New-York tribune., 1900-05-08
BRITISH ADVANCE GOES on
sMALDEEL OCCUPIED. AND WAY OPEN
TO MARCH NORTHWARD.
TCory-ght. 1900: By TIE Nex-York Tribune
[BY CABLE TO THE TRrBCNE.l

=
London, May s. 1 a. rn.-The onrush Of Lord
Rooerts's army continues. The left wing ad-
vanced m Sunday from the Vet River to
sn1aldeel without meeting with any resistance
The Beers had retreated toward Kroonstad
their rearguard being ten miles away. They
had left behind 4 large quantity Of forage ard
rail KAY material. and the British had also capt
ured Maxim gun and twenty-five prisoners
Lord Roberts. who has become a great i'm
Eerialtst lays stress upon the gallantry Of the
Canadian AMI other colonial troops in forcing
-he passage Of the Vet River under hot shell
and rnusketry fire. and special correspondents
supply details which serve 70 prove that there
IS an honorable emulation among them and that
Il IS hard 70 hold any ~ them back. The
Queenslanders were conspicuous for their
bravery
SnaaldeeI is about one-ffth Of the distance be-
tween Bloemfon-ein ard Pretoria, and Kroonstad
IS another fifth As Winburg is reported unofi-
ciaIly 70 have been occupied on Sunday by the
right wing under General Hamilton after
sharp fight and hot pursuit and as the Beers
retired On the same day from their positions
east Of Thaba Nchu and left General BUNDLES
division free 70 march northward, there is 10th
ing - retard Lord Robertss advance. His Two
wings are closer together than they were when
the norThward advance was begun a, week ago.
and unless there is an eastward diversion to
senekal both Of his columns can head for the
Zand River and be nassed at Kroonstad.
HAMILToNs FINE GENERALsHIP.
General Hamiton's march on winburg was
conducted with great spirit. and he had hard
fighting on the way. Details OF the cavalry
charge and the work Of the Highland Brigade
are beginning 70 come in. General Hamilton's
mana cement Of his troops was excellent and the
finest qualities Of the British cavalry and in
tantry were brought out. His pursuit Of the
enemy after the battle IS reported 10 have been
sharp and harassing 70 the Beers. who fell back
SC rapidly that they could not carry off two
guns. which the British captured.
Lord Roberts has not reported officially upon
the movements Of his right wing since Friday,
put dispatches respecting the occupation Of
Winburg come from his camp. There has been
theory among military men that Lord Roberts
would send 4 strong column through SenekaI
and Bethlehem 10 Earrismith, and open the
way for the passage OF a portion Of Sir Red
Fers Buffers force across the mountains into
the Free State. General Butler has three di-
visions and the experts have not believed that
they would remain idle in front OF Biggars-
berg. but would cooperate actively with the
Comrnander-in-Chief in the Free State opera
tons The next few days viii settle this dis
pLted question.
RoRERTs's OPINION BORNE OUT.
Lord Ro5erts's conviction that his northward
march would draw off the Beers from their in
trenched positions at Thaba Nchu has been
JUSTIFIED BY their retreat northward and east
ward General Rundle has occupied without
sacrifice Of life the im1regna Die line of high
nils. which could only have been taken with
neaFy losses by a frontal attack. Lord Roberts
does not ask his 10 work miracles, but
studies closely the dynamics Of the science of
va
Il IS not improbable that the siege Of Mafeking
nay De abandoned before General Hunters col
unnn Is within nleasurab bic distance of the town.
There are already rumors from Pretoria that the |
Boer forces VIII be called south and that there |
all be a general concentration Of the burghers |
against Lord Roberts the vaaI River. Gen |
eraI Hunter meanwhile is marching on and /
driving the Beers before him.
Details Of General Barton's engagement with |
the Beers az Rooidam show that the Fusilier |
battalions fought with sreadiness and pluck |
and that the Imperial Yeomanry. under Colonel |
Meyrick pursued the enemy mile after mile /
when the kopjes were taken The Boer force is |
estimated at 5000 and Il was driven from !
strong positions and vigorously followed toward |
Fourteen Streams on the next day. junction
has been effected with General Paget's force /
which has been blocked AT Warrenton-
HUNTERS LOSSES SMALL.
The losses ot General Hunters column have
been light The casualty lists in the three en-
gsgenents az the close Of last week we're in /
significant IN comparison with the results Sc
cured
Londone-s are taxing their victories in the |
Aei0 with quiet content Il is only when there
= q 1t occasion for honoring the heroes Of the