Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-05-29
WAR NEARING THE END.
Prediction that British Forces will
Occupy Pretoria June Is.
PASSAGE OF THE VAAL.
Lord Roberts with His Superiority of
Mum bers will Drive Beers Out of
Every Defensive Position.

London, May 25.-Another advance
along the railroad toward Pretoria has
brought Lord Roberts troops to Vrede-
fort road, few miles north of Prospect,
where they arrived at noon Thursday.
In the meanwhile Gen. Methuen is pro-
crossing along the southern bank of the
Naal river, with the object possibly Of
making a dash at Klerksdorp when he ar
rives opposite that railroad terminus
Gen. Hutton's column is apparently in
the neighborhood OF Nredefort, fifteen
miles west of the railroad. whence it
threatens the Federals' right flank.
The next couple of days ought to settle
whether Lord Roberts will encounter Sc
rIous opposition south of the Vaal, but
the best opinion believes the next big en-
gagement will be fought just south of
johannesburg, and that the fight there,
and possibly one at Laings Mex. will
prove the last pitched battles of the war
End of War Near.
London, May 25.-The retreat of
Botna's forces from the Rhenoster to the
Naal serves to convince military men
that the end of the war is rapidly draw
ine near. This is without doubt the
official view although nobody connected
with either the war office or the head
quarters staff is willing to be quoted to
tnat effect. The date for the occupation
Of Pretoria which is usually named
among officials is June 10. 1t is assumed
by them that there will be no delay
other i'll the passage of the Vaal or in
Gen. Roberts, with his superiority of
numbers and his strength of mounted
force. can turn the Beers out of every
defensive position which they may at
tempt to hold, They expect to see the
British flag flying over Johannesburg by
~ hnr
uudcr siege early in June.
Another matter which is discussed in
official circles with increasing interest is
the Dutch responsibility for indemnities.
The colonial office is looking into this
subject and the experts are calculating
already the proportions which the two
repubncS can contribute to the bill of
damages from Cape Colony and Natal
and to the British expenses for the war.
South Africans are not agreed upon the
financial aspects Of the problem and upon
the most practical method of dis
ffrlbpting the burdens Of g. cost
ly war on the basis Of population The
st; state railway in the Orange Free State
IS an available asset. but the Transvaai
railways arc nominally owned by pri-
vate corporation and cannot be seized by
the British government Land taxes lev
led upon the Beers will yield little when
they are impoverished. and the only ade-
quate resource for the payment of Il
large indemnity is the mining territory of
the Rand. Gen. Botha's declaration,
quoted yesterday, that he would lead a
commando for the prevention of the de-
strUction Of the mines, was wise and
timely. Why should the only goose in
Dutch Africa that can lay golden eggs
be killed?
Nearing the VaaI River.
Vredefort, Thursday, May 24.-The
British columns, after an unopposed
march, reached the Vredefort road at
noon today and are now only two march
es from the Naal river.
Hunter Occupies Vryburg.
Warrenton. Thursday, May 24.-Oper-
atoms have been pushed forward eighty
miles. one of Gen. Hunters brigades hav-
ing occupied Vryburg last night Con
sidering the difficulties Of the road, this
is a remarkable achievement for mixed
force. short of rations, making forced
marches. Water is scarce. Some por-
tions of the brigade covered eighteen
miles without break.
Gen. Hunter personally goes to Vry-
burg today by train