The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-30

very strong positions, doubt If they
would show fight. The railway was op-
ened to Newcastle on May 2S."
NO WORD FROM ROBERTS,
London, May 3O-As Lord Roberts
has heretofore always fulfilled his pre-
dictiOns, it is taken for granted here
that the British marched into Johannes
burg at noon today. Indeed, reports are
current that kilograms have already
been received announcing the fact and
the serious part of the campaign from
the military point of view is regarded as
over. Any prolonged defense of Pre-
tOria is considered highly improbable,
and many military men anticipate that
Cen French will capture the Transvaal
capital within a day or two by a sudden
and unexpected move.
Public interest centers largely in
President Kruger. his capture or es-
cape. The occupation of Pretoria would
be largely robbed of its value in the es-
timatiOn of the British if Dom Paul
were still at large and able to keep alive
the dying embers of war.
Pretoria dispatch says the situa-
| tion at Johannesburg shows, as report
ed by Lord Roberts that order is main
tanned from the gold reef city.
The report that the British were driv-
en- back. evidently refers to the prOl6ng-
ed fighting of Gen. French, Westwards
of Johannesburg. But, apparently the
| Lord Roberts does not mention it in his
| dispatch "a hours later
dispatch from Mafeking, dated Fri
/ day, May 25, reports that Gen Snyman.
/ the Boer commander, has left his force
and arrived at his farm with a Shrapnel
/ bullet in his foot
The Boer laager at Rooigraad, it is
/ added has retired further into the
! Transvaal and Mafeking is rapidly re-
suming its normal state Major General
/ Baden-POWel on the queens birthday
| gave dinner to the officers of the re-
let columns. During the course of a
/ speech proposing the queens health. the
defender of Mafeking remarked that he
/ was so elated by the recent occurrences
! that he felt that he could drink the
| health of Paul Kruger himself coupled
with that of Cecil Rhodes, adding. be
cause Kruger has been the cause of the
/ present great outburst of imperial feel
ing and Rhodes was the red rag to the
bull which drew him on"
BOERS LEAVING NATAL.
London, May 9O.-It is officially an
nounced that the Beers are leaving Ma
tai Gen. Hlldyard has occupied Utrecht
in the southeastern portion of the
Transvaal.
BOER REPORT OF BATTLES.
Pretoria. Tuesday, May SO-An official
war bulletin, just issued is as follows:
f"On Sunday a fight occurred close to
Van Wycksrust in Gatsrand The fed
erals fought well and the British troops
seemed tired out. At dark the federaIs
We're forced to retire in the direction OF
Van Wycksrust on account of the over
whelming force of the British
THE British at Watersrand yesterday
and were in contact with the federals al
Gatsrand, but they were beaten back
( with gOOd results by the federals under
Commandant Louis Botha. The federals
We're heavily bombar1ed all day Ions
but kept their positions. The British
{ loss IS reported to be considerable
/ The British are near Utrecht and
they are also marching on Laings Mex
ROBERTS AT JOHANNESBURG.
London. May 80, $3.50 a. m-Lord Rob
erts IS bivouacking in the suburbs Of
Johannesburg, and intends to make &
victorious entry at noon today Judgins
from his dispatch he must have pri-
Vate information regarding the diSpo.
sitiOn of the garrison in the fort, as h,
does not seem to expect opposition
Lord Roberts cavalry have flowed OF
beyond johannesburg. A portion is un
derstoOd to be at Zurfontein, sever
miles north of Johannesburg and within
twenty miles of Pretoria. Lord Roberts
although with a broken bridge at Yer
enignlng and wrecked railway behinC
him, has somehow managed to get for
ward sufficient supplies for his larg
force AS he has been able to do s.
much, it is considered possible that h
will be outside of Pretoria Friday
The Standard has the following ad
> vices from Pretoria, under Monday
date:
''The Tra1svaal government ha
! opened, or is about to open, peace nego
! tiatiOns. 1t has cabled a final inquir,
r to its agents abroad, asking whethe
any hope exists of add
Without doubt the presence of Lort
! Roberts with 10000 men at Johannes
! burg will hasten the TransvaaIs deci
| | SION Dispatches from Lorenzo Marque
/ yesterday described President Kruge
: as ''wavering but demanding a guar
, ! antee that he shall not be exiled to 81
I Helena"
A The fighting burghers still continu
to desert, and the total collapse of tn
3 Boer military organization is not far of
Bennett Burleigh, wiring from Lor
+. Roberts headquarters at Verenignin
n on Sunday, says:
o I doubt if President Kruger ca
: muster $4,000 men, as many of tn
S burgherS have gone to their homes"
n The stauncher Beers are sending thei
families with wagons and stores to tn
Zouthpansberg district. Whether Pre-
2 toria viii be defended is uncertain. al
q though a Pretoria message, dated Sur
g day, pictures the work of defending tn
q capital as going on with feverish ac
r. tivity."
V Pretoria is situated in a wilderness {
n kopjes and ranges. and is provided wit
defenses that require at least 10000 me
IS to man them properly. There may /
e still but one hard nut to crack
y The news that Lord Roberts was praC
e tically master of Johannesburg was rt
g ceived in London with noisy enthJ
le siasn. A proces essionof students marche
If through the West End cheering an
j. singing. The announcement at the va
rious places Of amusement was 70
Is lowed by singing of the national al
If them and cheering for "Robs.
n Sir Redvers Butler and the Beers ha
i an artillery duel all day yesterday will
h out marked result. The equilibrium
" Natal seems still maintained. On Sun
p day the British killed two Beers ar
4 captured ten near MuIler's pass.
n
HEApST SEcnMn pIAr-