Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1900-06-09
PRETORIA WAS CAPTURED
nrNERAL ROBERTS is THERE.
=. Had to Fight-The Beers Contest
- the Advance, but Were slowly
nr,~en Bacl<-Envoys at Chicago.
imposition Was Encountered.


;.snad the following dispatch from Lord
Roberts:
apretoria, June GIVE are now in
soossion of Pretoria. The official entry
rill be made Tuesday afternoon at 2
o'clock"
London. June 6.-The war office has IS
sued. the following ditpatch, received from
Lord Roberts;
Six Miles Spruit, June GIVE started
At davbreak and marched about IL miles
70 six Miles Spruit, both banks of which
we're occupied by the enemy. Henrys
West Somerset, Dorset, Bedford and Sus-
sex companies of yeomanry quickly dis
LODGED them from the south bank and pur-
sued them nearly mile, when they found
themselves under heavy fire from guns
which the Beers had placed in well con-
cealed commanding position.
"Our heavy guns of the naval and
heavy artillery, which had purposely been
in the front part of the column, were,
however, rushed to the assistance of the
mounted infantry as fast as oxen and
mules could travel over the great rolling
hills surrounding Pretoria. The guns
we're supported by Stevenson's brigade of
Pole Carew's division, and after few
rounds drove the enemy from their posi-
tons.
1.-The Beers then attempted to turn our
left flank, in which they were again foiled
by the mounted infantry and yeomanry,
supported by Maxwells brigade of fuckers
division. As, however, they still kept
pressing our left rear, | sent word to
Ian Hamilton, who was advancing three
miles to our left, to incline toward us and
fill up the gap between the two columns.
This finally checked the enemy, who wers
driven back toward Pretoria. | hoped we
would have been able to follow them up,
but the days now are very short in this
part of the world, and, after nearly two
hours marching and fighting, We had to
biyouac on the ground gained during the
day.
The guards brigade is quite near the
southern-most fort by which Pretoria is
defended and less than four miles from
the town.
French with the Third and Fourth cav
airy brigades and Hutton's New South
Wales mounted rifles is north of Pretoria.
"Broadwood's brigade is between
Frenchs and Hamilton's columns, and
Gordon is watching the right flank OF the
main force not far from the railroad bridge
at Irene Station, which was destroyed by
the enemy.
Our casualties, l hope, are very few
Had Expected More Fighting.
Those who had had a chance to read
Roberts account of the resistance en-
countered yesterday were at the moment
commenting on the probability OF fierce
fight before the city was occupied, and
were wondering at the Beers capabilities
to make such a determined stand when
Pretoria was hemmed in on all sides. The
presence of General French north OF the
BOer capital came as a surprise and eN-
planned the commander in chiefs retriever
dispatch anent the position of the ener-
getic cavalry leader. 1t was evident that
Roberts delayed attacking until all his
column was ready to cooperate, but even
when Roberts wired last night that this
was accomplished there seemed posi-
blity of some fighting, so when the next
dispatch was given out it came as a sur
prise.
Judging from Roberts phraseology, the
occupation of Pretoria was not accompan-
led by any loss of life.
What has happened to the Boer forces
which so insistently opposed the British
advance at Six Miles Spruit can only be
surmised. But presumably they have got
away for the present at any rate.
Botha Is stiII WarIike.
The latest dispatches from represent
alive of the Associated Press at Pretoria
dated June 3, quoted General Botha as
saying:
so long as we can count on our thous-
ands of willing men, we must not dream
OF retreat or of throwing away our III
dependence"
General Botha, it is added, annulled the
regulations appointing a special commit
lee to preserve order, substituting mill
tary control for that of the committee.
General Lucas Meyer, addressing the
burghers on the square, urged them to
all stand fast.
Thus, though their efforts were futile,
few faithful Boer generals worked des-
perately to resist the overwhelming force
OF Roberts army. The war office has IN
formation that one of the first things done
oy Roberts after the occupation OF Pre-
torla was to direct General French to re-
lease the British prisoners confined at
Waterfall.