The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-06-06
BOER GENERALS SAY
CAN HOLD PRETORIA
And There Seems to be Re.
vival of Fighting Spirit.
TOWN PROBABLY INVESTED

official intelligence regarding wha, is
transpiriug outside Pretoria there is
little or nothing today. Lord Rob
erts is silent Nevertheless, by
plecing together items from various
correspondents, it would seem that
Lord Roberts immediate army is all
employed north of johannesburg.
except one brigade. which is at
Johannesburg, and that six columns
ere forging on Pretoria
An undated news agency message
from Pretoria, via Lorenzo Marques,
June 4, says: pretoria is now
invested by the British No resist
ance will be offered. The city will
be surrendered by the burgomas,er
as soon as formal demand is made"
Ibis message purports to come in
cipher. President Kruger commands
the telegraph eastward from Pretoria,
and telegraphic news from Pretoria
to Lorenzo Marques has ceased, but
the messengers cf newspaper cores
pondenents continue to pass to and
fro on the railway. The latest to
arrive at Lorenzo Marques brings
events at the Boer capital down to a
late hour Friday night. At that time,
according to this information, the
military leaders bad quite recovered
from the panic and had determined
to defend the town One message.
which is dated June l, says:
"Pretoria is full of strange
burghers. but most of the comman
does are laagered outside. A great
war council Of generals has Just con.
cluded its deliberations The decis.
ION as to the future military course
has not been made known. Louis
botha and Delarey eat in the coun
Gil"
Another dispatch brought to Lo
renzo Marques by messenger and
dated at Pretoria. Friday at midnight,
says:
1.-The war council assumes the
powers of the government. Its mem
bers declare that the capital may
still be successfully defended One
commander declared with the heIp
of God. the hour will still come when
Great Britain will acknowledge the
independence of the two republics.
A tremendous chsnge will yet come
over the situation
"Gen Delarey said that Pretoria
would be defended to the utmost,
adding There is every chance that
we will yet beat the enemy out of the
country
president Kruger is somewhere
to the eastward, but ia in constau,
wire communication with the leaders
here There is however, a deer
feeling of anger against him on &C
count of what is now called bis un
necessary flight and because he and
the officials took all the gold and lef,
their subordinates unpaid. The latest
phase of public opinion is a marvel
Gus revival of courage
From Lorenzo Marques comes 9
dispatch. dated June 4, saying Il,
is known that some great British
movement is in progress outside
Pretoria The mysterious movements
of President Kruger's secretary and
physician. particularly their secret
visit 10 the Dutch warship Friesland
which is 10 the harbor here, has
aroused suspicious that importan,
personages are expected"
News from the minor theatres OF
hostilities is less cryptic The Boer
operations to break Lord Roberts
communications have been complete
ly bsffled, and the Boer forces are in
danger of being surrounded by the
British at Ficksburg. Senegal, He'll
bron and LindIey. Gen Rundle, ip-
stead of throwing himself against the
Beers intrenched at Bedulphberg
moved toward Ficksburg and estab
lished communication with General
Brabant The Beers marched paral
lei with Rundle, intending to seize q
strong position on the Ficksburg
road. but Gen Rumble got there first
The fifteen hundred Beers who were
in this movement are now reported to
be going elsewhere The cores
pondents with Gen Rundle continue
to point out the hardness of the fight
of last Tuesday, but they believe
that it will be last real resistance.
Col Lloyd was three wounded
Drummer Hanes. while aiding Col
Lloyd, was hit in the hand. which
was resting near the colonel's heart
Gen Buffers guns throw q shell:or
two toward the Boer positions 10
front of him occasionally
Gen Baden. Powell is still at Mafe.
king. General Hunters column ia
marching unopposed in the Transv aal