Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-05-29
NO STOPPING HIM.
Roberts Now Within 18 Miles
of Johannesburg.
Marches 20 Miles, Monday, and
Camps on the Kip River.
Beers Abandon Works-French and Ham 1tcn
Engaged, 10 Miles Away.

London, May 28.-Midnight-The war
office, just before midnight, published
the following dispatch from Lord Rob-
erts:
kip River. Transvaal, May 28-
5.2J T.. M-We marched ~ miles. today
ana are now IS miles from Johannes
burg. The enemy had prepared sew
eral positions where they intended to,
oppose US, but they abandoned one
after the other as we neared them.
We pressed them so hard that they
had only just time to get their five
guns into train and to leave this sta
ton, az some Of the West Australian
Mounted Infantry dashed into it,
"French's and Ian Haniton's forces
are apparently engaged with the enemy
about 10 miles to our left, as firing has
been heard since noon.
The farmers near our line of ad-
vance are surrcndering with their arms
ana horses.
H j. Whigham has just returned to
Lourenzo Marquee from Pretoria
where he went disguized. He wires
that Kruger has all the arrangements
made for flight. presumably to Hol-
land. a special train, provisioned. is
always ready with steam up. The
train waits some distance from Pre-
toTia.
..Rundle occupied Senekal, May "a
No report Of what took place has
reached me yet"
cape Town. May 28.-It is rumored
here that Gen. French has entered Jo-
hannesburg.
London. May 2S.-A despatch from
Mafeking dated May p, says the total
casualties since the commencement Of
the siege were S03. Among the white
combattants out Of A officers. - were
killed wounded and missing, and 100
men out Of 975 We're killed, wounded
and missing.
London May 29.-3 A. M.-Lord Rob-
a!1s H. now within a days march Of
Johannesburg. and Gen. French and
Gen. Hamilton fought the Beers from
noon until evening, Monday, with
what result is not known here.
II. J. Whigham, in a despatch to the
Daily Mail. dated May 2S. says: "The
decentralization Of the Transvaal is re
markable Panic ana confusion pre-
vail everywhere. Everyone is weary Of
the war ard fun of fear as TO the COM
ing of the British. Operations were
being carried on for encircling Preto-
1ia with ;elephonic communication.
Fourteen points in the line of defense
We're connected with headquarters and
with the Stats artillery, but this APP
parently was tho only defensive meas
ure adopted. There were no other visi-
blc preparations.
Not much gold is likely to be found
in the treasury. The salaries Of the
officials 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
ornment viii be removed to Waterfall
u ven. a small station on the Delagoa
Bay Railway line, and then if necessary
to Lydenburg.
Both President Steyn and President
Kruger complain bitterly Of Lord Rob
erts' unfair tactics in refusing to meet
the Beers in positions chosen by them
and in eternally turning them by flank
movements. Around Johannesburg a
few trenches have been dug, but no
other steps have been taken for de-
fense. The railway line is blocked
W I'M ltlu5ttS llblll JIit west anu
west.
The government is now endeavorinS
to reassure the public by telling them
that the British will not outrage and
plunder them, but it is too late. The
previous mis-statements are bringing
their rewards Food is very scarce and
prices rule high. The proposal TO re
lease the British prisoners Of war is
due t. this cause. Members oc the
government and of the Nolksraad ex-
press approval Of the proposal but
President Kruger is violently opposed
to it.
'One form of Internal machine which
meets much approval is to be laid un
der the rails of the various lines. A
pressure Of some tons weight Of the
engine will cause this to explode with
most terrible effect.
There has been decided change in
public opinion, which has become quite
English. The burghers On commando
sing God Save the Queen" and they
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