Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-06-01


London, June 1.--Late dispatches from
lord Roberts shed n somewhat different
i:ght on the military situation from what
was indicated in earlier reports. Pre-
teria is not yet in the hands of the Brit
ish. though there l., no reason to doubt
the authenticity of the report that lresl.
lent Kruger has evacuated the place and
that the municipality is ready to surren-
der when confronted by superior num-
bers.
The final movement on the Transvnal
capital has apparently not commenced
All Roberts dispositions of troops ap-
pear to apply to Johannesburg, and
though the British seem certain to reach
Pretoria within day or so, they will not
oct upy it without fighting if the opposi-
tion of the Beers around Johannesburg
is any criterion.
Z General French's movement appears
..,ot SO much an immediate advance on
IRE oria as part of plan to surround
s.s.is ,nnesburg, from which he was only
x f,,y miles distant. Lord Roberts him
ss,.;. il at Blandsfontein Junction. His
fS,s+as will ne placed TO the south, west
~ 4. north o. johannesburg. rb ~ units
,.kil probably he reconccntlui,i' Wiie
General French advances from the ad
vantageous position he already occupies.
The main army is converging toward
the railroad, following closely on his
heels.
General Brabant's loss of 10 men is a
striking evidence that the annexation Of
the Free State by no means implies its
pacifcation.
A Cape Town dispatch says:
THE British have occupied Hcide-
burg, ON the railroad connecting Johan-
nesburg with the Transvaal frontier
town of Volksrust, on the Natal frontier
near Laingsnek."
dispatch from Gormiston, in the
Transvaal, dated May 30. says:
Johannesburg is practically in British
possession. The mines are uninjured.
Mine engines. a coal train and great
quantity of rolling stock were captured.
The remnants of the Beers rear guard
remained behind and fought in the
streets Of Germiston, but they were
easily cleared by the grcnadiers.'
The Westminster Gazette says it is ru.
mored in a quarter likely to be well in
formed that President Kruger has
been captured by the British six miles
beyond PRETORIA
JOhannesburE'x Surrender.
The war office has received the follow
ing dispatch from Lord Roberts, under
date of Gcrmiston, May 30:
"In answer to a flag of truce | sent to
Johannesburg this morning the comman-
dant came to see me. He begged me to
defer entering the town for "a hours, as
there were many armed burghers still in
side. agreed to this. as l am most any-
ious to avert the possibility Of anything
like disturbance inside the town and as
bodies of the enemy are still holding the
hills in the immediate ncighborhood, from.
which they will have to be cleared oft
beforehand.
'Rundlc reports that he attacked a
large party of Beers near Senekal Oh
May 2S. He said his casualties were not
heavy.
"Brabant reports that on May 2S two
of his patrols, consisting of = officers ant!
40 men, were cut off by the enemy and
taken prisoners"
The war Office has received from Lord
Roberts dispatch dated Germiston, May
80, saying:
'"rhe brunt of the fighting yesterday
fell upon Ian Hamiton's column. l have
sent him, as already mentioned, to work
around to the west of Johannesburg III
support of French's cavalry, which was
directed to go north near the road lead
ing to Pretoria. | have not heard from
French vet, but Hamilton in report
which has just reached me states that at
about o'clock in the afternoon he found
his way blocked by the enemy strongly
posted on some kOpjes and ridges three
miles south of the Rand. They had two
heavy guns and several field guns and
pompoms. Hamilton forthwith attacked.
'"The right was led by the Gordona
who after capturing one extremity of the
ridge, wheeled around and worked along
it until after dark, clearing it of the enc
my, who fought most obstinately. The
One Hundred and Fourth led on the 9th
er flank and would not be denied. The
chief share in the action, as in the cas-
ualties, fell to the Gordons, whose gal
liant advance excited the admiration OF
all.
Hamilton is now at Florida, due west
of johannesburg. and French is few
miles farther to the northeast. The Cor.
dons, the cavalry, the mountedGnfantry
and the Seventh division are holding the
heights of the town. The Eleventh divi'
sion, with Batteries ii and G and the
heavy artillery, are south of Johannes
burg.
"Humilton speaks in high terms OF
praise Of the manner in which Bruce
Hamilton aud Colonel Spens of this
Shropshire light infantry handled Their
men under Smith Dorren's direction"