The semi-weekly messenger., 1900-06-01

JonAnneSeurg 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. Whigman in a dispatch 10 the
Daily Mail. dated May 18th says: The
decentralization OF ;ae Transvaal Is re-
markable. Panic and confusion pre-
walls everywhere. Every one Is weary
of the war and full OF fear As 20 the
coming OF the British. Operations
were being carried on for encircling
Pretoria with telegraphic communica-
tions. Four points in the line o. de-
fenses were connected with headauar-
ters and with the Stats artillery. but
this apparently WAS the only defensive
measure adopted. There were no 9TH
er visible preparations.
Not much gold is likely 10 be found
in the treasury. The salaries OF the
officials and judges have not oeeen
paid, or have been paid only In nation
al bank notes. which VIII be worthless
when Lord Roberts arrives.
THE seat OF government viii be re-
moved to Waterfall Bovan q small sta
ton on the Delagoa bay railway line.
and then. IL necessary 10 Lydenburg.
Both President Steyn and President
Kruger complain bitterly of Lord Rob-
erts' unfair tactics, in refusing the
meet the Beers in positions chosen by
them and in eternally turning them
by flank movements.
Around johannesburg a few trench
es have been dug, but no other steps
have been taken for defence. The rail-
way line is blocked with refugees
from the west and southwest, who are
packed like sardines in trucks.
'tOne form OF Internal machine
which meets with much approval Is to
be laid under the rails of various lines.
A pressure Of some tons weight engine
will cause this to explode with most
terrible effect. Many of these ma
chimes are being made at the arsenal.
and great caution will have to be en-
ployed in neutralizing them.
There has been decided change.
in public opinion which has become
quite English. All are sick OF warfare.
The party eager for surrender Is now
very influential and includes the prin-
cipal leaders at the front.
THE government has arranged to
continue the agitation against the Brit
ish occupation of the two republics on
the continent OF Europe, in Great Brit
ain and in the United States. No ex-
pense will be spared. / have reasons
for believing that the Bewaarplaatzen
rights have been sold to a French
syndicate, without the sanction OF the
volksraad, in order to bring about
French Intervention for the protection
of French rights in the Wilwatersrand
and thus to cause England's grave diff
ficulties.
General Rumble was sheliing the sub
urbs of Senekal Saturday.
In a skirmish Major Dalbiac and
e., frsT.
Kennard and three troopers were
wounded. Several of the British were
captured. The Beers disappeared to
the northeast of Senakaland and the
Grenadiers entered the town at dusk.
Three thousand Beers are reported
to be at Jurnming Kranz. One CORE
spondent AYERS that a British patrol
on entering Senekal, was set upon by
Beers concealed in a house. General
Rundle's prisoners tell the same story.
All are tired of the war and desire
| peace. The morning papers generally
regard the Boer organized resistance
as near an end.
Predictions are made that the Brit
| iSh flag will fly at Johannesburg today
and at Pretoria Saturday"
London, May 2S.,2:10 y. m.-Although
/ the Federals are said to be preparing
| for strong resistance at the Kip river,
those who have most closely followed
| the progress OF the war since the Brit
| ish and Boer armies came in touch at
| Brandfort are very skeptical as to the
burghers seriously disputing Lord
Roberts advance even there. IL no
| stand Is made at the Kip river. the
safety of the Boer guns at Laing's mex
| will be seriously imperiied, for there
| will be nothing to prevent Lord Rob-
| erts from seizing the johannesburg
| and Laing's mex railroad. Indeed II
1 Q ha ha
| has been cut.
Lord Roberts may be forced TO halt
| at the Vaal river to repair the bridge
| and get his guns and transports across
but the mounted men will not be de-
| layed- Tt Is said in high quarters that
| the speedy announcement Of the ar
rival of the British cavalry at Johanns-
burg will not surprise the war Office.
A dispatch from Mafeking dated May
23rd says the total casualties since the
| commencement OF the siege were 500.
| Out Of A officers % were killed. wound
| ed or missing and 190 men out OF 915
/ white privates were killed or wound
| ed or missing.
| London, May Midnight. The war
office. just before midnight published
| the following dispatch from Lord Rob-
| efts.
| Kip River, TransvaaI, Maya, SIS
| p. m.-We marched twenty miles to-
day and are now eighteen miles from
johannesburg. The enemy had pre-
pared several positions.s where they
| intended 10 oppose us; but they aban-
| doned one after the other as we near
| ed them. We pressed them SO hard
that they had only Just time TO get
| their five guns into train and to leave
this station as some Of the West Aus
tralian mounted infantry. dashed into
IL. French's and Ian HamIlton's forces
are apparently engaged with the enemy
about ten miles TO our left, as a firing
mas been heard since noon. The farm
ers near our line Of advance are sur
rendering with their arms and horses.
Rundie occupied Senekal on May 24th.
| No report of what took place has
reached me yet"
III. q. Whigham has just returned 10
| Lourenzo Marques from Pretoria.
| where he went disguised. He wires
| that Kruger has all the arrangements
made for flight, presumably 10 Hol-
land A special train, provsioned. is
always ready with steam up. The
Il