The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-06-06
THE SITUATION
AT PRETORIA.
Spenser Wilkinson's Review
OF Events Of the Week,

London, June 3 -Spenser Wikin
SOD, reviewing the events OF the week
in South Africa for the Associated
Press. says: Tho situation can
clearly be understood if 10 the f-s.
Instance we neglect the Pretoria tele-
grams. Lord Roberts advanced from
the Vaal IN two columns, be hlmself
with the main oody, following the line
OF railway and GeDs French and Hsui.
ton keeping pace with him q short
march to the IeiS and slightly in ad-
vance.
"On Monday night Gen R9ber,s vas
at Kip River Station, the left uine
column being south of Kip Rivers
berg. The Beers retreated before Gen
Roberts, but resisted the Lett wing.
"On Tuesday night Geu Roberts
wss at uiston aud the left wing
near Florida, just west of johannes
burg.
90 Wednesday morning Gen Rob.
erts summoned johannesburg and
agreed to give twenty fours delay be-
fore entering the town, which, however,
be surrounded with bis troops Gems
French aud Hamilton were kept away
from the town and pushed forward
"On Thursday Gen Roberts entered
Johann esburg and made formal occu
patton. He held a review OF two
divisions, AID then, leaving a brigade to
garrison the town, he put bis main
body into camp to the north. on the
Pretoria road. on Friday morning. At
that time French aud Hamilton we're
we'll toward Pretoria. Very likely Gen
French vas east of the railway and the
remainder of the army within two easy
marches Of the Boer capital
Meantime. Lord Roberts's commu.
nica,ions we're we'll covered and the
Free State forces were receiving punish.
meut. % Tuesday General Ruudle
defeated the Free Staters uear Seuekal.
and recsived reinforce ments from the
Sd brigade. % the same day the
Highland brigade. which had marched
north from Veutersburg, entered He'll.
brun.
"On Thursday the FREQ S,ater., pea
Fyckburg. we're reported from Maseru
to have been surrounded by Generals
Brabsnt and Rundle, which proves that
Gen Brabaot has an infaotry brigade,
which. though not Rundle's may be
Chcrmside's.
Nov to Pretoria. On Wednesday y
President Kruger left. The Boer
troops we're dismissed from the forts at
Pretoria, and the town resolved TO
surrender and made It's srrsugemeu cots
The burgbers were 10 q panic and
believed that Roberts was close a. hand.
The facts we're telegrrpbed here BY two
Independent witnesses.
Our news Of Lord Roberts was
"a hours old and there was no,hin q
improbable 10 bis troops being where
Pretoria reported them to be- There
fore We we're ready to believe ,ha,
Pretoria would be occupied on Thurs
day Now is il clear that the Pretoria
telegrams expected the occupation two
or three days too soon.
"Gen Roberts must now be before
Pretoria, but the evidence ia not sufi
cient to enable US TO judge whether be
has met serious resistance. There
might be slight difficulty il the Beers
have reoccupied the forts. but in all
probability the entry into Pretoria will
not be long delayed The Boer mill
'ary power is now completely broken
and the war prao,i,slly is over,
although the complete occupation of the
country will take some time and
probably will be delayed by msuy
guerilla bands.
"President Kruger may form a baud
at Lydepberg. which. however. can do
90 great harm ss Gen Butler will move
up to the Delagoa Bay Railway and
s,op K'uger's supplies So soon as the
British have ali the railways flying
columns will quickly make au end to
all local opposition aud The Lydsp burg
region cen be dealt with at leisure "