The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-06-14

Gen. Botha on June H. Ground
 Gained by tho British, but the Boei
 Army Not Dcfeated-The Earl of Air Ii,
 Killed-Quiet at Pretoria and Johnn
 nesburg.
 London, June 13-2:11 p. m.-After a
 weeks silence, Lord Roberts has beer
 heard from, his line of communications
 having been practically restored by means of a complete victory gained by
 Generals Methuen and Kitchener over General De Wet, at the Rhenoster river
 yesterday. The Boer camp was cap tured and the Boers were scattered in all direction
 Lord Roberts, on being notified of the cutting of his line of communications, sent Lord Kitchener in all haste to join Lord Methuen On June Il, Lord Dob erts attacked General Botha, who was in strong force fifteen miles southeast of Pretoria. After strenuous opposition, the British forces gained considerable ground, but General Botha, when Lord Roberts personally left the field to get into communication with other opera tiona was still undefeated.
 All is quiet at Pretoria and Johannes burg, and Lord Roberts says that the government need have no apprehension about the security of the army in South Africa, as it will not take long to remedy the reverses and repair the rail- road.
 News of the situation was contained in long dispatch forwarded to the war office by Major-General Knox. It was dated at Kroonstad June 12, and began by saying that he had been requested to forward from Lord Roberts the follow ing dispatch from the Pretoria residen- cy at SOS a. m. of that date:
 Pretoria, June 12.-Pretoria and Jo- hannesburg are perfectly quiet, and several of the inhabitants have ex- pressed gratitude for the peace and or der which prevail After surrendering the city Botha retired to a place about fifteen miles east on the Middleburg Road. He had small force at first, but during the last few days his num- bers increased, and his being so near the town kept up the excitement in the country. prevented the burghers from laying down their arms, and interfered with the collection of supplies. It therefore became necessary to attack him.
 This I did yesterday. He held very strong position, practically unassailable in front, which enabled him to place the main portion of his troops on his Hanks which he knew from former ex- perience were his vulnerable parts I sent French with Porters and Dixons cavalry brigades and Huttons mounted infantry round by our left, and Ian Hamilton with Broadwood and Cor don's cavalry brigade, Ridleys mounted infantry, and Bruce Hamiltons infan- try brigade round by our right. Both columns met with great opposition. At about three in the afternoon I saw two of Hamilton's infantry battalions ad- | vancing to what appeared to be the key | of the enemy's defence on the left | flank. This was almost gained before | dark, and I ordered the force to bivouac on the ground they had won.
 "Pole-Carew, with his division, occu- pied our center. As I have explained, l he could not attack, but he gradually | advanced so as to support Ian Hamil- ton, and when I left the field he was i on the line held by the enemys out posts in the morning.
 T hurried back to get news of | Methuen's movement. On hearing that I the Free Staters had taken advantage | of our crossing the Vaal to interrupt | our line of communication. I sent | Kitchener with such troops as I could | then spare to Yer (Vredefort?) with orders to push south and communicate with Methuen, who I knew had a very compact force in the vicinity of Hei- bron. l also dispatched a special mes- sage to Methuen, instructing him to push on at all speed to the main line of railway. These two officers met at Vre- defort Road Station in the evening of June 10. They marched yesterday to the Rhenoster River, where Methuen gained complete victory over De Wet, and took possession of his camp and scattered his troops in all directions. He and Kitchener marched to-day towards Kroonstad.
 Her majesty's government need have no apprehension as to the security of the army in South Africa. The enemy gained a slight success, which was un. fortunate, but which will be remedied very shortly, and it will not take long to repair the damage done to the rail- way. As these diversions are all in existence, I am now able to hold the line between this and Rhenoster in strength. Methuen will arrange to guard it onward as he advances.
 Hunter should be at Potchefstroom to-day. He will then move on Johan- nesburg.
 We have communicated with Butler, who will, no doubt, soon make the presence of his force in the field felt.
 Our losses yesterday were not, I trust, serious. but I deplore the death of that gallant soldier, the Earl of Air lie The only other casualties reported as yet are: Seventeen Lancers, Major the Hon. Lionel Fortescue and Lieuten- ant the Hon. c. Cavendish, both killed" General Knox adds to the above dis patch that Kroonstad is quite safe.
 Lord Roberts dispatch is regarded as eminently satisfactory. It ends a pe- riod of suspense caused by the cutting of his line of communications, and in- dicates what a strong grip he has on the situation.
 The result of the battle between his I forces and those of General Botha is | eagerly awaited here, but it is believed f that the Boer commander will only t complete bis retirement, which he seems ( to have already begun '