The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1900-06-16
ROBERTsAGAINsT GEU.BOTHA
BoERs WERE Eor DEFEATED.


London, june 14.r-Lond Roberts line
Of Communication has been practically re-
stored BY a complete victory gained
by Generals Methnen and Kitchener
over General Dewet The Beer camp was
captured and the burghers, it is added,
were scattered in all diFections.
Lord Roberts has fought batGie with
General Botha at the end 81 which, though
the British gained considerable ground,
the Beers were not beaten. All Is quiet
at Pretoria and johannesburg.
London, June l4--Aftsr weeks silence
Lord Roberts has been heard from, his
line Of communication having Deen prae-
tieaily restored by means Of 4 complete
victory gained by Generals Methuen and
kitchener over General Dewet at Rhenos-
ter river yesterday.
Lord Roberts, on being notified of the
cutting Of his line Of communication, sent
General Kitchener in all haste to join
General Methuen.
june II Roberts attacked General Botha
who was in strong force Is miles south
east Of Pretoria. After strenuous opposi-
tiOn the Brush forces gained considerable
ground, but General Botha, when Roberts
left the field, was still undeieated.
Roberta Report.
A dispatch forwarded TO the war office
by Major General Knox from Kroonstad
presumably sent there by messenger, reads
Ms follows;
Pretoria, June I4.-Pretoria and Jo-
hannesburg are perfectly quiet. After
suTendering the city General BothA retired
to a place about Is miles east of the Mid
dleburg road. lie had small force, but
during the last few days his numbers have
increased. and his being so near town has
kept up the excitement in the country,
preventing burghers from laying down
their arms and interfering with the colIee-
ton Of supplies.
III therefore became necessary 10 at
tack him. This did yesterday. He had
strong position, practically unasssilable
in front, which enabled him to place the
main portion Of his troops on his TANKS,
which he knew were his Vulnerable parts
"0n hearing that the Free Staters had
taken advantage Of our crossing the NAal
TO interrupt our lines Of communication,
sent Kitchener with such troops as could
then spare, TO Vredefort, with orders TO
push south and communicate with Meth
uen in the vicinity Of Heilbron. also
dispatched a special messenger 10 Methuen
instructing him TO push on at all speed
to the main line Of the railway.
These two officers met at NredeIort
road station on the evening Of June no.
They marched yesterday to Rhenoster riv-
eI, where Methuen gained a complete vic
tory over Dewet and took Possession of
his camp and scattered his troops in all di-
rectionk- He and Kitchener marched TO-
day toward KrOonstsd.
Her mAjesty's government need have
no apprehension as 20 the security of the
army in South Africa. The enemy gained
a slight success, which was unfortunate,
but which will be remedied very shortly.
and it will not take long to repair the
damage done to the railway, as these diver
sions are all in existence
Il am now able to hold the line between
this and RhenOster in strength. Meihuen
viii arrange to guard it onward as be ad-
vances. Hunter should be at Poatchef-
stroOm today. He will then move on 10
johannesburg.
I'VE have communicated with Butler,
who will, no doubt, soon make the pres
ence Of his force in the field felt.
Our losses yesterday were not, trust,
serious, but deplOre the death of that
gallant soldier, the earl OF Airlie. The 9TH
er casualties reported as ye; are:
Seventeenth LAneers-MajOr Hon. Lion.
d Forte, Esq, and Lieutenant Hon. Z.
Cavendish, both killed"
General Knox adds that kroonstad is
quiet and safe.
Roberts dispatch is regarded as emf
nently satisfactory. 1t ends the period of
suspense caused by the cutting OF his line
Of communication and indicates what a
strong grip he has on the situation.