The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-14
BOERS MAY FIGHT At VAAL
TRANSVAAL PRISONERS BELIEVE
THEY WILL THEN RETREAT
TO PRETORIA ITSELF
CONDITIONS AT KRooNsTAD
Dispatches Claim the Back of the
BOer Resistance to the Brit
ish Has Been
Broken.

KROONSTAD, o. F. S, Saturday, May
R-The arrival of Lord Roberts was
hailed with enthusiasm by all the Brit
ish inhabitants Three hundred Free
Staters were anxious to surrender. The
bridge to the south has not been de-
stroyed, but the large bridge near the
town has been demolished.
The Irish brigade with the federals
yesterday burned the goods shed. Ac-
cording to the townspeople many of them
were drunk. The Beers are now trek
king to the Vaal river, where they are in
trenching.
Gen. French encamped northeast OF
town and dispatched a force to cut the
line The project started late at night
but, unfortunately, after the departure
of the last train
Although the troops had marched six
teen miles, they were in good form on
entering the town. Many arrests have
been made, chiefly of those who had
maligned the British. It was found that
Ladybrand for ultra sympathy with the
British.
STEYN GOES TO LINDLEY.
President Steyn has gone to Lindley,
the new seat of the Free State govern
ment A number of the burghers are
trekking homeward. The opposition In
the Free State is practically over.
All the prisoners in the hands of the
British here agree that the quarrel be-
tween the Free Staters and the Trans
vaalers is so acute that the TransVaalers
have decided to leave their allies, whom
they accuse of cowardice and lack of pa
triotism. Most of the Transvaal prison
Rrs think if they are defeated at the
Vaal river the Beers Will retreat to Pre-
ioria, but there appears to be a growing
hstrust in the Transvaal government, In
word, the back of the Boer resistance
teems .to. be broken. The burghers are
fighting without their previous stubborn
ness. They seem to be ready to retreat
on the slightest pretext.
The prisoners, especially the Transvaal-
ers, appear to be glad to have been cap
tured. They say the war can only have
one end. Several have exclaimed:
eve have lost our liberty; but why
should we lose our lives?"
,s TO GO TO LYNDBURG.
LONDON, May IA dispatch to the
Times from Kroonstad, dated Saturday,
Rays:
1T IS reported that President Kruger
Intends moving to Lyndburg as soon as
he is joined by President Steyn, who left
yesterday, accompanied by Gen. Botha
The country between Boschplatt and
Kroonstad might have been effectively
held if the spirit had been willing"
BOERS GROW DESPERATE.
The Lourenzo Marques correspondent
of the Times, telegraphing Sunday, says:
1T is rumored that the Transvaal ra&d,
in secret session, has resolved to order
all residents, irrespective Of nationality,
to assist in the defense of the republic,
In accordance with the terms of the
amended military laws. The Beers rec
ognize that they are now IN the last ex-
tremity, and all sorts ana conditions OF
men are being eOmmaudersd.
The merchants here have protested
n9s.inst the stoppage of a consignment
of clothing and cOrned heef, of which
the latter was purchased in America.
United States Consul Stanley Hollis
whose sympathies are notorious. is said
to have demonstrated against what he
called interference with American
trade"
The Standard publishes the following
from Durham, dated Sunday:
There are persistent rumors here O,
heavy fighting in Natal. A Red Cross
train left last night for the north''