LORD ROBERTS'S ADVANCE ON THE TRANSVAAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 98, 15 May 1900, Page 2

LORD ROBERTS'S ADVANCE ON THE TRANSVAAL.

COLONIALS ENTER KROONSTAD FIRST. FRICTION BETWEEN TRANBVAALERS AND FREE STATBRS. (Received 14, 9.6 a.m.) London, May 13. Field-Marshal Lord Roberts's bodyguard of colonials ware the first to enter Kroonstad. Commandants Botha and De Wet accompanied the Transvaalers to the Vaal River, declaring that they would fight no longer for the Free State. The Free Stateis accused the Transvaalers of making use of them and then deserting them. Major-General Broad wood overtook part of the Boer convoy south-east of Ventersburg on Thursday, capturing several waggons. The Boers, firing from farmhouse windpws and abusing the white flag, shot several InniskiUings dead and captured sixteen. Lieut.-General Rundleand Brigadier' General Brabant drove the enemy from Thaba N'chu. Major-General Hutton has taken a hundred prisoners. THE OCCUPATION OF KROONSTAD. FREE STATERS EAGER TO SURRENDER. ___ i Received 14, 11.30 p.m. London, May 14. Lord Roberts found a field cornet at Kroonstad and 300 Free Staters all eager to surrender. The few British residents warmly cheered the troops, and maligners of the British were arrested, while others trekked home, HOW KROONSTAD WAS TAKEN. STEYN GETS INTO A RAGE. AN© THE IRISH BRIGADE GETS DRUNK. LORD ROBERTS'S IMPRESSIVE BNTRY. Received 15, 1.20 a.m. London, May 14. Kroonstad was a pandemonium on Friday. The disheartened Transvaalere threatened to burn the town. The commandos were reduced by one-half by desertions.

A photographer took a snapshot of President Steyn when in a mad rage, whipping those intending to trek home, and kicking and cuffing the burghers who refused his leadership. The enemy's drunken Irish Brigade burned a goods shed, with much fodder. Steyn went to Heilbron. Lord Roberts's entry was the most impressive scene of the war, except General Buller's entry into Ladysmith. Mrs. Lochhead, the wife of an American statesman, hoisted the Union Jack on the Town Hall. Lord Roberts was stationed in the Market Square, at the head of General Pok-Oarew's division, the whole of the infantry and artillery m-irching and the Guards swinging pasi to the accompaniment of the fifes and drums. The demonstration vastly impressed the reeeutly disarmed Dutch inhabitants, who wore overjoyed at the relief and cheered vociferously. GENERAL FRENCH ON THE MOVE. BOERS DEMORALISED AND I IRRESOLUTE. Received 15, 1.30 a.m. London, May 14. I l Lieut.-General French, on Friday,! seized adrift over the Valech River,! too late to cut the railway northeas'; t f Kroonstad, The B.ers had alee dy gone. „ A large bridge southwards of Kroon stad was found destroyed and another intact.

The enemy are entrenching at S'oa', to the westward of Ventersburg. The commandos north-east of Tbaba N'chu are irresolute and demoralised, and for a week past they hate beer! astounded at the swiftnees of Lord Roberts's inovemtnts. CAPTURE OF PRISONEKS AND STOKES. A BROTHER OF STEYN TAKEN PRISONER. Received 16,1.30 a.m. London, May 1 -t. Generals Rundle and Brabant, at Thaba N'chu, captured vast stores of grain and fifty prisoners, including a brother of President Kteyn. e The British Lout extends for thirty miles, rounding off the enemy. 3 mo of the liner commandos aro proceeding to L ndley, while others, consisting of broken fugitives, are driving herds towards Bethlehem. I