The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-06-07
THE COAL REACHED.
Lord Roberts Reports That He Has
Taken Pretoria.

! ~ u
London, June 6.The war Office has
received the following from Lord Rob-
erts:
Pretoria, June 5.--Just before dark yes
terday the enemy were beaten back from
nearly all the positions shey had been
holding and Ian Hamilton's mounted III
fantry followed them to within 1000 yards
Of Pretoria, through which they retreated
hastily. De Lisle then sent an officer
with flag Of truce into the town de-
manding its surrender in my name
shortly before midnight / was awakened
by two officials of the South African re-
public, Sandberg, military secretary to
Commandment General Botha, and a gem
erai officer of the Boer army, who brought
me letter from Botha. proposing an
afmistice for the purpose OF settling the
terms of surrender.
II replied that | would gladly meet the
commandment general the next morning
but that | was not prepared to discuss
any terms, as the surrender of the town
must be unconditional. / asked for a re-
ply by daybreak, as I had ordered the
troops to march on the town as soon as
it was light
I'm his reply Botha told me that he had
decided not TO defend Pretoria and that
he trusted women, children and property
would be protected. At one o'clock a. m.
to-day, while on the line of march, was
met by three of the principal officials
with flag of truce, stating their wish
to surrender the town. Il was arranged
that Pretoria should be taken possession
of by her maiesty's troops at two o'clock
this afternoon.
Mrs. Botha and Mrs. Kruger are both
IN Pretoria. Some few of the British
prisoners have been taken away, but the
majority are still at waterfall over a
hundred of the officers are in Pretoria,
The few l have seen are looking we'll"
Based on the recollection of recent
European wars, when the occupation
of the enemy's capital signified the end
of hostilities, Lord Roberts terse tele-
gram was taken universally to mean
the practical finish of the war which
has tried Great Britain's military re-
sources as they were never tried before,
...... JubiIant ThroDgs.
In London, the mansion house and
the war office almost instantaneously
became the centers for jubilant
throngs. Flags again appeared as if
by magic and traffic had to be diverted
through other streets. Hatless and
coatless men and boys ran through the
city alleys to see for themselves the
bulletins announcing the good news
and staying to join in the thunder of
cheers or add their voices to the joy
full throngs singing GOD Save the
Queen" Hats hoisted from thousands
of heads were waved in eXultant hands
and shimmered, like coal bed in the
sun. Old men on top of the omnibuses
and aldermen from the windows of the
mansion house encouraged crowds to
still further efforts.
Expected Fierce Fight.
The premature report of the fall of
the Beers stronghold did not seem to
take the edge off Tuesdays .celebra.
ton. Lord Roberts Six Miles Spruit
dispatch was hardly printed in the sex
tras" before the union jack of the war
Office was hauled up the flagstaff and
the brief message was passed from
mouth to mouth: pretoria is occu-
pied" Those who had had chance to
read Lord Roberts account of the resist
ance encountered Monday were at that
moment commenting on the probable
ity of fierce fight before the city was
occupied, and were wondering at the
Beers capabilities TO make such a de-
termined stand when Pretoria was
hemmed in on all sides.