The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-06-14
Victory For Kitchener and
Methuen at Rhenoster.
Beers Scattered and British
Communication Reopened.
Roberts In a Stubborn Fight
With Botha, but the Latter
Was Not Defeated.

y
silence Lord Roberts has been heard
from, his line of communications having
been practically restored by means Of u
complete victory gained by Generals
Methuen and Kitchener over General De
Wet at the Rhenoster river yesterday,
June IL. The Boer camp was captured,
and the burghers, it is added, Were scat
tered in all directions.
Lord Roberts, on being notified of the
cutting of his line Of communications
sent General Kitchener in all haste to
join General Methuen. June II Lord
Roberts attacked General Botha. who
was in strong force 10 miles southeast of
Pretoria. After strenuous opposition the
British forces gained considerable ground
but General Botha. when Lord Roberts
LETT the field, was still undefeated.
All is quiet at Pretoria and Johannes
burg, and Lord Roberts says the govern
ment need have no apprehension about
the security of the army in South Africa,
as it will not take long to remedy the
reverses and repair the railroad
SITUATION AT PRETORIA.
A lengthy dispatch forwarded to the
war Office by Major General Knox from
Kroonstadt presumably sent there by
nessenger, Teaus as lOllOWS.
I'VE have been requested to forward
you from Lord Roberts the following
dispatch from the Pretoria residency at
SOS a. m. today:
Pretoria and johannesburg are per-
fectly quiet, and several of the inhabit-
ants have expressed gratitude for the
peace and order which prevail.
After surrendering the city Botha
tn nj 1 mill m
the Middleburg road He had a small
force at first, but during the last few
days his numbers increased, and his be-
ing SO near the town kept up the excite
ment in the country, prevented the
burghers from laying down their arms
and interfered with the collection OF sup
plies. 1t therefore became necessary to
attack him. This l did yesterday He
held a very strong position. practically
unassailable in front, which enabled him
TO place the main portion of his troops
on his flanks. which he knew from for
mer experience were his vulnerable parts.
/ sent French with Porter's and Dixon's
cavalry brigades and Hutton's mounted
infantry round by our left and Ian Ham
iton, with Broadwood and Gordon's cav
airy brigade, Ridley's mounted infantry
and Bruce Hamiton's infantry brigade
round by our right. Both columns met
with great opposition. At about 3 in the
afternoon | saw two of Hamilton's in
fantry battalions advancing to what APP
peared to be the key of the enemy's de-
fense on their left flank. This was al
most gained before dark, and / ordered
the force to bivouac on the ground they
had won.
POLE-CAREW'S MOVEMENTS.
'PoleCarew, with his division, occu-
pied our center.
LAS | have explained. he could not
attack. but he gradually advanced. so as
to support Ian Hamilton, and when l
left the field he was on the line held by
the enemy's outposts in the morning.
Z" Il hurried back TO get news Of Meth
uen's movement. On hearing that the
Free Staters had taken advantage of our
crossing the Naal to interrupt our line
Of communication | sent Kitchener with
such troops as | could then spare TO Yer
[Vredefort?l with orders to push south
and communicate with Methuen, who. |
knew, had a very compact force in the
vicinity of Heilbron. / also dispatched
a special messenger to Methuen. instruct
ing him to push on at all speed to the
main line of railway. These two officers
met at Vredefort road station in the
evening of June 10. They marched yes
terday to Rhenoster river, where Meth
uen gained a complete victory over De
Wet and took possession OF his camp
and scattered his troops in all directions
He and Kitchener marched today toward
Kroonstadt.
Her majesty's government need have
no apprehension as TO the security of the
army in South Africa. The enemy gain.
cd slight success. which was unfortu.
nate, but which will be remedied very
shortly. and it will not take long to re-
pair the damage done TO the railway. A.
these diversions are all in existence, an
now able to hold the line between this
and Rhenoster in strength. Methuer
will arrange to guard il onward as he
advances.
"'Hunter should be at Potchefstroom
today. He will then move on Johannes
burg.
"'We have communicated with Butler
who will no doubt soon make the pres
ence of his force in the field felt
"'Our losses yesterday were not,
trust, serious, but l deplore the death OF
that gallant soldier. the Earl OF Airie
The only other casualties reported as yet
Hon. Lionel FOrtescue and Lieutenant
the Hon. G. Cavendish. both killed
General Knox adds that Kroonstadt Il
quite safe.
REGARDED AS SATISFACTORY
Lord Roberts dispatch is regarded as
eminently satisfactory. 1t ends a period
of suspense caused by the cutting of hi.
line of communications and indicates
what strong grip he has on the stu
alton.
The result of the battle between LORD
Roberts forces and those of Genera
Botha is eagerly awaited here, but it Il
believed the Boer commander will only
complete his retirement, which he seem.
to have already commenced, though ther,
is some hope in London that Lord Rob
erts will be able to surround him.
The decisive victory scored by Generals
Methuen and Kitchener is regarded al
likely to have n more farreaching effec
than any recent action in the Orang,
River Colony
General Kitchener's progress south, /
Is believed, must have almost equalet
the records of all forced marches. Hi
detachment from headquarters was