The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-05
BUT THESE FACTS APPEAR
Six Columns of Roberts Troops Are
Converging on Pretoria.
BOERs FAIL TO CUT HIS COMMUNICATIONS
And the Beer Columns at Fcksburg, Seneka
Iieilbron and Lindey Are Now in
Danger of Deing Surrounded
by The British,
(By the Associated Press.)

London, June 5.-(Tuesday, 800 a. mo-
OF official intelligence regarding what is
transpiring outside Pretoria there is lit
tie Or nothing today. Lord Roberts is sill
ent. Nevertheless, by piecing together
items from various correspondents it
would seem that Lord Roberts imme-
diate army is already employed north of
johannesburg, except one brigade which
is at johannesburg, and that six columns
are conyerging on Pretoria
An undated news agency message from
Pretoria, via Lorenzo Marques, June 4th,
says
Pretoria is now invested by the Brit
ish. No resistance will be offered. The
city will be surrendered by the burgo
master as scon as a formal demand is
made"
This message purports TO come in
cipher. President Kruger commands the
telegraph eastward from Pretoria, and
telcgraphic news from Pretoria to I.o-
renzo Marques has ceased, but the mes
sages of newspaper correspondents con-
tinue to pass o anu iro on the raiisas.
The latest to arrive at Lorenzo Marques
bring events at the Boer capital down to
q late hour Friday night. At that. time
according to these sources of informa-
ton, The military leaders had quite re-
covered from the panic and had deter
mined TO defend the town. One message
which is dated June 1st, says
Pretoria is full of strange burghers
l,ut ,ooct of tho pdopc q opred
outside great war council of generals
has just concluded its deliberations. The
decision as to the future military course
has not been made known. Louis Botha
and Delarey sat in the council"
Another dispatch brought to Lorenzo
Marques by messenger, and dated at
Pretoria, Friday at midnight, says
The war council assumes the powers
of the Government. It's members declare
that the capital may still be successfully
defended
General Delarey said that Pretoria
would be defended to the utmost. adding
There is every chance that we will yet
beat the enemy out of the country.
President Kruger is somewhere to the
eastward but is in constant wire COM
munication with the leaders here. There
is, however a deep feeling of anger
against him on account OF what is now
called his unnecessary flight and because
he and the officials took all the gold and
left their subordinates unpaid. The lat
est phase of public opinion is a marvellous
revival OF courage"
From Lorenzo Marques comes a dis
patch dated June 4th saying:
1T is known that some great Boer
movement is in progress outside Pretoria.
The mysterious movement of President
Kruger's secretary and physician. partl-
cularly their secret visit to the Dutch
warship Friesland which is in the harbor
here, has aroused suspicious that i'm
portant per5onages are expected
The news from the minor theatres of
hostilties is less cryptic. The Boer
operations to break Lord Roberts COM
municatons have been completely baffled,
and the Boer columns are in danger of
being surrounded by the British forces at
Ficksburg, Senekal Heilbron and Lindley.
General Rumble, instead of throwing HIM
self against the Beers intrenched at
Bedulphberg. moved toward Ficksburg aud
established communication with General
Brabant The Beers marched parallel
with Rumble, intending to seize a strong
position on the Ficksburg road. but Cen
cral Rumble got there first The fifteen
hundred Beers who were in this move
ment are now reported to be going else
where.
General Buffers guns throw a she'll or
two toward the Boer positions in front of
him occasionally.
General Huntpr'S column is marching
into the Transvaal.
4 a. m.-Beyond Lichtenburg the Beers
are assembling to oppose General Hunter.
Colonel Mahon effected a juncture with
Hunter on Thursday at Maribogo.