Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-05-18
KR00NSTAD HAS FALLEN.
Lord Roberts Has Moved His Army
with Great Celebrity.
Beers Have Fallen Back Into south
African Republic---Heported Rupture
Between Burghers OF Free State and
the TrausyRaI

Between Burghers OF Free State and
the TrausvaaI.
Gen. Roberts telegraphed Saturday tc
the British war office that he had entered
Kroonstad, the second capital of the Or.
ange Free State, where the Beers were ex-
pected TO make resistance. Lord Roberts
added; President Steyn fled last evening,
after family endeavoring to persuade the
burghers to continue opposing us. The
Transvaalers seid they would no longer
fight on Orange Free State SOIL and made
off for the Vaal river Free Staters ac-
cused the Transvaalers of having made
use of them and then deserving. Many of
the Free Staters have gone TO their homes
There has been no real resistance to the
British advance since the army started
from Bloc nfonteiu. The long British line
outilanked the Beers at all times. The
only actions reported during the week re-
suited from the efforts of the rear guard to
delay the advance until the retreat could
be made good, and in this they have been
successful partly, no doubt, because the
British are more cautious than at the be-
ginning of the war, and are trying to
avoid again falling into a Boer trap
Lord Roberts has moved his army with
great celebrity, but it seems probable that
days, at least TO repair the road behind
him, bring up supplies and possibly reit
some Of his mounted troops. 1t is said
that the next possible line of defence for
the Beers is the Naal river, which forms
the boundary between the Orange Free
State and the South African Republic.
If, as reported, rupture has occurred
between the burghers of the Free State
and those of the Transvaal, the opposition
may collapse and Lord Roberts be given as
free path to Pretoria as he had to kroon
stad The story is that the Transvaal
burghers have refused to do any more
lighting in the Free State, reserving them
selves for the defence of their own homes,
and that this is the reason for the retreat
OF the Beers from their recent lines of de-
fence without giving battle. The Free
Staters, it is said, resenting the desertion
of the comrades, will refuse to cross the
Transvaal border, in which case the posi-
BILE opposition to the advance of Lord Rob
erts will be greatly diminished.
Lord Roberts has had the possibility of
an uprising in his rear in his mind at all
times and has left strong guards all along
his line of communications. but his diff
culties increase as he advances, and we
should not be surprised at any time 10 hear
of Boer raid south of Kroonstad. intend
ed if nothing more, TO bring his army TO a
halt. 1t is doubtful, however, whether
such move would be even temporarily
successful The British are in too strong
force, and the Beers are too weak to per
mt such diversions on the part of the
smaller army
If the reports of Boer dissensions are
true the war has almost reached a crisis.
4 "a I Il I -.
vanced from Boemfontein TO Kroonstad he
could get to Pretoria in 10 or II DAYS, not
allowing any time for rest. IL is unlikely,
however, that the resistance of the Beers
will wholly collapse, especially if they
should find in their retreat a strong de
fensive position. They cannot fight on the
plains, for the British army overlaps them
on both TANKS, and their only hope lies in
some position which will give them natural
protection TO their TANKS. Whether the
Naal river will serve their purpose re-
mains to be seen; if not, then the contin-
uance OF the retreat to the defeuces Of Pre-
tora seems to be inevitable.
Special advices from Pretoria state that
President krugers peace envoy, now due
in the United States, is empowered to ask
the Onlted States to assume IA protectorate
over the Boer Republics with view to
their annexation to the country.
Gen. Buffers troops have occupied Dun
dee, north Of the Biggarsberg range. from
which place Gen. Whites forces retreated
so hastily on Oct. -, 1899, that they were
obliged to leave their wounded. including
the brave Gen. Symons, who was fatally
wounded at Taana Hill, in the hands Of
the Beers. BY the capture of Dundee the
strong position of the enemy in the Biggars-
berg has been emptied and the British com
mand the Nryheid- Utrecht road from
which, were Buffers troops and transport
mobile enough, he might strike to the north
east, then northwest and turn the
Beers out of Laipgs Mex This would be
most difficult undertaking and could only
succeed in case the Beers chose to figdt, if
Butler had a great force at his command.
The news of the capture of Glencoe,
which is east of Dundee, came in the fol-
lowing despatch from Gen. Butler Wednes-
day; We occupied Glencoe yesterday. The
Iransvaalers have now evacuated their
Blggarsburg positions and the Free Staters
on the Drankensbergs are much reduced in
numbers. The Carolina, Liedenburg and
Pretoria commands treked north with II
guns and were entrained at Glencoe. The
last train and the ambulances left yester-
day morning. This result is largely due
to the excellent work of the Fifth division
in the last few days. Trains are now run
ming as far as Vessels Mex station, half
way between Ladysmith and Dundee.
Other dispatches state that the entire
Boer force in Natal does not exceed 1000
men. If this be true then the task of seiz-
ing the railroad almost to Laing's Mex
would not appear a difficult task.
General Lord Roberts reports from
Kroonstadt; 1.-TWO officers and six men of
the Prince Alfred Guards while foraging
Tuesday were fired on by party of Beers
who were hiding in farm house on which
flag of truce was flying. Two of the men
were killed and one officer wounded, and
one other officer and two men captured.
The owner of the farm says that the Beers
threatened to kill him when he protested
against the abuse of the white flag.
despatch from Cape Town SAYS that
the Boer delegates have advised the Trans
walters to surrender if defeated at the
Vaal. This remarkable announcement is
vouched for on good authority and evident
ly obtains more credence in Cape Town
Than would a mere rumor.