The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-03-17
THE ADVANCE ON PRETORIA
ROBERTS WILL SHORTLY BE IN
POSITION TO BEGIN III.

He Reports That BIoemfontein Is Now
tion With Cape Town-Hundreds of
Burghers Have Expressed Their In
tention TO surrender-One Force of
of His Proclamation.
London, March 17-4.20 a. m-With
the railway communication to the Cape
intact Lord Roberts will in a very few
days be in position to begin the ad-
vance on Pretoria. His deep political
intuition, combined with his bold STRAIT
egy, is having the result desired in the
southern sections of the Orange Free
States, which are rapidly calming down.
The war office at midnight issued the
following from Lord Roberts:
"Bloemfontein, Friday, March 16.-
General Clement crossed the Orange
river yesterday. Repairs to the railway
bridge at Norval's Pont have commence
ed, and it will shortly be ready for traf-
fic.
General Pole-Carew telegraphs his
arrival at Springfontein at p. m., so
that Bloemfontein is now practically in
rail communication with Cape Town.
MY proclamation is already having
an excellent effect. Several hundred
burghers have expressed their intention
to surrender their arms and return to
their occupation.
THE resident commissioner of Basu-
taland reports that eight hundred Beers
lately arrived from Bloemfontein and
thaa a further contingent from Aliwal
North was only waiting to know the
terms of my proclamation to surrender.
They had refused to attend council at
Kroonstadt, to which President Steyn
: had summoned them"
Mafeking is now the only point of
anxiety and, as it is known that force
has left Kimberley, it's relief may be
announced before many days pass. The
efficiency of the relieving column is
heightened by the fact that it is party
composed of regulars.
In the lobbies of parliament last eve
ming it was rumored that Lord Roberts
is about to issue a proclamation an
nouncing that the former system of
government in the Orange Free State
is abolished and promising Free Staters
who Immediately surrender due consid-
Grafton.
1t is understood that all the conti-
mental powers, with one exception, un-
compromisingly refused to intervene.
The exception was Russia, whose reply
was couched in less firm language, al
though like the others, she declined to
interfere. 1t is said that the pope was
also appealed to but that he declined
to do anything beyond writing a letter
to the queen, appealing to her to stop
the further effusion of blood. DR.. Leyds'
efforts with King Leopold were quite
futile. The possibility of the destruc-
tion of Johannesburg is still discussed
here, but it is believed that the French
and German shareholders would offer
a strong protest.
The last advices respecting the sur
render of BIoemfonten show that the
approach of the British caused stam-
pede. Thirteen trains, each composed
of forty cars, and all crammed with
Beers, hurried northward just before
the line was cut Mr.. Steyn would have
been compelled to surrender, but he
pretended that he was going to visit
one of the outposts and at midnight |
took a carriage which was waiting for
him outside the town and thus escaped. |
The Beers got the bulk of their wagons
and military stores away.
General Hector Macdonalds wound
has nearly healed. He accompanied the T
Brigade to Bloemfontein. Lord Roberts
comments upon the earlier operations .
of the war in the London Gazette and
his absolute silence respecting Lord |
Methuen's dispatch are regarded as very
significant. The Times observes that
this silence is perhaps more significant
than words, especially when connected
with the fact that Lord Methuen no
longer takes any prominent part in the
campaign.