The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-13
METHUEN WINS.
Defeats Gen. Dewet and Seat
ters His Forces.
He and Kitchener Capture the
Burgher Camp.
FIGHT DRAWN BATTLE
Forces of Lord Roberts and Gen.
BOtha Meet in Conflict.
British Reported to Have Gained
Considerable Ground.
FIGHT DRAWN BATTLE

London, June 13.-Lord Roberts line
of communications has been practically
restored by a complete victory gained
by Generals Methuen and Kitchener
over Gen. Dewet yesterday. The Boer
camp was captured and the burghers.
it is added were scattered in all direc-
tions
ROBERTS AND BOTHA FIGHT.
London June 13.-Lord Roberts has
fought a battle with Gen. Botha at the
end of which though the British gained
considerable ground. the Beers were not
beaten. All is quiet at Pretoria and
johannesburg
ROBERTS OFFICIAL REPORT.
London, June 13,-After a weeks
silence Lord Roberts has been heard
from, his line of communication having
been practically restored by means of
| complete victory gained by Generals
Metnuen and Kitchener over De Wet
at the Rhenoster river yesterday, June
| II. The Boer camp was captured and
! the burghers, it is added, were scat
| tered in all directions.
Lord Roberts, on being notified of
| the cutting of his line of communica-
| tions, sent General Kitchener in all
| haste to join General Methuen June
| II Lord Roberts attacked General
/ Botha, who was in strong force fifteen
| miles southeast of Pretoria After
strenuous opposition the British forces
gained considerable ground, but Gen
| eral Botha when Lord Roberts left the
| field was still undefeated.
All is quiet at Pretoria and Johannes
burg, and Lord Roberts says the gov
| ernment need have no apprehension
about the security of the army in South
Africa, as it will not take long to rem
edy the reVerSeS and repair the railroad
A 6iSn9foh f1ea1 f0 no
! war office by Major General Knox from
| KrOonstad presumably sent there by
messenger, reads as follows:
| '.KrOOnstad, June 1--we have been
requested to forward you from Lord
! Roberts the following dispatch from
the Pretoria residency, at S:08 a. M to-
day:
johannesburg are perfectly quiet and
several of the inha bitants have ex-
pressed gratitude for the peace and or
der which prevail.
After surrounding the city Botha
retired to a place about fifteen miles
east on the Middleburg road. He had
a small force at first, but during the
last few days his numbers increased.
and his being so near the town kept
up the excitement in the country, pre-
vented the burghers from laying down
their arms and interfered with the col
lection of supplies 1t therefore became
necessary to attack him. This l did
tion practically unassailable in front,
which enabled him to place the main
portion of his troops on his fianks,
which he knew from former experience
were his vulnerable parts. 1 sent
| French with POrter's and Dixon'S cav
| airy brigades and Hutton's mounted in
/ fantry round by our left and Ian Ham
ilton, with Broadwood and Gordons
| cavalry brigade, Ridley's mounted in
| fantry and Bruce HamiltonS infantry
brigade round by our right. Both col
umns met with great opposition. AT
about in the afternoon 1 saw two OF
Hamilton's infantry battaions advanc-
ing to what appeared to be the key OF
| the enemy's defense, on their left flank
This was almost gained before dark
and I ordered the force to bivouac on
the ground they had Won
. Pole Carew, with his division, oc-
cupied our center.
AS I have explained, he could not
attack, but he gradually advanced so as
to support Ian Hamilton, and when
left the field he was on the line held BY
t | the enemy's outposts in the morning.
+ '' I hurried back to get news of Me
thuens movement. On hearing that tht
Free Staters had taken advantage o.
} | our crossing the Vaal to interrupt Oul
line of communication. / sent Kitchen
: | er with such troops as I could theI
+ | snare to Vredefort with orders to puSI
| south and communicate with Methuen
who knew had a very compact force IL
the vicinity of Heilbron. I also dis
. | patched a special messenger to MethueI
| instructing him to push on al all speeC
to the main line of railway. These twt
| officers met at VredefOrt road station il
the evening of June 10. They marched
yesterday to Rhenoster river wher
| Methuen gained a complete victory owe
Dewet and took possession of his CAM
and scattered his troops in all direc
tions. He and Kitchener marched to
day towards Kroonstad.
Her majeSty'S government nee,
o of the army in South Africa. The enem
U gained a slight success which was un
fortunate, but which will be remedies
very shortly, and it will not take long [
= repair the damage done to the railway
r As these diversions are all in existence
= am now able to hold the line betWee
= this and Rhenoster in strength. .AIethue
will arrange to guard it onward as h
= advances.
8 Hunter should be at Poatchefs
troom today. He will then move o
johannesburg
/" We have communicated with Rulle
who will no doubt, soon make the pres
u ence of his force in the field felt.
:. Our losses yesterday were 1 trus
: not serious but the death of that gallar
> | soldier, the Earl of Aisle. The only 9th
= enteenth Lancers, Major The Hon. L
onel Fortescue and Lieut.. The Hon. {
> Cavendish, both killed "
:, Gen Knox adds that Kroonstad =
> quite safe.
Il Lord Roberts dispatch is regarded a
= eminently satisfactory. 1t ends a pt
~ riod of suspense caused by the cuttin
l. of his line of communicate and ind
e Gates what a strong grip he has c
the situation
le The result of the battle between Lo1
Roberts forces and those of Gener
Botha is eagerly awaited here, but it
believed the Roer commander will on
ir complete his retirement, which
ID seems to have already commence