Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-06-03
SPENCER WlK|NSONS WEN
WHAT THE LONDON WAR EXPERT
DRAWS FROM THE DIS
PATCHES.
THINKS Hobert VIII Soon be at Pre-
torin, If He is Not Already There.
Lord Roberts Reports to the War
Office His successful Entry Into
Johannesburg.

LONDON, June 3.-Spencer Wilkin-
son, reviewing the events of the week
in South. Africa for the Associated
Press, says:
The situation can clarly be under
stood If we, in the first instance, neglect
the Pretoria kilograms. Lord Roberts
advanced from the Vaal in two COL
umns, he himself with the main body,
following the line Of railway, and Gen
erals French and Hamilton keeping
pace with him a short march to the left
and slightly in advance.
"On Monday night Gen. Roberts was
at Kip River Station, the left wing
column being south of Klipriversburg.
The Beers retreated before Gen. Rob-
erts, but resisted the left wing.
0 Tuesday night Gen. Roberts was
at Germlston and the left wing near
FLORIDA, just west of johannesburg.
ION Wednesday Gen. Roberts sum
moned johannesburg and agreed to give
"A hours delay before entering the
town, which, however, he surrounded
with troops. Generals French and
Hamilton were kept away from the
town and pushed forward.
On Thursday Gen. Roberts entered
johannesburg and made a formal occu-
patton. He held a review of two divis-
ions and then, leaving a brigade to gar
son the town he put his main body
into camp to the north on the Pretoria.
road on Friday morning. At that time
French and Hamilton were well for
ward toward Pretoria. Very likely
Gen. French was east of the railway
M the remainder of the army within
W easy marches of the Boer CAPT.
tai.
Meantime Lord Roberts commune
cations were well covered and the Free
States forces were receiving punish
ment. On Tuesday Gen. Rumble de-
teated the Free Staters near SenekaI
and received reinforcements from the
third brigade. On the same day the
Highland brigade, which had marched
north from Ventorsburg, entered He'll
bron.
"On Thursday the Free Staters near
F~lcksburg were reported from Maseru
to have been surrounded by Generals
Brabant and Rumble, which proves
that Gen. Brabant has an infantry
brigade, which though not Rundle's,
may be Chermside's.
Now to Pretoria. On Wednesday
President Kruger left. The Boer troops
were dismissed from the forts at Pre-
toria and the town resolved to sur
render and made Us arrangements.
The Burghers were in a panic and Lord
Roberts was close at hand. These facts
were telegraphed here by two %independ-
ent witnesses.
Our news Of Lord Roberts was "a
hours old, and there was nothing i'm
probable in his troops being where
Pretoria reported them to be. There
fore we were reauy to believe that Pre-
toria would be Occupied on Thursday.
Now it is clear that Pretoria kilograms
expected the occupation two or three
days too soon.
General Roberts must now be before
Pretoria, but the evidence is not sufi-
cient TO enable us to judge whether he
has met serious resistance, There might
be slight difficulty If the Beers have re-
occupied the forts. but in all probability
the entry into Pretoria will not be long
delayed. The Beers military power is
now completely broken and the wal prac-
tically is over, although the complete oc-
cupation of the country will take some
time and prorably will be delayed by
many guerrilla bands
President Kruger may form a band at
~Lydenburg, which, however, can do no
great harm. as General Butler will move
up the Delagoa Bay railway and stop
Kruger's supplies. So soon as the Brit
ish have all the railways. flying columns
will quickly make an end to all local op-
position, and the Lydesburg region can
ha 6ealt with or laic,ra