Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-06-05
BRITISH IN
PRETORIA.
Roberts Announces Official
Entry Into Trans
vaal Capital.
CONQUEST THUS COMPLETED.
News Sets England Wild
and People Shout God
Save the Queen.

London, June 5, 1890 p. MT is
officially announced that the British
have occupied Pretoria. The war office
has issued the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts: Pretoria, June 5,
40 a. m.-We are now in posses
sion of Pretoria. The official entry
will be made this afternoon at =
o'clock"
London, June 5.-At 2 this after
noon. almost eight months after the
declaration of war, Roberts entered
Pretoria. While the commander-in-
chief of the greatest army Eng
land ever put in the field was
fulfilling his promise made to the
guards at Bloemfontein to lead
them into the capital of the Trans
yaal, England was celebrating the event
with wild enthusiasm. Throughout
the length and breadth of the country
the news spread like wildfire. In
London the mansion house and war
office almost instantly became centers |
for jubilant throngs. The streets |
were crowded with people carrying
flags and shouting God save the |
queen.
Brushes Along the Way.
London, June 5.-The war office |
has received a message from Roberts |
at Six Miles Spruit dated yester-
day, in which he says: Started this
morning and marched 10 miles to Six
Miles Sprint. both banks of which |
were occupied by the enemy. Thet
Beers were easily dislodged from the
south bank and retired about mile.
where they had we'll concealed guns
In position. After few rounds from
their heavy guns the enemy was
driven away. The Beers then at
tempted To turn our left flank. but |
were again foiled. they being driven
back toward Pretoria Der casual
lies. hope. were few"
London. .InLf. or official intel
Iigenrc regarding what is rranspiring
outside Pretoria there is little or moth
ing today. Lord Roberts Is silent
Nevertheless. by pieciug together
items from various correspondents. II
would seem that Lord Roberts imme-
dlate army is all employed north of
Johannesburg. except one brigade,
WnlCn * NJ sIOiduut-SDuIS. anu AisiN
six columns are cOnverging ON Pre-
tuTia. An undated news agency mes
sage from Pretoria. via Lourenzo Mar
,IueS. June /. says: Pretoria Is now
invested by the British. No resistance
will be offered. The city will be sur
rendered by the burgOmaSter as soon
us formal demand is made.
Determined to Defend the Town.
This message purportS to come In
cipher. President Kruger commands
the telegraph eastward from Pretoria
and telegraphic news from Pretoria 10
I.ourenzo Marques has ceased. but the
messengers of newspaper correSpon-
dents continue to pass 10 and fro on |
the railway. The latest to arrive ut
LourenzO Marques bring events At the
BOer capital down 10 Il late hour Fri
day night. At that time. according 10
these sources OF information. the mill
fary leaders had quite recovered from
Ihe panic and had determined TO de-
Tend the town.
Looks for n Tremendous Change.
one message which is dated June l.
saws: Pretoria iS full OF strange
burgherS. hut most OF the commandoS
are laagered outside. great war
council OF generals has just concluded
its deliberations. The decision a. to
she future military course has not |
been made known. Louis BOtha and
Delarey sat in the council" Another
dispatch brought TO LourenzO Marques
Iy messenger. and dated at Pretoria.
Friday at midnight, says: The war
council assumes the powers OF the gov
ernment. Its members declare that
the capital may still be successfully
defended One commander declared:
with the help of God the hour will
still come when Great Britain will ac
knowledge the independence of the
Two republics. 4 tremendous change
will vet come over the situation
pelaray HopefuI-Kruger'sW Whereabouts
General Delarey said that Pretoria
vouId be defended TO the utmost add
ing: L uere is every chance that we
will vet beat the enemy out Of the
country President Kruger is some
where TO the eastward. but is in con-
slant wire communication with the
leaders here. There is. however. 4
deep feeling OF anger against him on
account OF what is now called his un-
necessary flight. and because he and
the officials took all the gold and left
their suboriinates unpaid. The latest
phase OF public opinion is marvellous
revival OF courage
BRIrIsH MOVEMENT IN PROGRESS.
That Much L. known-From 9th er Parts
of the War Territory.
n