Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-06-01
ADAY'SMARCH AWAY
Lord Roberts Army Within 10
Miles Of johannesburg. !;
DISPATCH TELLS OF ITS PROGRESS.
A Correspondent Sends News of the
Situation in the Transvanl-He
Declares 1t to he Extreme
ly Dcmoralized.

London, May 29.-Lord Roberts is now
within days march of Johannesburg,
and Gen. French and Gen. Ian Hamil
ton fought the Beers from noon un-
TIL evening on Monday, with what re-
suit is not known here.
Nearing Johannesburg.
London, May 29.-Lord Roberts an
nounces his arrival at Kip river, IS
miles from johannesburg. A dispatch,
published by the war office at midnight,
reads as follows
Kip River, Transvaal, May 2S.-We
marched 20 miles to-day and are now IS
miles from johannesburg. The enemy had
prepared several positions, where they in
tended to oppose US; but they abandoned
one after another 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 as soon as some of the
Westralian infantry dashed into it.
French's and Ian Hamilton's forces are
apparently engaged with the enemy about
ten miles to our left, as firing has been
heard since noon. The farmers near our
line of advance are surrendering with their
arms and horses Rumble occupied Senekal
on May "a. No report of what took place
has reached me yet. H. j. Whigham has
Pretoria, where he went disguised. He
wires that Kruger has all the arrange
ments made for flight. presumably to Hol-
land. special train, provisioned, is al
ways ready, with steam up. The train waits
some distance from Pretoria"
Decentralization in the TranAvanl.
H. ]. Whigham, in dispatch to the
Daily Mail, dated May 20, says:
'Phe disqualification of the Transvaal is
remarkable. Panic and confusion prevails
everywhere Everyone Is weary Of the
war and full of fear as to the coming of
the British. Operations We're being carried
on for encircling Pretoria with telegraphic
communications. Fourteen points in the
line Of defenses were connected with head
quarters and with the Stats artillery, but
this apparently was the only defensive
measure adopted. There we're no other Wis
ible preparations.
mot 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 government will be
removed to Waterfall Bovan, small sta
ton on the Delagoa Bay Railway line, and
then, if necessary, to Lydenburg.
Both President Steyn and President
Kruger complain bitterly of Lord Roberts
unfair tactics in refusing to meet the Beers
in positions chosen by them and in eter-
nally turning them by flank movements.
Around Johannesburg few trenches
have been dug, but no other steps have
been taken for defense. The railway line
Is blocked with refugees from the west
and southwest, who are packed like sar-
dimes In trucks. - -
THE government is now endeayoripg to
reassure the public by telling them that
the British will not outrage and plumber
them, but it is too late. The previous mis-
statements are bringing their rewards.
Food is very scarce and prices rule high.
Sing "God Save the Queen"
"There has been decided change In pub
zig opinion which has become quite Eng
fish. The blrghers on command sing God
Save the Queen" ana they cannot be
stopped. All are sick of Warfare: In the
towns the rabid anti-Englishism is less
rampant. People are thinking of their prop
erty. The party eager for surrender il
now very influential and includes the prin-
etgal leaders at the front.> The intelligent
'plblic feel that the game is up.
The government~has arranged to con-
tinue the agitation against the British ,oc-
cupation of the two republics on the con-
tinent of Europe in Great Britain and in
the United States. Great efforts are to
be made in this direction and no expense
viii he SHARED. The conduct of United
States Consul Hay is admirably discreet
and meets with unfyersal praise alike from
Boec and British upathfZetn 800 - '.%ii'