Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-15

campaign was longer in our favor than
we expected. The British will never
reach Pretoria. The burghers, Steyn.
Joubert and myself, as we'll as all the
others. are united. There are no differ
ences. God help u.s."
London. March IA, 9 p. NIT is ofici-
ally announced that Lord Roberts has
occupied Bloemfontein and that the Brit
ish flag is flying from the top of the cap
itol.
The following is the text of Lord
Roberts dispatch in the war office an
nouncing his occupation of Bloemfontein:
"Bloemfontein, March IS. s p. m.-By
the help of God and by the bravery of
her majesty's soldiers. the troops under
my m nave taken possession OF
Bloemfontein. The British flag now
flies over the presidency, evacuated last
evening by Mr.. Steyn, late president Of
the Orange Free State. Mr.. Frazer.
member Of the late executive council.
the mayor, the secretary of the late
governor, the landrost and other Off
cials met me two miles from the town
and presented me with the keys Of the
public offices.
The enemy has withdrawn from the
neighborhood and all seems quiet. The
inhabitants of Bloemfontein gave the
troops a cordial welcome"
The above dispatch, though dated
Tuesday. was mot received at the war
Office until 1880 p. m. Wednesday. 1t
was made public a few minutes before
3 o'clock. The delay is attributed to
the field telegraphs not being connected
with Bloemfontein on Tuesday even
ing. Extra papers are already out on
the streets and the night crowd of
London are singing patriotic songs and
engaging in demonstrations.
London. March ia dispatch to the
Daily Chronicle from Bloemfontein,
dated Tuesday evening, March Is, says:
"Bloemfontein s~urrenderd at 10 to-
day. 1t was occupied at noon. Pres
ident Steyn, with a majority of the
fighting burghers, has fled northward:
General Frencvh was within five miles
of the place at 5 o'clock Monday after
noon. He sent a into the
town, threatening to lombard unless it
surrendered by 4 a. m. Tuesday. A
white flag was hoisted Tuesday morning
and a deputation of the town council
Roberts at S%pitzkop, five miles south OF
the town, making a formal surrender of
tie place. Lord Roberts made a state
entry at noon. He received a tremen-
dous ovation. After visiting the public
buildings. he went to the official resi-
dence Of the president, followed by a
cheering crowd who waved the British
flag and sang the British national an
them. They We're in a condition of fren-
Zied excitement.
ION Monday afternoon, previous to the
surrender. there had been a little snipine
and Smelling, but the enemy then retir-
ed.
Lord Roberts had headquarters at the
presidents house and there are many Of
the British wounded in the building"
London, March IA, 4:50 a. m.-The frs
half of the campaign is over. Lord Rob
erts arrived at Modder river on Feb. 9
He entered Bloemfontein March 10. Thus
in little over a month, he has effected thu
relief of Kimberley n Ladysmith, thu
capture of Gen. Cronje's force and thu
hoisting of the flag in the capital of thu
Free State. All this has been accomplish
ed with comparatively trifing losses.
1t is small wonder that he is the hero o
the our in England. All the newspaper,
eulogize him and congratulate the coun
try. They talk of the Free State as hav
ing passed out of existence, as being nov
one of the shadows of history. 1t is no
doubted that there may be heavy fight
ing, but the genius of Lord Roberts i
looked to for victory over all difficulties
His grim reference to the "late" Presi
dent Steyn, is understood to show tina
there shall be no ambiguity as to tn
position assumed toward the republics,
The fact that Mr.. Frazer, late chairman