Evening journal., 1900-05-05
They Opened Fire on Gen.
Buttons Brigade
And SUSTAINED HEAVY LOSS
Gen. Prench's Cavalry is Sweeping
The Country to the NOrthWard,
Driving BurgherS Before Him

London, May 5.-The mounted in
fantry with lord Roberts. among
whom are the Canadians, have picket
ed their horses on the south bank OF
the Vet river. Is miles north Of Brand
ford. The head of Lord Roberts col
umns has thus advanced 30 miles
from Karee Siding in two days, or So
miles north of Bloemfontein. Little
power was spent The British work
was hard marching, the Beers retiring
out OF the reach of the British shells.
Lord Roberts. telegraphing yester-
day says I'VE occupied Brandfort
today without much opposition, and
without, ] hope, many casualties. The
First brigade of mounted infantry
covered the left flank, the Fifteenth
brigade supporting. Cen. Pole-Carew's
division advanced directly on Brand
fort. The Boer army. which is under
Delarey, retired in northeasterly
direction"
The war office last evening issued
the following from Lord Roberts, THE
mounted infantry have gone on to the
Vet river The rest OF the force Will
march there tomorrow The railway
has been repaired TO Brandfort. Hun
ter reports very satisfactory news
that the passage of the Vaal has been
carried at Windsorton without oppo-
sition."
The correspondents supplement Lord
Roberts plain statements with a few
details. 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 sur
prised, but thought they must be the
British. Soon. however, they opened
fire upon the British, who replied
heavily. They were the Irish-Ameri-
can brigade from Lourenzo Marques.
and II is reported that the Irish lost
severely.
The Boer flag was flying over Brand
fort as the British entered the town.
Several British wounded were found in
the hospital. The Boer postmaster
gave up the keys Of the public build
ings to Captain Ross.
Lord Kitchener arrived at Brand
fort at noon and Lord Roberts at dusk.
Gen. French's cavalry are sweeping
the country northward. The expecta-
tion is that the infantry advance will
be continued toward Kroonstad imme-
diately. Although no prisoners were
taken. and although no hot pursuit
was attempted, the news greatly cheers
London. Nevertheless it has not been
received with the fine rapture that
attended the first successes OF Lord
Roberts.
Gen. Hunters crossing the Vaal at
Windsorton brings the relief OF Mafe-
king, 1876 miles beyond, almost within
g caiculable interval. 1t is now re-
garded as quite possible that Mafeking
may be guccored before the queens
birthday.
A Warrenton. Cape Colony, dispatch
of yesterday says: A British six inch
wire gun opened unexpectedly on the
Boer laager yesterday at q distance OF
seven and half miles, throwing hum
dred pound shells with wonderful ac-
curacy and causing a hasty retreat OF
the burgers. The bombardment con-
tinued today at all points by howitzers
and field guns. supported by two COM
panies of the Munster regiment, the
Beers being driven from shelter and
their guns being put out OF action.
Wepener is to be garrisoned with a
strong force from Gen. Chermside's di-
vision, commanded by Lord Castleton.