Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1900-06-15
ROBERTS AGAINST GEN,BO1HA
BoERs WERE NOT DEFEATED.
Lines Of Com m nicati0n Have Been
Re-Established-Bo Camp Cap
tured-BulSer sends Good News
krOOnstNd IL Quiet.

Of communication has been practically re-
stored by complete victory gained
by Generals Methuen and Kitchener
over General Dewet The Boer camp was
captured and the burghers, it is added
were scattered in all directions
Lord Roberts has fought a battle with
General Botha at the end Of which, though
the British gained considerable ground
the Beers were not beaten. All is quiet
at Pretoria and Johannesburg.
London, June ll.-After weeks silence
Lord Roberts has been heard from, his
line Of communication having Deen prac-
tically restored by means of complete
victory gained by Generals Methuen and
kitchener over General Dewet at Rhenos-
ter river yesterday.
Lord Roberts, on being notified Of the
cutting OF his line Of communication, sent
General Kitchener in all haste to Join
General Methuen.
June II Roberts attacked General Botha,
who was in strong force Is miles south
east Of Pretoria. After strenuous opposi-
ton the Bn,.sh forces gained considerable
ground, but General Botha, when Roberts
left the field, was still undefeated.
Roberta Report.
A dispatch forwarded to the war Office
by Ma jor General Knox from kroonstad,
presumably sent there by messenger, reads
as follows:
pretoria, June l4.-Pretoria and Jo-
hannesburg are perfectly quiet. After
surrendering the city General Botha retired
to place about Is miles east of the Mid
dleburg road. He had small force, but
during the last few days his numbers have
increased, and his being SO near town has
kept up the excitement in the country,
preventing burghers from laying down
their arms and interfering with the collec-
ton of supplies.
ut therefore became necessary to at
tack him. This did yesterday. lie had
a strong position, practically unassailabe
in front, which enabled him to place the
main portion of his troops on his TANKS,
which he knew were his vulnerable parts.
son hearing that the Free Staters had
taken advantage of our crossing the Vaal
to interrupt our lines Of communication, |
sent Kitchener with such troops as could
then spare, to Vredefort, with orders to
push south and communicate with Meth
uen in the vicinity of Hebron. also
dispatched a special messenger to Methuen
instructing him to push on at all speed
to the main line of the railway
"These two officers met at Nredefort
road station on the evening of June 10.
They marched yesterday to Rhenoster riv
Ell, where Methuen gained complete vie
tory over Dewet and took possession OF
his camp and scattered his troops in all di
rections. He and Kitchener marched to-
day toward Kroonstad.
"Her majesty's government need have
no apprehension Us to the security of the
army in South Africa. The enemy gained
a slight success, which was unfortunate
but which will be remcdicd very shortly.
and it will not take long to repair the
damage done to the railway, as these diver
sions are all in existence.
Il am now able to hold the line between
this and Rhenoster in strength. Methuen
will arrange to guard it onward as he ad-
vances. Hunter should be at Poatchef-
stroom today. He will then move on to
Johannesburg.
I'VE have communicated with Butler,
who will, no doubt, soon make the pres
ence of his force in the field felt.
Our losses yesterday were not, trust,
serious, but | deplore the death of that
gallant soldier, the earl OF Airlie. The 9TH
er casualties reported as yet are:
Seventeenth LAancers-Major Hon Lion
ell Forte, Esq, and Lieutenant Hon. &. |
Cavendish, both killed"
General Knox adds that Kroonstad is
quiet and safe.
Roberts dispatch is regarded as emf
nently satisfactory. 1t ends the period OF )
suspense caused by the cutting of his line
Of communication and indicates what a |
strong grip he has on the situation.