The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-06-06
In SOUTH AFRICA.

LONDON, June 2 The Beers have
re-entered the northeastern territory Of
the Free State and are engaged with
the British near Ventersburg and Har
rismith. 1t is reported from Amster-
dam that the best rooms at the Het
Haasje, one of the principal hotels
there, have been engaged for President
Kruger's occupancy from June %.
Gen, Butler is moving slowly against
the Boer fans
A despatch from Cape Town says
Gen. Warren, with 700 men, while &C.
cupying a strong defensive position at
Faoerspot was surrounded by ! 900
Beers and fiercely attacked. The
horses were stampeded. but the force
concentrated and the Beers were re-.
pulsed. A small party in garden con-
tinued to fight tenaciously, but evac-
uated as the charge began, leaving a
number of wounded.
Lord Roberts continues,silent regard
ing Pretoria, probably because he can
not cable events from his knowl-
edge. Lorenzo Marquee, where all the
news from the Boer side is rehandled,
cables that communication with Pre-
toria is now suspended.
Some messages by courier have
reached Lorenzo Marquee, but none of
later date than Wednesday. These
assert that the burghers are in State
Of panic and that Pretoria is being con-
trolled by vigilance committee. Lo-
renzo Marquee again sends the report
that President Kruger has been cap
tured. This news blank gives rise to
a suspicion that the citizens committee
at Pretoria may not have been able to
carry out their plan for securing the
peaceful entry OF Lord Roberts and
sparing the city the horrors of siege.
The peace party appears to be in the
| ascendancy and as soon as President
Kruger and his cabinet left Pretoria to
organize new capital the citizens COM
mittee persuaded the commandants of
the forts to withdraw some of the
troops from the defenses, perhaps with
the view of keeping order in the town.
Ii messengers were sent to the British,
or if the British being two hours
march from Pretoria on Wednesday,
entered it then or at any time prior to
Friday noon, Lord Roberts would GER
tainly have telegraphed this fact.
Hence it looks as though there was a
Boer force between Pretoria and Jo-
hannesburg.
LONDON, June 5.-It is officially an
nounced that Pretoria has been occu-
pied by the British.
LONDON, June 5.-Lord Roberts
foreshadowed the occupation Of Preto-
ria in a dispatch sent last night and
which was made public this morning
just before the announcement of the
actual occupation came. For time
yesterday the Beers gave Roberts some
trouble and some fighting occurred.
The weight of numbers and some fine
artillery tactics finally carried the day.
Lord Roberts dispatch follows:
Sixmile Spruit, June 4, $40 P. M
"We started at day break today and
marched about ten miles to sixmile
Spruit, bo.h banks of which were occu-
pied by the enemy. The yeomanry and
mounted infantry dislodged them from
the south bank, pursuing them for
nearly mile, when they found them
selves under heavy fire from guns in
well concealed aud commanding posi-
ton. Our heavy guns were hurried to
their assistance as fast as oxen and
mules could travel over the great roll
ing hills that surround Pretoria. The
guns were supported by brigade of
infantry that drove the enemy off. The
Beers then attempted to turn our flank,
but again failed.
AS the Beers continued to press our
rear l ordered General Hamilton, who
was advancing three miles on our left,
to incline toward US and fill the gap be-
tween the two columns. This finally
checked the enemy who were driven
toward Pretoria. hoped we would