The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-05-19

Clcally over" says the Daily ClrOnl-
cle's Kroonstad correspondent, and, in
less definite terms. this is the view to
be gathered from all the correspond
ents. They picture the Beers as most
~ demOraliZed anu disheartened by
Lord Roberts unexpected rapid ad-
vance and by his facile turning Of the
carefully prepared positions of the
Beers. Lord Roberts has entered
Kroonstad. President Steyn and the
Orange Free State government having
fled to Lindsey, some sixty or seventy
miles to the east. and the Boer army
retiring. to the Vaal river. The news
of the capture of Kroonstad was re-
ceived' at the war office Saturday in n
dispatch from Lord Roberts. There
was practically no fighting, and there
are few details to give respecting the
Occupation of Kroonstad.
The correspondent of the Daily Tele-
graph says: "The union jack was
hOisted in the market place by Mrs.
Lockhead. the American wife of q
Scotchman. Most of the horses of the
Beers are in a wretched condition. but
President Kruger declares he will con-
tinue the war;"
It appears that the Beers at Kroon-
stad had been reinforced by 5000 men
FROM Metal last Friday, and that alto
gether 10000 men, with twenty guns,
trekked from Kroonstad on the. .ap-
proach of Lord Roberts. The Beers
made an Intellectual stand at Bosch
rand and had elaborate intrenchments
in front Of Kroonstad. which offered
great facilities for a rear guard action.
Their only anxiety, however, appears
to have been to get away safely with
all their gums and conveys, which
again they have successfully accom-
.plished. The few stores they were
unable to carry they burned. Presi-
dent Steyn is represented, as having
been frantic with rage and as having
kicked and cuffed the burghers after
vainly imploring them to continue the
fight. Lord Roberts, after a march,
which is regarded as worthy of being
ranked with
His Famous March
to Khandhar. has thus covered another
stage of his campaign, a stage which,
although successful and without the
mistakes and misfortunes which char
acterized the earlier stages, leaves the
Boer forces quite intact, not having
lost a gun and having lost very few
men. Experiences have taught the
correspondents to be chary Of reports
Of Boer decentralization. The Times
correspondent says "signs point to a
Beer military breakdown. but after
experience we cannot accept the re-
ports of Generalization without re-
serve. The game Of war must be
played out to the end"
Lindley, the new Free State capital,
Is forty-fve miles southeast of KrOon-
stad. halfway to Bethlehem, anw was
probably selected as a convenient rem
desvous Of the commanders now re-
firing before Gen. Brabant and Gen.
Rumble in the Thaba N'Chu district.
Brabant has occupied Hoepelook, half
way on the road from Thaba N'Chu
to Ladybrand. There is not a word
of news regarding Gen. Buffers move
ments or from the far western side.
Nothing is known Of the progress OF
the. Mafeking relief column.
All Must Assist In the Defense.
London. May Is. The Lourenzo
Marques correspondent Of the Times,
telegraphing Sunday, says: ut is ru-
m0red that the. Transvaal. raad In Sc
CTGC 6GSSlOu ndS T0SOlVSU u OEucE dAA
residents. irrespective Of nationality.
to assist in the defense Of the republic,
in accordance with the terms Of the
amended military laws. The Beers
recognize that they r now in the last
extremity and all sorts and conditions
Of men are being Communicated. The
merchants here have protested against
the stoppage Of q consignment of cloth
ing and corneds beef. of which the lat
ter was purchased in America. United
States Consul Stanley Hollis, whose
sy,npathies. are. notorious. is said to
have demonstrated against whot he
called interference with American
trade"
Heavy Fighting I'm Natal.
London. May-15.-The Standard pub
fishes the following from DIrban,
dated Sunday: '.There are persis-
tent ru41lors here of heavy fighting in
Natal. A Red Cross train left last
night for the north !.