The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1900-06-14
ROBERTS LONG MESSAGE.

Tells of Boer Activity but Is Confident
of Ultimate Success.
LONDON, June "A lengthy dis.
patch forwarded to the war office by
Major General Knox, from Kroonstad,
reads as follows:
"Kroonstad, June lave have been
requested to forward you from Lord
Roberts, the following dispatch from
the Pretoria residency:
Pretoria, June 12.-Pretoria and
Johannesburg are perfectly quiet.
LATTER surrendering the city Botha
retired to a place about Is miles east
on the Middleburg road He had
small force at first, but, during the last
few days, his numbers increased, and
his being SO near the town kept up the
excitement i'll the country and inter-
fered with the collection of supplies.
1t therefore became necessary to attack
him. This did yesterday. He held a
very strong position, practically unas-
sallable in front, which enabled him to
place the main portion of his troops on
his tanks, which he knew from former
experience were his vulnerable parts.
l sent French with Porter's and Dix
On's cavalry brigades and Hutton's
mounted infantry around by our left,
and Ian Hamilton, with Broadwood
and Gordons cavalry brigade, Ridley's
mounted infantry and Bruce Hamil-
tons infantry brigade, round by our
right. Both columns
Met With Great Opposition.
At about in the afternoon I saw two
of Hamilton's infantry battalions adj
vancing to what appeared to be the key
Of the enemy's defense, on their left
flank. This was almost gained before
dark. and ordered the force to biy.
ouac on the ground they had won.
'Pole-Carew, with his division, &C.
cupied our center. AS explained, he
could not attack, but he gradually ad
vanced SO as to support Ian Hamilton
and when l left the field he was on the
line held by the enemy's outposts in
the morning.
. L hurried back to get news of Me-
thuen's movement. On hearing that
the Free Skaters had taken advantage
OF our crossing the Vaal to interrupt
our communication ordered Kitchener.
with such troops as I could spare, to
Nredetort with orders to push south
and communicate with Methuen. who
knew, had very compact force in the
vicinity Of Heilbron. also dispatched
special messenger to Methuen, in
structlng him to push on at all speed to
the main line of railway. These two
officers met at Vredefort road station in
the evening Of June 10. They marched
yesterday to Rhenoster river where
Methuen
Gained Complete Victory
over Dewet, and took possession of his
camp and scattered his troops in all d.
rections. He and Kitchener marched
today toward Kroonstad.
"'Her majesty's government need
have no apprehension as to the security
OF the army in South Africa The en-
envy gained slight success, which was
unfortunate, but which will be rem
edied very shortly, and it will not take
long to repair the damage done to the
railroad. I am now able to hold the
line between this and Rhenoster in
strength. Methuen will arrange to
guard it onward as he advances.
Hunter should be at Potchefstroom
today. He will then move to Johannes.
burg.
1--WE have communicated with
Butler, who will, no doubt, soon make
the presence Of his force in the field
felt.
"'Our losses yesterday were not,
trust, serious, but deplore the death of
that gallant soldier, the Earl Of Airlie.
The only other casualties reported as
yet are: Seventeenth Lancers, Major
the Hon. Lionel Fortescue and Lieuten-
ant the Hon. @. Cavendish, both
killed."
General Knox adds that Kroonstad is
quite safe.