The sun., 1900-06-17
TO GRANT TERMSr0 BOERSi


. -
strong Belief In Leadoa Trat Rsbsrts As New
Discussing Terms of sarrssder 'HHe
Kruser- Meanwhile He PrspArss rsan "a
surround the Free statsrs Uadss steys.
Sp.eial Cable Despatch to THE SUN.
LONDON, June 10 The crisis in the Far East
has thrown even the Transvaal ser somewhat
into the background In general interest.
though the effect OF the Chinese situation on the
struggle in South Africa 10 subject of some
speculation which centres IN strohgl ofher
that Gen. Lord Roberts Il busIly nsgotiatids
with President Kruger aud Gen. Boths In re-
gard 10 terms OF surrender. After the repeated
declarations made here and BY the British gen
erals at the front on various occasions that
unconditional surrender alone would be 40
cepted, this may appear doubtful, But with
the urgent need TO be freed s soon
a possible TO the greatest extent In
South Africa, In order TO be able TO
throw all possible vlgor into the dealings with
the Chinese crisis, II would not be unnatural Tor
Lord Salisbury 10 consent 10 some peace nego
tiatiops, II President Kruger. desiring to save
appearances, may thus be persuaded TO ac-
knowledge the inevitable sooner than be would
otherwise. Every day gained now Ia held to be
Of vital importance to this country. The news
from South Africa Is practically contained In
the Official dispatches.
The War once has received tho following
despatch from Gen. Lord Roberts
PRETORIA, June 10 -Rustenburg was occu-
pied by Powell yesterday. A column
starts from this place tomorrow 10 meet Baden
Powell and repair the telegraph between Pro
toria and Rustenburg.
"Hunter Is moving from Potohefstroom and
his advance brigade expects to reach Johannes
burg on June 49, Butler. hope, Il at stander-
ton. Heidelberg will be occupied from this
point shortly and then the Orange River Colony
will be completely cut of from the Transvasl
Baden Powell reports that the districts
through which he passed are settling down sat-
tsfactorily and over thousand stands OF arms
have been turned in. Hans Eoh and Pet
Xruger. son OF the President OF tho Trans
vsal. were to make their submission to him
Yesterday, having been previously dissrmcd
on their farms.
'Bothas army has retired II Ia believed. to
Middlsburg His rear guard was surprised and
thoroughly routed by Ian Hamltons mounted
infantry. consisting chiefly OF West Australians
and the Sixth Battalion"
The War ONCE has received the folio wing de-
spatch from Gen Butler:
HEADQUARTERS, LAiSos Mex. June i6 $40
p M-Now that Natal has been cleared OF the
enemy, desire to call attention to the Disgrace
ful way in which private property has been
treated in that part OF the colony occupied by
them. Wilful and needless damage Is visible
everywhere Houses when not completely
wrecked have been deseorated with filthy in
Renuity That this has been done with the con-
sent of the leaders Is proved by the fact that
while in Charestown I'm Natal every house Is
wrecked. in volksrust. two miles OF. but In the
lrsnsvaal. the houses are practically intact"
As regards the actual military situation It
seems as though the recent vigorous Boer opera
tions on Lord Roberts's line Of communication
had been successfully checked. Natal is thor
oughy cleared Of Beers. and Roberts IL now
aiming to completely cut Of the Orange River
Colony from the Transvaul
Gen Baden Powell Is now at Rustenburs.
having successfully handled the country
through which he passed. He will join the Pre-
toria column tomorrow, while to the south
eastward OF Pretoria Roberts is sending COL
umn 10 Heidelberg to join hands with Butler.
This, as Roberts says, would completely cut OIL
the Orange River Colony and the active and
troublesome forces under President Steyn, and
Gen De Wet would be trapped As regards the
latter point though. there seems to DO good
chance that the Beers will again repeat their oft
accomplished success by slipping through what
had been hoped was well-estahlished Gordon
Gen. Roberts In his cable despatch of to-day
said he hoped that Gen Butler was then az
Stsnderton, but Butler cabled last evening that
he was still at Laings Nck. Thus the burghers
OF the Orange River Colony will possibly make
their way TO Ermelo, where a considerable force
Ia reported to be concentrated. or TO Middle
burg, where the Beers are also In large num-
bers. including Botha's force. which arrived
there after the demoralizine rear-guard action
with Hamilton.
This state OF affairs is considered here emil
nently satisfactory so far as the mere military
IDEA that Gen. Darlington S mobile force may
appear Iat Koomatipoort, cutting Oh the rail-
road o Delagoa Bay. This is merely surmise.
but II IL taken into serious consideration In
summing up the stu alton.
Cape Colony remains in the throes OF political
upheaval. The probable outcome n indicated
in The SuN's despatch OF tonight from Cape
Town. Mr. Solomon, who was Attorney General
IN schrainer's Ministry. will probably represent
tn, latter and what may be called the loyal
members Of the Afrkander Bond In a coalition
taSinet
The War once publishes the names OF three
men killed and thirty-three wounded In fight
ing at Almonds Mex. and and OF six killed and
six wounded at Zand River II also announ-
ces the death OF nineteen men from disease