The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-05-30
In SOUTH AFRICA.


government has informed the newspa-
DER correspondents at Pretoria that it |
has not considered and does not in |
tend to consider unconditional surren-
der, but will a hit to q finish. Pretoria |
dispatches affirm that President Kru-
ger, President S .eyn and all the most |
prominent leaders of both republics
after prolonged interchange of views,
are determined to continue the resist
auce, but that minority of the leaders
advocate surrender without terms.
The foreign consuls have been mott
fed that j Johannesburg will be defend
ed, and the government announces
that it will not hold itself responsible
tor injury to persons or property re-
sulting from the defense measures.
Mrs. Reitz, wife OF the Transvaal
state secretary, and her family, with
the families Of other officials, have gone
20 Lorenzo Marquee. johannesburg
and Pretoria are being cleared OF nom
combatants. The Boer chief who now
recognize the possibility that they will
have to defend these cities are prepar-
ing with the utmost haste. The Boer
-pirit has been rising from low ebb
and is now ready for stesdfast resist
ance.
Lord Roberts is again on the move.
The British infantry left Kroonstadt
on Monday and headquarters we're ex-
pected to leave yesterday. The railway
has been restored and the first train is
due to arrive today. The Beers are
busy blasting for gun emplacements
along the Rhonoster river. General
DeWet commands as General Botha is
ill. The advance of Lord Roberts will
probably be swift. 1t is the expecta-
ton of we'll informed observers here
that the Vaal river, eighty-6ve miles
beyond Kroonstadt, will be crossed by
the end of the week.
Nothing new concerning the relief OF
Mafeking has come through. All the
accounts Of the engagement on May 16
extol the bravery of the Canadians.
Colonel Mahon's column arrived at the
rendezvous one hour after Colonel
Plumer, showing with what accuracy
the movements were timed.
LONDON, May 23.-Lord Roberts re-
ports from Honing Spruit as follows:
General Hamilton reached Hebron
after a series of engagements with the
Boer force under commsndant Christie
pher Dewet, who is retiring before
him. Gen. Broadwood has captured
fifteen Boer wagons. There have been
seventy-fve casualties in Gen. Hamil-
toms force up to Yesterday evening"
LONDON, May 23.-Gen. Baden-Pow-
ell reported to the war Office today on
the relief of Mafeking. The despatch
was dated May Is and says the enemy
, were defeated with loss and that the
British casualties were three killed and
twenty-five wounded. He says: "The
r relieving force marched into Mafeking
this morning at nine O'Clock and the
relief and defence force combined
moved out and attacked the enemy,
1 head lager. We shelled them out an(
. nearly captured Snyman. We got ont
gun, flag and quantity of stores
Five dead and fifteen wounded Boer
were found on the field. The enemy
appear to be retreating in all directions
except one.
LONDON, May 24.-The Boer force
continue to dwindle. Some of the cor
respondents assert that probably abou
"a 900 Of the hardest fighters yet re
I main although there are detached
parties in various parts Of the Trans
vaal.
j., Lord Roberts is drawing near to tn
frontier of the Transvaal. His infan
: try masses are thirty-three miles nortl
of Kroonstad, at the Rhonster river
Some thousands of cavalry are alread,
across the river. The Beers are retir
ing toward the Vaal with their heav,
( baggage. They are reported from Pre-
toria as already across that river
h., Nx,1 nd
composed the retreating army. Train
: continue to run from Veronniging a
the Vaal to Pretoria.
Mafeking dispatches continue tt
pour into London, relating the events
r Immediately preceding the relief anc
: the entry of the troops. The CORES
!; pondents agree that the Canadian ar
tillery, Major Endson's seven guns
4 did splendid work. Some of them as
sert that the Canadians did absolutely
essential work in the fighting.
Foreign engineers assert that Preto
0 ria is able to stand years siege. Ac
cording to advices from Lorenzo
r Marques the Pretoria Notifications arr
described as complete, but Johannes
q burg has not yet been placed entirel,
in state of defense. The Transvaa
!, government papers and the war ches
: have been removed to Luxembourg.
LONDON, May 25.-One correspon
i dent of London paper refers to thu
advance of Lord Roberts army as
"promenade." Another describes i
n as 'Boer hunt" The Free Staters arr
: pictured as "boltiug like hares," at thu
p first sight OF the British. The latter
: according to one writer, do not ever
find women and children, as the flee
q ing farmers take their families will
3 them, in consequence of the report
: current among the Transvaalers tina
" the British kidnap all children owe
' twelve years of age. The Boer rea
| e...a.d oAra,nannd Of u I1nninrn :.