The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-13
po.r Ecr ION the Natal Border
Forced by GeSsrsI Butler to
Evacuate Their Posftis1
IN POSSESSION of THE BRITISH,
WHO ARE RESTING IN THE HILLS.
Butler Unable to Advance for Lack of
water-Total Casualtfes-PIan
of Civil Government.

of news encouraging to the British in the
official dispatches are that the broken COM
munications of Lord Roberts are in fair
way to be mended by the forces moving
northward and driving off the rowing COM
mandoes. and that Sir Redvers Butler is at
last master Of Laing's mex. Telegraphic
communication with Lord Roberts is ex-
pected to be restored to-day, as a dispatch
from Bloemfontein. dated yesterday, says
the railway is in British possession again
and that the work of repairing the line is
going on rapidly with the abundant ma
terial warehoused at Bloemfontein.
From the subjoined telegram it would ap-
pear that General Hunter was in command
OF the troops referred to by General Kelly
Kenny in his dispatch from Bloemfontein:
General Hunter is coming up rapidly from
the northwest, having severely defeated a
large commando of Beers who had de-
stroyed two miles of rail north of Kroon-
stad.''
The Boer government is also issuing news
cheering to its sympathizers. The following
bulletin, the Boer version of the disaster to
the Derbyshires, was posted by President
Kruger on Sunday at Machadodorp: "On
June four divisions of burghers, COM
manded by Steenkamp, Froneman, Duploy.
Fourie and Mel. attacked the British at
Roodeval, killed 200. took zoo prisoners and
captured immense stores of food and am
muniton--a Maxim gun and 1000 lyddite
shells. Some food was taker by the Boer
farmers and the rest was burned The
English mail was taken. The burghers at
tackled from the open veldt and gave evil
dence Of unprecedented bravery"
General De Wet was also fighting on June
2. whether at Roodeval or elsewhere is not
clear. but the Boer office gives it out that
he captured 5000 suits. boots, etc. Being un-
able to carry them with him in his rapid
sweep through the country, according to
the Transvaal War Office he burned the
whole mass. General De Wet has also re-
ported that he put 1000 British out Of ac-
tion and destroyed property valued at f1O0-
ooo. AS Lord Methuen is officially described
as fighting on June z, 1t is possible that he
was engaging General De Wet
According to dispatch to the Daily Ex-
press from Machadodorp, dated June 10. via
Lourenzo Marques, those around President
Kruger say that Louis Botha and Delary
have been offered Indirectly $4,000 a year to
lay down their arms, and President Kruger
expects the same offer to be made to him
SELF President Steyn and De Wet Presi-
dent Kruger believes that the British make
these offers to close the war on the prin-
ciple that it would cost less than TO fight
1t out.
A dispatch from Lourenzo Marques says
5000 Beers are reported to be retiring on
Middlesburg from various quarters, and
that, after wedding out the faint-hearted,
10000 steadfast men are still left.
General Butler was unable on Monday to
follow up the Beers from lack of cavalry
as well water. The dispatches describe
him as fighting spirited advance over a
rugged field under prolonged rifle fire. The
Beers had two guns, which they got away.
Few dead or wounded Beers were found
1t seems probable that the major portion of
the Beers had withdrawn before the ad-
vance began.
A dispatch from Lichtenburg, dated June
IL. says sixty johannesburg mounted po-
licemen. with Maxim gun. have surren-
dered to General Hunter.
a probable explanation of the reports that
a British force is moving through Swazi-
land comes in dispatch from Port Eliza
beth, dated June II. announcing the return
there of the British cruiser Doris, from
Kosi bay, whittier she had taken a number
of wnaleboats with the object of landing an
armed force, presumably part of a plan to
penetrate into Swaziland. The Beers, how
ever. got wind of the action and the force
was not landed.
Lord Methuen. General Rumble and Gen.
Brabant are reported TO have 5000 men and
fifty guns engaged in inclosing the Beers in
the eastern part of Orange River colony
The War Office casualty returns up to
June aggregate 1864. besides s27 officers
and 1885 men sent home as invalids. but
not including the sick in South African hos
pitals.
Among the members of the Yeomanry
killed at Lindley was w. T. Power. pro-
prietor OF the Canyon ranch in North Tex
as. and son of Sir w. T. Power.