The age-herald., 1900-05-28
BOERS ARE DUBIOUS A Last Stand on the Cots Rand
 Mountains. WESTERN BORDER DEFENCELESS President Kruger, According to Dis patch, Has Issued Proclamation
 Asking Burghers ifThey De-
 sired to Continue War
WESTERN BORDER DEFENCELESS
Bulletin

Bulletin
 London, May 27.-Presdent Kruger, &C., cordng to a special dispatch from New castle, has issued a proclamation asking the Transvaal Burghers to notify him whether they desire to continue the fight or sue for peace
 London, May 2S (3:2O a. m.)-When Lord Roberts wrote his first dispatch on Transvaal territory yesterday, shortly be- fore o'clock in the afternoon, he was fifty one miles from Johannesburg and seventy seven from Pretoria His immensely su- perior forces had passed the Vaal river. their last great natural obstacle, at three points.
 The Vaal forms a curve of eighty miles from Parys in the West to Zand drift on the east The concave of the curve is toward the Free State. Thus Roberts, advancing along the railway, was in a position to strike any part of the crescent by shorter lines than those by which the Boers could reinforce the threatened points. The Boers retreated almost without show of defense. General French and General Hamilton ap- parently dld not nre a Snot
 Of Lord Roberts immediate force, eleven men belonging to the eighth mounted in fantry, the first to ford the river. They came upon a Boer patrol footing at Vijoens Drift, and skirmish lasting ten minutes followed. Two hundred Boers tried feebly hold the Vereenigning col- fiery, but they were disIodged.
 The Boer rear guard is at Moyerton, ten miles south of Vereenigning. Their main body is moving toward the Kip river hills, that cover the south side of Johannesburg. While Lord Roberts 3O,OoO infantry, 2oOOO horse and 15O guns are moving on Johan- nesburg and Pretoria, through a parched and deserted country, the situation at the Transvaal capital, as it was last Friday, is thus described by an observer who sent his message by private hand to Lourenzo Marques yesterday:
 Situation Is Critical
 "The situation, both from a military and political point of view has become very critical. President Kruger yesterday ad- mtted that for the first time matters are very grave. The Boer determination is to trust everything to a last stand on the Cats Rand mountains, to the north of Potchefstroom, where 5000 Kaffirs are dig ging trenches. To that point every avail able man and gun have been sent.
 ''The whole of the western border of the Transyaal from end to end is defenseless and General Baden-Powell can march in when he likes. Lord Roberts, on the other hand, will encounter the greatest resist ance The Boer endeavor is to lure the British into appearing to threaten Johan- paGIat xxyith H. given them for the destruction of property. The Transvaal government will not dare de- stroy the mines and property without an excuse. Much dynamite has been sent down the line and 6O0OO cases lie ready at zuur- fontein, near Johannesburg.
 General Louis Botha and General Lucas Meyer have pleaded for the prpeservation of property. Both are large land proprie- tors, and fear confiscation, but they have not received satisfactory replies from Pres- ident Kruger.
 Many New Schemes
 Meanwhile many French and German adventurers have come forward with schemes and inventions for blowing up the British troops. Some of these have re- ceived a tacit permission to experiment. One German invention is for use on a rail- way, where it lies perfectly concealed until the weight of a passing train explodes the charge.
 General Lucas Meyer says surrender would be at once proposed by the Boers, but that everybody fears the ignominy of being the one to make the proposal He declares that he is assured that his men will not stand. President Steyn and Mr. Reitz, the Transvaal state secretary, are strongly opposed to peace, but Mir. Kruger is not so much against it."
 President Krugers proclamation to the burghers asking their votes for or against continuing the war is understood to say that they can quit now with the prospect of retaining their farms, or continue to the bitter end. Rumors are current in Lord Roberts army that the Boers intend to surrender.
 Several correspondents wire the London papers that there are one hundred thou sand foreigners in the Boer ranks, but this is hardly credible.
 The indications are that pitched battle is imminent at Laing's Nek, where Gen. eral Butler faces the Boers. reinforced and seemingly determined, with estimated strength of from 5000 to 10000 The rein- forcements include large party from La
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