first brigade of
mounted infantry covered the left flank
Of the Fourteenth brigade of the Seventh
division and the right flank was sup
ported by the Fifteenth brigade. Pole-Ca-
rew's division advanced directly on Brand
fort The Boer army, which was under
command of Delarey, retired in a north
easterly direction"
The war office this evening issued the
following from Lord Roberts, dated
Brandfort, Friday, May A:
1.-THE mounted infantry have gone on
to the Wet river. The railway has been
repaired to this point.
Hunter reports very satisfactory news
that the passage Of the Vaal has been
carried at Windsorton without opposi-
ton"
Now at the Wet River.
London, May 5, 4:O5 a. m.-The mounted
Infantry with Lord Roberts, among whom
are the Canadians, have picketed their
horses on the south bank of the Wet
river, eighteen miles north of Brandfort.
The head of Lord Roberts columns has
thus advanced thirty-two miles from Ka-
rec Siding in two days, or ffty-three
miles north of Bloemfontein.
Little power was spent. The British
work was hard marching, the Beers re-
firing out of the reach of the British
shells AS Gen. Hutton, with the First
Mounted Infantry brigade drew near
Brandfort, he saw a khaki-clad body of
troops ahead of him. He was surprised.
but thought they must be British. Soon,
however, they opened fire upon the Brit
ish, who replied heavily. They were the
Irlsh-A American brigade from Lorenzo
Marquee and It is reported that the Irish
lost severely.
The Boer flag was flying over Brand
fort as the British entered the town. Sew
eral British wounded were found in the
hospital The Boer postmaster gave up
the keys of the public buildings to Capt.
Ross.
Roberts and Kitchener.
Lord Kitchener arrived at Brandfort at
noon and Lord Roberts at dusk.
Gen. Freneh's cavalry are sweeping the
country northward. The expectation Is
that the infantry advance win be contln-
ued toward Kroonstad Immediately.
Gen. Hunters crossing the Vaal at
Windsorton brings the relief of Mafeking,
1876 miles beyond, making 1t quite possible
1aa laf fb.a
Queens birthday
The debate in Parliament on the Spion
kop dispatches proved a disappointment
to the supporters of the government.
Gives Key 10 Important Road.
London, May 4.-News of the occupation
CT Brandfort was issued by the war de-
partment at 10 O'Clock this morning, con-
firming the Associated Press news.
1t is generally considered the most i'm
pprtant communication received from the
front since the capture of Gen. Cronje and
the relief of Ladysmith.
The position gives the key to one of the
main roads leading to the Drakensberg
passes, which possibly may be the means
OF cooperation with Gen. Butler later on,
provides an advance base of supplies, etc.
and at the same time menaces the Beers
now southeast of Bloemfontein.
The Boer army which was at Brandfort
commanded by Gen. Delarey, is presum-
ably retiring on Winburg. which will pos
sibly be the next immediate objective of
the British. Brandfort, thirty-five miles
nearer the Transvaal capital, is now Lord
Roberts headquarters.
On the Move at Last.
What particularly gratiies the British
Is the evidence that the army of Lord
Roberts IN the Orange Free State has re-
covered its mobility, and is again capable
OF Undertaking the general advance so
long retarded. 1t Is hardly expected the
Boers will make much of a stand south OF
hroonstad, and possibly not there If Lord
ROBERTS succeeds DIN capturing Winburg,
mus interpOsing between the main federal
army and the Boer forces in the neigh
oorhood of Thaba Nchu and Houtnek in
which case the latter would be forced 10
move far to the eastward, in which di-
recuon their mobility would probably en-
aDie them to reach the Bethlehem and
harrismith line of safety.
Inc only opposition which the British
encountered at Brandfort seems to have
0oIfe from the Irish-American command.
ne central British army is now in line
WIth the extreme left at Boshof under
1[Ord Methuen, and the extreme right at
Elandslaagte, under Gen. Butler, so that
movements of these wings in. cooperation
WIN the army may shortly be expected.