The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-06-21
Botha Fights an AII-Oay Battle
Near Pretoria.
HELD 4 STRONG POSITION.
Roberts Line of Communication Re
stored After the Defeat Of B0er
Forces on the RhenOster River.

i>h gained considerable ground, the
Beers were not beaten.
After "a week ; silence, Lord Roberts
has been heard from, his line of com
InunicatiOn having been practically
restored by means of "a complete vie
tory gained by Gems Methuen and
Kitchener over Gen. De Wet at the
Rhenoster river Yesterday, June Il.
The Boer camp was captured and the
burghers scattered.
Lord Roberts. on being notified OF
the cutting OF his line OF cOmmunica-
ton. sent Gen. Kitchener in all haste
to Join Gen. Methuen.
June II Lord Roberts attacked
Gen. Botha, who was in strong force
Il miles southeast of Pretoria. Al
ter strenuous opposition the British
troops gained considerable ground
but Gen. Botha, when Lord Roberts
left the field, was still indicated
All is quiet at Pretoria and johann
nesburg, and Lord Roberts saws the
government need have no apprehen-
sion about the security OF the army
III South Africa, as it will not take
long to remedy the reverses and re-
pair the railroads.
4 lengthy dispatch forwarded to
the war office from Lord Roberts
says:
Pretoria, June II Pretoria and
Johannesburg are perfectly quiet
and several of the inhabitants have
expressed gratitude for the peace and
order which prevail
After surrendering the city BOtha
retired to place about l ) miles east
on the Middleburg road He had a
small force at first, but during the
last few days his numbers increased. !
ana his being so near the town kept |
mp the excitement in the country. |
prevented the burghers from having |
dawn their arms and interferred with |
the collection of supplies 1t there
tore became necessary TO attack him |
This | did yesterday He held very |
strong position, practically unas-
sailable in front, which enabled him
TO place the main portion of his
troops on his TANKS, which he knew
from former experiences We're his vul-
nerable parts. | sent French with
Porter 5 and Dixon scavalry brigades
and Hutton's mounted infantry
round by our left and Ian Hamilton.
with Broadwood and Gordon's cav
airy brigade, Ridley's mounted in
fantry and Bruce I1amilton's infantry
brigade round by our right. Both
columns met with great resistance.
At about 3 in the afternoon | saw
two OF Hamilton's infantry battal-
hons advancing to what appeared to
be the Key OF the enemy's defense, on
their left flank. This was almost
gained before dark, and ordered the I
force to bivouac on the ground they i
had won. Y
"Pole-Carew, with his division. oc- 5
cupied our center. e
AS | have explained he could not c
attack, but he gradually advanced a
SO as to support Ian Hamilton, and
when left the field he was on the
line held by the enemy's outposts in p
the morning.
Il hurried back to get news of Me- 81
thuen movement. On hearing that q
the Free Staters have taken adyant- -
age OF our crossing the Naal to inter n
rupt our line of communication.
sent Kitchener with such troops as | 4
could then spare to Yer (Vredeforrl :,
WITH orders to push south and com ,
with Methuen, who. knew RI
had very compact force in the Vi .
snlty OF Hebron. also dispatched Is
special messenger to Methuen. in n
'trueung him to push on at all speed q,
TO the mann line of the railway. These
."o orr1cers met at Nrefort Road N
STATION on the evening of June 10. Or
They marched yesterday to Rhenos- \,
Ter river, where Methuen gained a ,,
complete victory over DeWet, and II,
.ook possession OF his camp and -
scattered his troops in all directions
tie and Kitchener marched TODAY =,
oward kroonstad.
Her maiesty's government need r
AVE no apprehension as TO the - -,
urity OF the army in South Africa N,
The enemy gained a slight success y
which was unfortunate, but which i
Elil De remedied very shortly. and il ar
FIll not take long RI, rar,,;-