Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-03-16
HALF 4 ] WAY \ HOUSE
Bloemf ntein Regarded AS q New
Base For 0perati in the
Transvaal.
Opposition to the Entry Of the
British Army Was Very
Slight, 4.
Inhabitants Welcoming Troops.
Free State Capital Now at
Kroo onstadt.

PRETORIA, w Wednesday, March -
State Secretary Reitz this morning
posted the following nnouncement: B
esterday Bloemfo fontein was occu-
pied BY the British. after the burghers
had retired in a northern direction.
The seat Of the governnlen of the Free
State has been already transferred to
Kroonstadt.
LONDON, March l6. At precisely / 80
o'clock Tuesday afternoon, union Jack
specially made for this purpose by Lady
Roberts was hoisted over the presidency
at Boemfontein, amidst the acclama-
tions Of the command In chief s bat
taions, in which, curiously enough, the
Orange Free State b1rghers appear to
have Joined with remarkable hearth
ness.
The opposition to the entry Of the
British troops into the capital was in
significant. Beers were found occupy
ing q few hills south Of The place, bnt q
few shells drove them off, and at 10 in
the corning, some newspaper CORE
spondehts entering the town, found Mr..
Fraser and other officials and guided
them to where Lord Roberts stood, on
top of q hill, waiting for them. AS
spokesman, Mr.. Fraser asked protection
for life and property
And Surrendered the Keys. 3ss.
Lord Roberts, accom- panied by his staff,
rode at the head Of a cava1cade mile
long to the presidency, receiving an
ovation throug ghout the route culminat-
ing in as remarkable demonstrat at
the Market Square. Reaching the gov
ernment buildings. Lord Roberts took
possession Of the city in the name Of the
queen, and then repaired to the presi-
dency where the ceremony Of hoisting
the union jack ended forever, according
to universal opinion here, the Boer gov
ernment Of the Free State. zs
During his progress through the town
Lord Roberts stopped and ordered the
instant replacement Of goods which
were being looted from the artillery bar
racks by Kafirs, thus giving the popu-
lace an earnest assurance of the treat
ment they might expect from the VIC
tors. S;s sE 355 #f,S5
President Steyn fled to Kroonstadt
without replying to Lord Roberts de-
mand for his surrender, and the com
mande in-chief remarked, afterwards,
during the course Of conversation while
breakfasting at the farm Of President
Steyn's s brother, that the ex-president
sshad become nonenity.'' }#
The British troops, with the exception,
of those necessary to police the town,
remain outside. #5
The press dispatch giving most of the
above interesting "details also settle the
point raised about the cutting Of the
railroad telegraph north Of Bloemfon-
3tein, showing that it was pluoky act.
35 Major Hunt Weston Of the Royal
gineers, accom- panied by 10, men,
traversed the Boer lines and succeeded
in cutting the wires and blowing up the
tracks. II 81 4
emfontein is now regarded there
as q sort Of halfway house or base Of
operations for the advance On Pretoria.
Expect 4 period Of Quiet.
The military authorities here expect
q period Of quiet while Lord Roberts is
establishing railroad connection with
Noryal's Pont and Bethnlie, and giving
the men and horses the rest necessary
70 fit them for the severe struggles
which are believed to be still inevitable.
It seems likely that the next news Of
fghing may coIne from Natal. Gem
eral Warren division. which had
reached Durham has been ordered to re-
join General Butler, indicating that the
outfianking movement, q through the
neck Of zululand. referred TO Id these
dispatches March 10, is about to com
mence.
y is reported at Bloemf fontein that
General Joubert is at Brand fort, but
other reports locate him at Biggarsberg.