The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-05-29
BOERS REALLY DEMOR4LIZED.
Indications That Their Opposition H WiI Probably Soon Collapse.

London, May 29-3 a. m.-Lord Rob-
 erts is now within days march of
 Johannesburg, and General French and
 General Ian Hamilton fought the Boers
 from noon until evening on Monday,
 with what result is not known here.
 H. J. Whigham in a dispatch to the
 Daily Mail, dated May 28, says: "The
 demoralization of the Transvaal is re-
 markable. Panic and confusion prevail
 everywhere Every one is weary of the
 war and full of fear as to the coming of the British. Operations were being carried on for encrcling Pretoria with telephonic communication. Fourteen points in the line of defenses were con- nected with headquarters and with the Statts artillery; but this apparently was the only defensive measure adopted. There were no other visible prepara- tions
 Not much gold is likely to be found in the treasury. The salaries of the off, ficials and judges have not been paid or have been paid only in national bank notes, which will be worthless when Lord Roberts arrives. The seat of gov ernment will be removed to Waterval- Bovtn, a small station on the Delagoa Bay railway line, and then, if necessa- ny, to Lydenburg.
 ''Both President Steyn and President Kruger complain bitterly of Lord Rob erts' unfair tactics in refusing to meet the Boers in positions chosen by them and in eternally turning them by flank movements. Around Jonhannesburg few trenches have been dug, but no other steps have been taken for defence. The railway line is blocked with refu- gees from the west and southwest who are packed like sardines in trucks.
 'The government is now endeavoring to reassure the public by telling them that the British will not outrage and plunder them, but it is too late. The previous mis-statementa are bringing their rewards. Food is very scarce and prices rule high.
 ''The proposal to release the British prisoners of war is due to this cause. Members of the government and of the Volksraad express approval of the pro- posal, but President Kruger is violently opposed to it.
 "One form of internal machine which meets with much approval is to be laid under the rails of various lines. pres- sure of some tons weight of the engine will cause this to explode with most terrible effect Many of these machines are being made at the arsenal, and great caution will have to be employed in neutralizing them
 "There has been decided change in | public opinion, which has become quite | English.
 'The burghers on commando sing | "God save the queen," and they cannot | be stopped. All are sick of warfare. | In the towns the rabid anti-British are | less rampant, People are thinking of clude the principal leaders at the front. is now very influential and in cludes the principa Headers at the front The intelligent public feel that the game Is up. False news no longer has any effect and the lying reports Of the news papers are universally disbelieVed AL though the hand of the censor has been very heavy on news of all kinds recent y, every one believes the worst
 "The government has arranged to con- .inue the agitation against the British Of the two republics on the continent of Europe, in Great Britain md in the United States. Great efforts ilt tO De IIletuS III lllIS ulIeCllOH, ana 10 expense will be spared. I have ex- client reasons for believing that the 3ewaarplaatsen rights have been sold 0 a French syndicate, without the sanc- ion of the Volksraad, The government lopes by this means to bring about Trench intervention for the protection If French rights in the Witwaters Rand nd thus to cause England grave diff ulties.
 'The conduct of United States Consul l lay is admirably discreet and meets with universal praise alike from Boer l nd British sympathizers." le