The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-06-14

London. June 6-4:35 a. m.-Queen
Victoria, surrounded by the Duke and
Duchess Of York, Princess Christian,
Princess Victoria and many other no.
tables of her court, drank to the health
of Lord Roberts and the army al Bal
moral last evening. great bonfire
lighted at Her Majesty's command,
blaZed on Craiggown mountain, lllu-
minating the countryside for miles
around. The nation joins in the toast,
clarifying Lord Roberts an1 Turbulent
ly rejoicing in his victory.
The dispatches of Lord Roberts, tell
ing Of the incidents before the sur
render of the capital by three civilians,
stand alone, as the correspondents with
him not yet had their turn with the
wires.
Lord Roberts postscript announcing
the loss of the Yeomanry battalion
came too late for the public to know it
last evening. The newspaper COM
mentators consider the incident de-
plorable, but as having no weight to
speak of on the results. The battallon
General Botha and most of his men
got away from Pretoria. This is in
ferred from Lord Roberts message, but
the presumption is that the Boer COM
mandant General cannot escape the
British dispositions without tight.
Operations elsewhere seem TO have
dwindled to nothing. General Baden
Powell joined General Hunter on Sun
day at Lichtenburg. Sir Redvers Bull
Ter has not moved.
Bennett Burleigh, wiring from
Johannesburg, says President Kruger
took $1,000. eco in cash to Middieburg.
MI Burleish and Guy H. Scull. an
American correspondent, entered
johannesburg the night before LORD
Roberts occupied the city and made
a tour of it unmolested by the
burghers.
London, June AT 2 o'clock this
afternoon, almost eight months after
the declaration of war, Lord ROBERTS
entered Pretoria, While the COM
mander-i in chief of the greatest army
Great Britain ever put in the field was
fulfilling the promise he made to the
Guard at Bloemfontein, to lead them
into the capital of the Transvaal, Eng
land was celebrating the event with
wild enthusiasm. Throughout the
length and breadth of the country the
news spread like wildtre. Based on
the recollection of recent European
wars, when the occupation of the en-
emy's capital signified the end of hos
tilities, Lord Roberts terse telegram
was universally taken to mean the
practical finish of the war which has
tried Great Britain's military resources
as they We're never tried before. In
London the Mansion House and the
War Office almost inStantaneously be-
came the centres for jubilant throngs
Flags again appeared as if by magic
and traffic had to be diverted through
other streets. Joyful throngs thunder
ed cheers and sang God Save the
Queen" Hats hOiSted from thousands
of heads We've waved in exultant hands
and shimlnered like coal-bed in the
sun
Lord Roberts six miles spruit dis
patch was hardly printed by the Eek
tras" before the Union Jack of the War
Office was hauled up the Flagstaff and
the brief message was passed from
mouth to mouth: pretoria is Occu-
pied
The pressure of General French north
of the Boer capital came as a surprise
and explained the commander-in-ch chief
retriever anent the position of the en-
erSetic cavalry leader. 1t was evident
that Lord Roberts delayed attacking
until all his columns were ready to CO.
operate.
Judging from Lord Roberts phrase
ology, the occupation of Pretoria was
not accompanied by any loss Of life
What has happened to the Boer forces
which so insistently opposed the Brit
ish advance at Six Miles Spruit CO.
only be surmised. But presumably they
have got away, for the present, at any
rate.
The latest press dispatches from a
representative of the Associated Press
at Pretoria, dated June Sd, quote Cen
eral Botha as saying: so long as we
can still count on our thousands of
wiling men, we must not dream OF
retreat Or throwing away our independ-
ence."
General Botha, it is added annulled
the regulations appointing a special
committee to preserve order subStitut-
ing military control for that of the
committee
General Lucas Meyer adds that the
burSherS on the Church square urged
them all to stand fast
Thus, though their efforts were pitt
fully futile, it is evident that few
faithful Boer Generals worked desper-
ately to resist the overwhelming force
of Lord Roberts army.
The War Office has information tina +
one Of the first things done by Lord
ROBERTS after the occupation of Pretoria
was to direct General French to relieve
the British prisoners confined at
Waterfall.
Bells We're rung. flags were flown ard
holidays were declared all over Eng
land.
The Lord Mayor OF London, Mr.. A. ].
Newton, has cabled to Lord Roberts:
Inc Empire will never forget what
you and the forces under your COM
mand nave accomplished. Accept the
grateful congratulations of the citizens
of London