The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-30
WILL ENTER JOHANNESBURG.
ROBERTS is READY TO TAKE THE
TOWN AT NOON TODAY.


VIII Reach Pretoria by To-mor-
row-Not Known whether Trans
vaaI Capital VIII BE Defended.
Kruger Seems Almost Ready to
open Peace Negotiations.
London, May 29.-The following dis
patch has been received from Lord
Roberts:
"Germiston, May %. $50 p. m.-we ar
rived here this afternoon without being
seriously opposed. No casualties so far as
I'm aware, in the main column and not
many, trust, in the cavalry and mount
ed infantry. The enemy did not expect US
until tomorrow and had not therefore,
carried off all their rolling stock. We have
possession OF the junction connecting
johannesburg with Natal, Pretoria and
Kerksdorp by railroad.
Johannesburg is reported quiet and 10
mines, I understand. have been injured.
q shall summon the commandant in the
morning, and it, as l expect, there is no
opposition, I propose to enter the town
with all the troops at noon"
Germston is a suburb to the southeast
of the Johannesburg railway junction.
Additional evidence that the mines are
intact comes in message received by
mining company here to-day from its
johannesburg representative, dated May
%, via Delago hay, saying "All right
Lord Roberts dispatch is regarded al
announcing the virtual occupation Sof Jo-
hannesburg, and apparently the Beers
have again effected retreat, as there is
no mention of any prisoners or captures,
except of rolling stock.
There will be some little anxiety pend
ing the actual occupation OF Johannes
burg as there are rumors that the town
has been mined with the intention of
bowing up Lord Roberts and his staff on
their entry into that place
Opposition Not Expected.
London, May 80, $3.50 a. m.-Lord Roberts
is bivouacking in the susurbs of johann
nesburg and intends to make a victorious
entry at noon to-day. Judging from his
dispatch, he must have private informa-
ton regarding the disposition of the gar
rison in the fort, as he does not seem to
expect opposition. Lord Roberts cavalry
has flowed on beyond johannesburg. A
portion is understood to be at Zuurfon-
tein, seven miles north of johannesburg
and within twenty miles of Pretoria
Lord Roberts, although with a broken
bridge at Vereening and wrecked rail-
way behind him, has somehow managed
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 out
see of Pretoria Friday. The rapidity of
his advance is thought extraordinary
achievement, even by grudging continent
al 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 ad-
vance line, but they stood their ground
on the extreme right near Van Nycksrust,
where they met Gen. French's turning
movement. The fight coniinued all day
ard the result is as yet mere conjecture.
Probably the Boer rear guard succeeded
IN keep ng Gen. French off and is now
In the hills northwest of johannesburg.
Peace Negotiations.
The Standard has the following advces
from Pretoria, under Mondays date:
The Transvaal government has opened
or is about to open, peace negotiations 1t
has cabled a final inquiry to its agents
abroad, asking whether any hope exists
Of aid"
Without doubt the presence of Lord
Roberts with 10000 men at johannesburg
Will hasten the Transvaal's decision.
Dispatches from Lorenzo Marquis yes
terday described President Kruger as
wavering, but demanding a guarantee
that he shall not be exed to st. Helena
The fighting burghers still continue to
desert and the total collapse of the Boer
military organization is not far off Ben
net Burleigh wiring from Lord Roberts
headquarters a Vereening on Sunday,
says:
I doubt if President Kruger can mus
ter 1900 men, as many of the burghers
nave gone to their homes
The stauncher Beers are sending their
families, with wagons and stores to the
Aoutpansberg district.
VIII They Defend Pretoria.
Whether Pretoria will be defended is un-
certain, although a Pretoria message.
GATED Sunday pictures the work of de-
lending the capital as going on with
leVerish activity"
Pretoria is situated in a wilderness OF
Ropes and ranges, and is provided with
detenses that require at least 10000 men to
man them properly There may st'll he
one hard nut for the British TO crack.
Ihe last message out of Pretoria is the
following. dated May 2s, and censored by
the Boer government:
hrause, acting as special commandant
az johannesburg has issued a circular 10
the officials concerned, warning them. of
'ne necessity of controlling the foreign
eleinent In the town and directing them 10
i,s resist all attempts to destroy property or
hie meeting force by force"
The Netherlands Railway Company yes
Ierday notified the authorities at Lorenzo
marques that they must decline TO accept
goods for delivery at johannesburg
johannesburg kilograms are still accepted,
SUBJECT to stoppage at Pretoria.
Demonstration in London.
The news that Lord Roberts was prac-
ucally master of johannesburg was re-
celVed In London with noisy enthusiasm.
A procession of students marched through
the West End cheering and singing. The
announcement at the various places of
amusement was followed by singing of
me national anthem and cheers for
"Bohs"
Sir Redvers Butler and the Beers had
an artillery duel all day yesterday with
out marked result. The equilibrium in
Natal seems still maintained On Sun
day the British killed two Beers and cap
tured ten near Muller's pass.
While the townspeople at Fleetwood
we're cheering Lord Roberts announce
ment the German crew of the Henrietta
cneered President Kruger Several coa,-