The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-06-16
His Line of Communication Has
Been Partially Restored by
Means of a Victory.
NeTHUEn AND KITCHENER OVER De WET.
tacked Gen. Betha, Fifteen Miles
Southeast of Pretoria, but the
Stubborn Boer still Held His
Ground.

of II complete victory gained by Gen.
erals Methuen and Kitchener over
Gen. De Wet at the Rhenoster river,
June ~. The Boer camp was cap
tured, and the burghers, it is added,
were scattered in all directions.
How Roberts Acted.
Lord Roberts, on being notified of
the cutting of his line of communica-
tons, sent Gen. Kitchener in all haste
to join Gen. Methuen. June IL Lord
Roberts attacked Gen. Botha, who was
in strong force Is miles southwest of
Pretoria. After strenuous opposition,
the British troops gained considerable
ground, but Gen. Botha, when Lord
Roberts left the field, was still unde-
feated.
Quiet at Pretoria and Johannesburg.
All is quiet at Pretoria and johann
nesburg, and Lord Roberts saws the
government need have no apprehen-
sion about the security of the army in
South Africa, as it will not taken long
to remedy the reverses and repair the
railroads.
How the British Fought Botha,
A lengthy dispatch forwarded to the
war office by Maj.-Gen. Knox, from
Kroonstad, presumably sent there by
messenger, reads as follows:
"Kroonstad June 1--WE have been re.
erts the following dispatch from the Pre-
toria residency at sos a. m. to-day:
" Pretoria, June 1s-Pretoria and Jo-
hannesburg are perfectly quiet. and sew
eral of the inhabitants have expressed
prevail. ~
After STRENGTHENING the city. Botha
retired to a place about Is miles east on
the MidoleDurg road. lie had a small
force at first, but. during the last few
Ing so near the town kept up the excite
ment in the country, prevented the burgh-
ers from laying. down their ans, and in
terfered with the collection of supplies.
IL, therefore, became necessary to at
tack him. This / did yesterday. He held
Il very strong position, practically unas-
sailable in front, which enabled him to
place the main portion of his troops on
his tanks, which he knew, from former
experience, were his vulnerable parts. /
sent French with Porter's and Dixon's
cavalry brigades and Hutton's mounted
infantry round by our right. Both col
umns met with great opposition. AT about
three O'Clock in the afternoon 1 saw two
OF Hamilton.s infantry battalions ad-
vancing to what appeared to be the kcy
of the enemy's defense. on their left flank.
This was almost gained before dark, and
l ordered the force to bivouac on tha
ground they had won.
",Pole-Carew, with his division, occu-
pied our center.
tack, but he gradually advanced so as to
support Ian Hamilton, and when I left the
field he was on the line held by the enc
my's utposts In the morning.
II hurried back to get the news of
Methuen's movement. On hearing that
the Free staters had taken advantage OF
of communication, ! sent Kitchener with
such troops as / could then spare to Yer
VredeforD, with orders to push south
and communicate with Methuen, who. /
knew, has a very compact force in the
vicinity of Hebron. | also dispatched
a special messenger to Methuen, instructfng
line of railway. These two officers met at
vreport Road station in the evening of
June 10. They marched yesterday to
Rhenoster river. where Methuen gained
a complete victory over De Wet, and took
possession OF his camp, and scattered his
troops In all directions. He and Kitchener
marched to-day towards Kroontsad.
Her majesty's government iced have
no apprehension as to the security of the
army in South Africa. The enemy gained
q slight success, which was unfortunate,
but which will be remedied very shortly.
and 1t will not take long to repair the
damage done to the railway. As these di.
versions are all in existence, 1 am now
able to hold the line between this and
Rhenoster in strength. Methuen will ar
range to guard 1t onward as he advances.
Hunter should be at Poatchefstroom
burg.
We have communicated with Butler.
who Will no doubt, soon make the pres
ence or his force in the field felt.
" Our losses yesterday We're not. I
trust serious, but l depiore the death of
mat gallant soldier, the earl of Airlie.
are: seventeenth Lancers-Maj the Hon.
Lionel Fortescue and Lieut.. the Hon. G.
C~avendish. both killed."
Gen. Knox adds that Kroonstad is
quite safe.
EminentIy Satisfactory.
Lord Roberts dispatch is regarded
as eminently satisfactory. 1t ends a
period of suspense caused by the cut
ting of his line of communications, and
indicates what a strong grip he has on
the situation.
The result of the battle between
Lord Roberts forces and these of
Gen. Botha is eagerly awaited here,
but il is believed the Boe- commander
viii only complete his retirement,
which he seems to have already COM
n,enctd, though there is some hope
that Lord Roberts will be able to sur
round him.
Likely to Have Far-Renching Effect.
The decisive victory scored by Gen.
erals Methuen and Kitchener is re-
garded as likely to have a more far
reaching effect than any recent action
In the Orange River Colony.
Gen. Kitchener's progress south, it
IS believed, must have almost equallcd
the records of all forced marches. His
detachment from headquarters was a
merely routine procedure. as the chief
OF staff is responsible for the line of
communications.
Butler Fulfilling Roberts Hope.
Gen. Butler is rapidly fulfilling Lord
Roberts hope that he will make his
forces felt. A dispatch from ,Joubert's
Farm, under to-day's date, announces
The continuation of Buffers successful
march, the occupation of Volksrust
without opposition, and the capture of
II number of prisoners, while the Boer
casualties yesterday are reported to
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