Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-31

Germistown, May Merchandising is
practically in British possession. The
mines are uninjured. Nine engines,
coal train and a great quantity of rolling
stock were captured. The remnants OF
the Boer guard remained and fought In
the streets of GermistoWn, but they We're
easily cleared by the grenadiers. The
troops have not yet occupied Johannes
burg.
General French is now at Glands
laagte The guards hold Elandgaate,
Elandfontein and Germistown. The
state entry into johannesburg will take
place tomorrow.
The Beers have gone to Pretoria. The
railroad from here to the Vaal hiver is
uninjured.
London, May 31.-Lord Roberts latest
dispatches shed a somewhat different
light upon the military situation. Be-
fore they were received celebrations
We're organized in the country towns in
honor of the fall of Pretoria. In Ches-
ter public holiday was declared, while
at Dover. Portsmouth and many other
places in the provinces flags were flown
and rejoicings We're general. Pretoria,
however, is not yet in the hands of the
British, though there Is no reason to
doubt the authenticity of the report that
Kruger has vacated the place and that
i the municipality is ready to surrender
when confronted by superior numbers.
At. 8 O'Clock last night the final forward
movement on the TransvaaN capital had
apparently not commenced.
All of Roberts disposition of troops ap-
pear to apply to johannesburg, and
! though the British seem certain to reach
| Pretoria within a day or SO, they will
not occupy 1T without fighting If the op-
position of the Beers around Johannes
burg Is any criterion. General French's
movement appears not so much an i'm
mediate advance on Pretoria as part of
the plan to surround johannesburg.
from which place last night he was only
few miles distant. Roberts himself is
at Elandsfontein Junction. His forces
will be placed to the south, west and
north of johannesburg, subsequent to
the surrender of the city. The Units will
probably be reconcentrated, while
French will advance from the advan-
| tageous position he already occupies.
The main army is converging towards
the railroad, following closely on his
heels.
| Supposing that johannesburg surrend-
| ers at noon today, Pretoria should be
reached by June 3, opposition or no op-
position. General Brabant's loss of 40
| men is striking evidence that the annex
! alton of the Free State by no means i'm
plies it's pacification.
So thoroughly is the country imbued
| with the belief that Pretoria has fallen
| that Joseph Chamberlain, secretary of
state for the colonies, speaking to-day at
| a meeting at the University of Birming-
ham proposed a message to the queen
| congratulatng her upon the capture of
Johannesburg and Pretoria, which was
sent to the afternoon papers. The after
| noon papers all acknowledge the prompt
| friendliness of the United States consul
l a Pretoria INSISTING nf
| a number of British officers to take COM
| mand of the British prisoners in order
to avoid disturbance among the latter.
Cape Town British have occupied Hell
delburg, on the railroad connecting Jo-
hannesburg with the Transvaal frontier
| town of Volksrust, on the Natal frontier,
near Laings Mex.