Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-02
IN SUSPENSE.
Roberts Strangely Silent About
Affairs at Pretoria.
Varying Rumors AAcat Regarding Sit
uation at the Capital.
Kruger's Whereabouts Unkoy Roberts May
Have to Do More Fighting.

London, June 2-3i5 A. M.-Lord
Roberts continues silent regarding Pre-
tOril, probably because he cannot wire
events from his own knowledge. Lour-
emo Marques. where all the news from
the BOer side is relayed, cables that
communication with Pretoria is now
suspended. Some messages by courier
have reached LOurenZo Marques, but
none Of later date than Wednesday.
These assert that the burghers are in a
state Of panic and that Pretoria is be-
ing controlled by a vigilance commit
tee. Lourenzo Marques again sends
the report that President Kruger has
been captured.
This news gives rise to a suspicion
that the citizens committee at Pretoria
may not have been able to carry out
their plan for securing the peaceful
entry Of Lord Roberts and sparing the
city the horrors Of a siege The peace
party appeared to be in the ascendant
and as soon as President Kruger and
his cabinet left Pretoria to organize a
new capital the citizens committee
persuaded the commandments Of the
forts to withdraw some of the troops
from the dcfcnses. perhaps with a view
oI httIiUS btutE III lnt Town. IL mes
sengcrs were sent to the British, or if
the British, being two hours march
from Pretoria, Wednesday, entered it,
then or at any time prior to Friday
noon, Lord Roberts would certainly
have telegraphed this fact Hence it
looks as though there was Boer force
between Pretoria and Johannesburg
These soldiers falling back from Pre-
toria, some of them fresh from the
fight with Gen. Ian Hamilton, would
have brought a new element into the
situation and would probably overrule
the peace committee, taking the direc-
tion Of affairs out of their hands. If
this has happened, the British may, as
the Daily Chronicle says, see some
hard fighting before the British flag
flies over Pretoria, for even if the Bo-
ers held only three forts standing close
to another on the hills south of the
town, they would be in position to
stand a siege
The Beers. according to a special dis
patch from LOurenzo Marques, have
re-entered northeastern territory Of the
Free State. and are engaged with the
British near Nentersburg and Harri-
smith. 1t is reported from Amster-
dam that the best rooms at Het Haasje.
one of the principal hotels there, have
been engaged for President Kruger's
occupancy from June ..
Gen. Butler il moving slowly against
the BOer flanks.
The Times has the following from
LourenZO Marques. dated June /:
Reports Of the most conflicting char
acter are current here. due to the ac-
tivity of the BOer agents. While one
section declares that President Kruger
has returned to Pretoria for the pur-
pose of arranging terms of surrender
another asserts that the British have
been repulsyd outside Of Pretoria
Nothing authentic is known here re-
garding Mr.. Kruger's whereabouts or
the situation in the TransvaaI
dispatch from Vryburg dated May
80. says: During the occupation Of
this place by the Beers they logged
the natives for slight offenses whip
and several cords knotted and sailed
were found ut Il police station boy
who brought a letter to a woman re-
ceivcd p lashes. and another who SYM
pathized with him received 15
Lady Gcorgiana Curzon has cabled
clI. 900 to provide comforts and luxur-
les at Mafckng