Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-03-29
FREE STATE CONQUEST
Gen. Roberts Reports Progress in
Work Of Pacifying the Orange
Free State.
Clements Occupies Fauresmith With
out a Fight-A Quantity of
Ammunition Captured.
skirmish at Modder River Results
In Officer and Five Men
Captured.

London, March 29.-The war Office has
received the following from Roberts,
dated Bloemfontein, March 2s: "Ciein-
ents occupied Fauersmith today without
opposition. One nine -pounder and one
Martini Maxim We're discovered in the
prospecting shaft of the mine, where
large quantity of ammunition was bur-
led. Arms are being surrendered grad
ually and the inhabitants are settling
down.
"Col. Pitcher visited Ladybrand
March 26th. On leaving the town he was
attacked by a party of the enemy and
one of his force was wounded and five
are missing.
During Il skirmsh on North Modder
river, March 25. five men We're wounds
ed. Three are reported missing. Capt.
GERS. and five men of tnae regiment
were taken prisoners"
KRUGER TO BE REAL LEADER.
Gen. Bothn Lfk ely to Succeed to Jou.
bert's Title.
London, March 29-Gen. Louis Botha,
now in Natal. will probably succeed to
the active chief command of the Boer
armies, as Gen. Jouberts loss, it is ex-
pected. will stir up the younger burgh-
ers, who have always complained of
Joubert's slowness and caution. Botha
practically replaced him some time ago.
President Kruger himself, however, is
likely to assume nominal command.
Tho not Il military tactician, "Oom'
Paul has always been a fighting man..
His going to the front is sure to evoke
intense enthusiasm among the burgh-
ers. Another report is that Col. De
Villebois AIareuil has been appointed
commander of the foreign legion oper
ating in the Orange Free State.
London papers insist that the final
settlement of the terms of peace are
considerably simplitied, for they say
Gen. Jpubert was irreconcilable, a stall
wart. and an obstinate old patriot who
would have created endless difficulties
when the time for settling accounts ar
rived.
Joubert's financial record has always
been clean, or, al least, clean as COM
pared to the average Pretoria govern
mcnt circle standard of cleanliness. He
was never publicly associated With any
Of the grosser scandals, monopolies or
concessions, and, altho accounted a rich
man, no one knew exactly how he be-
came so. He lived quietly but well and
in far more civilized fashion than
President Kruger. In fact, his house
and family surroundings We're distinctly
European. He owned a bathroom with
fixed bath tub. the first of its kind in
Pretoria, and probably to this day the
only one in Boer house.
Gen. French's return from Thaban-
chu is accepted as proof that Olivier 5
retreat was not cut off as reported. The
Beers declare that Olivier had succeeded
in avoiding q pitfall such as Cronje fell
into, and that he is probably now fai
enough north to join the main forces
at Eroonstand, where there are indica-
tions that the Beers mean to offer des-
perate resistance to Lord Roberts au-
vance to Pretoria.
The period of traction at Bloemfon-
tein is apparently coming TO an end
Troops are constantly moving TO tht
front. the transport and stores being
collected at the rail head. The men ar,
in grand condition and the horses ar,
picking UP Wonderfully. Every da,
Lord Roberts reviews one of the brig
AIDES. In speech yesterday he prom
ised the troops he would lead the nava
brigade TO their comrades in Pretori;
shortly.
Gen. Buffers preparations for a fur
ther advance in Natal are nearly com
plete. His troops are anxious 10 reney
the fighting. The Beers have strongl.
fortified every pass over the Drakens
burg. and Gen. Butler is sure to find hi
work cut out while breaking thru thei
defenses.