The semi-weekly messenger., 1900-06-01
BRITISH FORCES ALREADY IN SUBURBS
OF THAT CITY.
THE CITY To SURRENDER TODAY
Generai ROBERTS Cables That He Ex-
poets to Enter at Head of His Forces
at Noon British Cavalry Push on to
Pretoria-Already Seven Miles Be-
yond Johannesburg-Un as
to Resistance at Pretoria-German
Sailors Attacked for Cheering for
Kruger.

ROBERTS IS DlVouacking in the suburbs
OF johannesburg and intends to make a
vicious entry at noon today Judging
from his dispatch he must have private
information regarding the disposition
of the garrison in the fort, as he does
not seem to expect opposition.
A portion of Lord Roerts' cavalry is
understood to be at Zuurfontein, seven
miles north of johannesburg and with
in twenty miles of Pretoria Lord
Roberts, although with a broken
bridge at Vereeniging and wrecked
railway behind him, has somehow man
aged to get forward sufficient supplies
for his large force.
AS he has been able to do so much
it is considered possible that he will
be outside of Pretoria Friday. The
rapidity of his advance is thought an
extraordinary achievement, even by
grudging continental critics.
The Beers, who were expected to
fight along the line of hills known as
Klipriversberg, abandoned the eastern
end of the range, near Lord Roberts
advance line, but they stood their
ground on the extreme right near Van
WyckS rust where they met General
French's turning movement. The fight
continued all day and the result is as
yet mere conjecture. Probably the boer
rear guard succeeded in keeping Cen
eral French off and is now in the hills
northwest of Johannesburg
The Standard has the following ad-
vices from Pretoria under Mondays
date: The Transvaal government has
opened or is about to open, peace negO-
tiatiOns. 1t has cabled a final inquiry
to it's agents abroad, asking whether
any hope exists of aid
a of
Roberts with 10000 men at Johannes
burg will hasten the Transvaars de-
cision.
Dispatches from Lourenzo Marques
yesterday described President Kruger
as wavering, but demanding a grant
that he shall not be exiled to st.
Helena"
The fighting burghers still continue
to desert and the total collapse of the
BOer military organization is not far
off. Bennett Burleigh, writing from
Lord Roberts headquarters at We
reenignig on Sunday says: 81 doubt if
President Kruger can muster $1,000
men, as many of the burghers have
gone to their homes"
The rstauncher Beers are sending
their fanatics with wagons and stores
to the Zout PanSberg district.
Whether Pretoria will be defended is
uncertain, although a Pretoria mes
sage, dated Sunday, pictures the work
of defending the capital as going on
with ''feverish activity" Pretoria is
situated in a wilderness of kopjes and
ranges, and is provided with defenses
that require at least 10000 men to man
them properly. There may still be one
hard nut for the British to crack.
The news that Lord ROerts was
practically raster of Johannesburg
was received IN London with noisy en-
thusiasm. : procession OF students
marched through the west end, cheer
ing and singing. The announcement at
the various places of amusement was
followed by singing of the national an
them and cheers for "Bobs."
Sir Redvers Butler and the Beers
had an artillery duel all day yesterday
without marked result
While the tOwnspeOple at Fleetwood
were cheering Lord Roberts announce
ment the German crew of the Henri
eta cheered President Kruger. Several
conflicts occurred between the Ger
mans and the English, and the crew
of the Henrietta was mobbed. UIl-
mately the police force was doubled.
London May 29.-The following dis
patch has been received from Lord
Roberts:
''Germiston, May %, $50 p. m.-We
arrived here this afternoon without
being seriously opposed. No casualties
so far as / am aware in the main
column and not many, / trust, in cav
airy and mounted infantry. The enemy
did not expect us till tomorrow and
had not, therefore, carried off all their
rolling stock. We have possession of
the junction connecting Johannesburg
with Natal, Pretoria and klerkSdorp
by railroad
Johannesburg IS reported quiet and
no mines, l understand, have been in
jured.
Il shall summon the cOmmandant in
the morning and if as l expect, there
is no opposition, / propose to enter
the town with all the troops at noon.
Germiston is a subsurb to the south
east of the johannesburg railway juno
ton
Additional evidence that the mines
ar. intact comes in a message received
by a mining company here today from
its johannesburg representative, dated
Nay 18Th, via Delagoa bay, saying:
All right.
Lord Roberts dispatch is REGARDED
as announcing the virtual occupation
- johannesburg and apparently the
Beers have again effected retreat
IS there is no mention of any prison
erS or captures. except OF rollins
stock There will be some little anN-
iety pending the actual occupation o.
Johannesburg as there are rumorS
that the town has been mined with th'
intention of blowing up Lord Robert:
and his staff on their entry into tina
place.
Naw Castle Natal, May 9Th,
British guns at Ingogo have been heav
ily bOmbarding the Boer positions since
daylight The Boer guns have replied
Internationally.
London. May 29.-The effectiveness
of the British Invasion OF the Trans
vaaI is further emphasized by the new
from Pretoria of the occupation o
Zeerust and the advance on Lichten
burg. Apparently the British drag ne
will be drawn through the Iransvaa
as it was in a similar manner haule
through the Free State.
The fighting at the Kip river Sun
day. reported from Pretoria, was pre-
sumably done by Generals French an
Hamilton in forcing their way roun
TO the northward OF johannesburg.
THE KEARSARGE.
Washington, May 29.-The battle