The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-03-16
THE TAKING OF BLOEMEONTEIN.

with Generals Gatacre and Clement.
THE TAKING OF BLOEMTONTEIN
Operations just Preceding the Sur
render-Quiet i'm the Town.
Bloemfontein, Tuesday, March 49,
Lord Roberts entered the Free State
capital to-day practically unopposed.
He lay at Ventors Vlei, fourteen miles
away, last night with General Kelly
KenrW's and General Covilles divisions,
the Guards Brigade and the Mounted
infantry. General French, having cut
the railway and telegraph, experienced
slight skirmish with some Beers hold
ing a kopje southeast of the town. Ear
ly in the morning the cavalry brigade
moved forward slowly on several kopjes
which commanded the Beers. A few
well placed shells from the horse artil-
1ery drove off the enemy. General
French then sent out scouts to feel their
way toward the town. perceiving which
the correspondents of the Sydney Her
aid and the London Daily News, with
one other, galloped forward and enter
aspect.
The people were out shopping or on
walks, and at first the three newspaper
men were regarded as townsfolk. When
later it became known that they were
the forerunners of the British army they
were greeted cordially and conducted to
a club, where they met Mr.. Frazer of
the executive council, the mayor and
other officials. These they persuaded to
take carriages and to go to meet Lord
Roberts.
As the party drove out of the city the
British cavalry We're closing around like
huge net. The deputation soon arriv-
ed opposite the kopje where Lord Rob-
erts was stationed, and this correspond
ent rode forward and had the honor of
announcing to the commander in chief
that Bloemfontein woMd surrender A
little later the deputation began to ap-
proach, and Lord Roberts went forward
to meet them. The scene was pictur-
esque in the extreme. A few yards
away the guns of a battery pointed
their grim mouths toward the late posi-
tion of the Beers, while the tin roofs of
the city shone in the distance.
After salutes had been exchanged a
member of the deputation stepped for
ward and declared that the town, being
without. defenses, wished to surrender,
hoping that Lord Roberts would pro-
tect life and property. He replied that.
provided there was no opposition, he
would undertake to guarantee the Sc
curity of both.
The interview was very cordial, with
Ill of CT +,
correspondent that the reputation SEEM
ed relieved by the presence of the Brit
ish troops. Lord Roberts notified the
deputation of his intention of entering
the town in state and, they withdrew to
inform the townspeople. Lord Roberts
then made his military dispositions, or
dering the First Brigade to follow him
and to take possession of the town. |
With his staff and the military attaches
he descended the kopje and arrived on
the plain, where he waited until the
cavalry approached. Then he entered
the city, followed by his personal staff,
the general staff, the military attaches |
and the troops.
steyn Called Coward.
The Standard has the following des- !
patch from Bloemfontein dated Thurs
day. March Is: 1.-The civil authorities /
here definitely made up their minds to |
surrender on Monday. A stormy meet
ing was held, presided over by Mr..
Steyn whom Mr. Frazer denounced as I
coward, charging him with a want of /
enough moral courage to accept the sit
uation. The late president was, how
ever not to eb persuaded and when the
meeting broke up he left for the north
Many Burghers Surrendrring Arms.
1.-THE occupation was extremity orderly
and We'll managed. The spectacle was
most impressive when the Sixth division
marched through in grand style not
withstanding that, like the rest of the
army it had covered forty miles in
twenty-seven hours. Large numbers Oh
the burghers are surrendering their
arms. Many have fled to their homes.
Others are treklling to the east or to
the north with their cattle and goodH.
During the last few days the inhabit-
ants of Bloemfontein had gone in dead
ly fear of the violence of the Trans
vaalers; and, consequently, the city re-
sembles rather a relieved than a cap
tured town. Mr. Vessels, president OF
the raad, has gone to England to So
licit public sympathy and to plead for