Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-05-17

London. May 15.-"The war is prac-
tically over" says the Daily Chroni-
cles kroonstad correspondent, and, in
less definite terms, this is the view TO
De gathered from all the correspond
ents. They picture the Beers as most
~ demOralized ana d~isheartened by
Lord Roberts unexpected rapid adj
vance and by his facile turning of the
carefully prepared positions Of the
boers. Lord Roberts has entered
hroonstad. President Steyn and the
orange Free State government having
ned 10 Lindsey, some sixty or seventy
miles TO the east. and the Boer army
retiring to the Vaal river. The news
OF the capture OF KrOonstad was re-
celVed at the war office Saturday in n
dispatch from Lord Roberts. There
was practically no fighting, and there
are Few details to give respecting the
Occupation of Kroonstad.
The correspondent of the Daily Tele-
graph says: The union jack was
holsted in the market place by Mrs.
Lockhead, the American wife of a
Scotchman. Most of the horses of the
Beers are in a wretched condition. but
President Kruger declares he will con-
tinue the war"
1t appears that the Beers at Kroon-
stad had been reinforced by 5000 men
from, Metal last Friday. and that alto
gether 10000 men. with twenty guns,
trekked from Kroonstad on the ap-
proach Of Lord Roberts. The Beers
made an Intellectual stand at Bosch
rand and had elaborate intrenchments
in front of Kroonstad. which offered
great facilities for a e a guard action.
Their only anxiety. however, appears
to have been to get away safely with
all their guns and conveys, which
again they have successfully accom-
plished. The few stores they were
unable to carry they burned. PreSi-
dent Steyn is represented as having
been frantic with rage and as having
kicked and cuffed the burghers after
vainly imploTing them to continue the
fight. Lord Roberts, after a march,
which is regarded as worthy of being
ranked with
His Famous March
TO Khandhar. has thus covered another
stage Of his campaign. a stage which,
CiillOuSh SdNtN0sA u III liliOhN II
mistakes and misfGrtunes which char
acterized the e4rlier stages. leaves the
Boer forces quite intact, not havin.:
lost a gun and having lost very few
men. Experiences have taught the
correspondents to be chary of reports
of Boer decentralization. The Times
correspondent says signs point to a
Boer military breakdown. but after
experience we cannot accept the re-
ports of decentralization without re-
serve. The game of war must be
played out TO the end"
LiEdley, the new Free State capital,
is f~orty-five miles southeast of kroon-
stad, halfway to Bethlehem. anw was
probably selected as a ccnverient rem
desvous of the commanders now re-
firing before Gen. Brabant and Gen.
Rumble in the Thaba N'Chu district.
Brabant has occupied Hoepelook, half
way on the road from Thaba N'Chu
to Ladybrand. There is not a word
Of news regarding Gen. Buffers move
ments or from the far western side.
Nothing is known of the progress OF
the Mafeking relief column.
All Must Assist I'm the Defense.
LONDON MAY Ia. lue l%OuEtltHO
MARQUES correspondent of the Times,
~teIegraphing Sunday, says: 1T is rn-
mored that the Transyaal raad in Sc
cret session has resolved to order all
residents. irrespective of nationality,
10 assist in the defense Of the republic,
in accordance with the terms OF the
amended military laws. The Beers
recognize that they are now in the last
extremity and all sorts and conditions
of men are being Communicated. The
merchants here have protested against
the stoppage Of a consignment OF cloth
ing and corned beef. of which the lat
ter was purchased in America. United
States Consul Stanley Hollis, whose
sympathies are notorious. is said TO
have demonstrated against whot he
called interference with American
trade
Heavy Fighting in Natal.
London, May 15.-The Standard pub
fishes the following from Durham,
dated Sunday: There are persis-
tent ruulors here Of heavy fighting in
Natal. A Red Cross train left last
night for the north.