Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-03-16
Governor and Mayor Appointed
for BIoemfonteIn-Br British
Control Railroad.
jOuBERT NOT YET LOCATED
Roberts Promises to Head Army
Into Pretoria. Mafeklne
In Hard Straits.
CECIL RHODES INTERVIEWED

Bloemfontein, March 15-General
Pettyman is succeeding admirably as
governor of the town He issued a
proclamation today requesting all
burghers within ten miles to deliver
up their arms, assuring them that
they would be paid for the confisca-
ton Of their property. Lord Roberts
is about to issue fresh proclama.
tion which, it is considered, win have
the effect of disarming the further
opposition of the Free Skaters Mr.
Ceilings has been appointed landrost,
vice Pappenfus, deposed. Mr.. Frazer
will act as mayor. Great quantities
Of stores, captured at Wassenfall.
have been recovered. The British
secured twenty-six engines and the
line has been cleared to Kafir river.
Rumors are current that President
Steyn is willing to surrender. Much
unrest exists among the Dutch popula-
tion.
London, March 16-It Is believed
that the commander in chief Of the
British forces in South Africa will
soon push on to Pretoria, but Great
Britain is quite content to listen for
a few days to the acclamations of the
people over Bloemfontein, and permit
the troops to enjoy few days rest
before expecting further success
Lord Roberts. in speech to the
guards at Bloemfontein today. said
Through a small mistake have
not been able to march into Rloen,.
tonfein at the head of the brigade as
had intended. promise you. how
ever, 4 will lead you into Pretoria .
General Gatacre is holding Betbulia
7ssv issiIii5s5d1S, ssotitli /
1f Bloemfontein, is now in. the hands |
II General Brabant's column. having
crossed the Orange river after o
'oreed march at Aliwal North. Sun
lay and General Clements column
being across at Van Zyt. the three
columns will form an army of 1000
to i5,9e0 men,which,it is expected, win
replace the forces of Lord Roberts
at Bioemfontein as he pushes north
ward. just where the Beers will at
tempt to oppose that march is an i'm.
portant question, but cannot be easily
answered until General Joubert is
more definitely. located.
Further news has reached the out
side world, from Mafelxing, dated
March 9th, showing that though the
garrison is in hard straits, they were
buoyed up by the knowledge that
their plucky fight is appreciated at
home.
Cape Town. March 15-In an inter-
view published in Cape Argus, Cecil
Rhodes is quoted as saying:
Il feel strongly that we cannot
have peace in South Africa so long
as we have, in the republics, rally
ing ground for. disloyalty and disaffec-
tion., To go further, | do not think
we can safely federate until we have
had some years Of crown colony gov,
eminent. Personally. have done
with the bund."
There was great rejoicing through
out the colony upon the receipt Of
the news of Bloemfontein being occu-
pied by the British. Today was OBJ
served as general holiday. The
rebels are coming in daily with arms
from the south. A number of other
republican leaders have been arrest
ed.
Cape Town, March 15-When the
British forced the passage Of the
Orange river they surprised the Boer
forces. Troops occupied a position
on the north side of the river with
little opposition.
London, March 16-It was official
ly announced that the British casual.
ties at Dreifontein, March 10th, were