The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-06-16
KLERKSDORP IS TAKEN
British Capture a Strategic
Point.
STEYN BLOCKS PEACE
KRUGER SAID TO HAVE FAVOR
ED MAKING TERMS.

London, June is, 4 a. m.-The war
Office issues the following dispatc.-
frcm Lord Roberts:
Pretoria Residency, June IA, 1910
p. m.--Klerksdorp surrendered on June
9, TO an armed party sent on by
Hunter.
Kitchener reports that the Beers
attacked a reconstruction train early
this morning q few miles north of
Rhenoster river. He sent out mounted
troops and drove off the enemy before
they could do damage. One man was
kelled and eleven wounded, including
two officers.
"A messenger from Klerksdorp re-
ports that Cronje, who commanded
there, determined TO surrender as soon
as he knew for certain that Pretoria
was in our possession. His example
has been copied by many in the neigh
borhood. The court house is now said
70 be full of arms"
Story Of Botha Battle.
The war Office has received the fol-
lowing dispatch also from Lord Rob-
eFts:
Pretoria, June 15.-As I telegraphed
yesterday from one of our OutgostS,
fifteen miles east Of Pretoria, the Beers
evacuated their position during the
night of June 12.-They had paid SO
tanks THAI their centre was weakly
held and as soon as this became evil
dent, on June u, ] directed Ian Hamil-
ton to attack He moved against
Diamond Hill with the SUfOlks, Derby
shires and City Imperial volunteers,
supported on the left by the guards
brigade under lingo Jones.
1T was grand, seeing the way our
men advanced over the difficult ground,
and under a heavy fire.
The casualties, I am thankful to
say were less than 1o9s very small
number considering the natural
strength Of the position which had to
be carried.
Our seizure of Diamond Hill caused
the Beers to feel they were practically
surrounded and this resulted in their
hasty retirement. This being following
yesterday by some of our mounted
corps-
Hamilton spoke in high terms Of
the troops engaged. Hamilton re-
ceived a confusion from a shrapnel
bullet in the shoulder but is not, 1 am
happy TO say, unable to perform his
duty"
The rest of Lord Roberts dispatch
deals with the casualties and General
Baden-Powells movements In western
Transvaal, where Baden-Powen with
500 men is systematically re-establish-
ing order and collecting arms and sup
plies. About 600 Beers have surrend-
cred and Baden-Powen captured 290
prisoners.
According to Baden-PowelTs report
the Beers viii readily discuss terms Of
surrender and they all appreciate the
work OF pacihcatiOn performed BY his
troops.
More Fighting Expected.
fairs east Of Pretoria with the Beers
Withdrawn to new positions Tuesday.
News Of fresh fighting is expected at
the war Office, but none came last
night.
General BUNDLES patrol had a
slkirnish with Boer videttes again
Wednesday. Some wonder is expressed
here as to THAT he is doing with three
divisions.
1t is assumed by some that General
Butler viii move into Orange River
colony and cooperate with Lord
Methuen and General Rumble in bag
ging President Steyn and his 1000 or
5000 followers
Part of Christian Botha's force has
halted as PaardekOD. eighteen miles
northwest of VOlksrust. BOer parties
are still near VOlksrust and fire Oc-
casionally upon the British pickets.
STRATEGIC POINT Is GAINED. o
BY the peaceful occupation of Klerks-
dorp, announced by Lord Roberts. the
British have gained a strategic posi-
lion of some Importance. as the town
is nos only the terminus of another
railroad to johannesburg, out it is
within easy reach CT the KrOOnstad-
Vierfontein railroad.
The CrOnje who surrendered the place
IS q son Of the famous General CrOnje,
now a prisoner at st. Helena. The son
was DromineIft daring the siege Of
BIafeking.
Opposes Cecil Rhodes.
Sir John Gordon Sprigg IS experience
ing much difficulty in forming a cabi-
net, Mr.. Schreiner persisting in his re-
fusal TO support a ministry dominated
b. Cecil Rhodes, owing to personal an
tiDathies. 4 coalition seems 1mprac-
ticable. If Mr.. Schreiner is dissatis-
fed with the personnel and pledges Of
the new ministry. the latter viii be IN
able TO pass imperial measures, and a
dangerous deadlock viii ensue, which
may lead TO a grave constitutional
crisis.
May Go From Africa to China.
The British government is consider
ing Wheter a substantial force should
not be sent to China from South Africa.
II is thought unofiicially that Lord
Roberts could spare a brigade or two
and the necessary transports are now
IN South African waters. The comman-
der OF the expedition, it is said, would
probably be General Sir William Mich
olson
A dispatch from Lcurenzo Marquee.
dated yesterday, says.
Persons have arrived here who have
seen the preparations Of the Beers and
forced, through the Lydenburg district
into the ZoutDansberg region, adjoin-
ing Rh0desia and OAKLAND"
De Wet Blows Up Bridges.
The Daily Mail has a dispatch from
BloemTontein, dated Wednesday, say
ing:
General De Vets attack on the rail-
way was made after ne had succeeded
in turing General Methuen from where
he had destroyed the line. Then he
cleverly seized it north Of Kroonstad.
blew uD the bridge and destroyed a
long section OF the line with dynamite"
Major General Baden-Powen has
been appointed to the rank of neuten-
ant general.
The Cape Town correspondent Of the
Daily Telegraph, in a dispatch dated
yesterday. says.
Il understand that General De Wet
in addition 10 the Derbyshire battalion,
captured two companies OF the city vol
unteers and two companies Of yeo-
many. two men only escaping to tell
the tale
Steyn Now the Stumbling Block.
The Lourenz5 Marquee correspond
ent e@tbe Times says:
ct alpears that Stem, and not Kru-
ger. IS nlW the stumbling block in the
way o. She surrender Of the burghers.
Shortly after the British entry into
Pretoria NJ. Kruger proposed TO re-
open the peSce negotiations Mr.. Steyn,