Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-06-07
PRETORIA OCCUPIED.
The Beers Capital City Surren-
dered to the British.
Ill GREAT BRITAIN REJ0ICES.
Disaster to an Irish Regiment-Ths Thir-
tesnth Imperial YOemanry Obliged
to Surrender to y Very Supe-
riOr Force Of B0ers.


ri0r Force of Beers.
London, June 6.-The war office
has received the following from Lord
Roberts:
"Pretoria, June 5.-Just before dark
yesterday the enemy were beaten back
from nearly all the positions they
had been holding and Ian Hamilton's
mounted infantry followed them to
within 1000 yards OF Pretoria,
through which they retreated hastily.
DeLisle then sent an officer with a
FAC OF truce into the town, demand
ing its surrender in my name. Short
" before midnight | was awakened
BY two officials of the South African
republic-Sandberg, military secretary
70 Commandment General Botha, and a
general officer of the Boer army-who
brought me letter from Botha, pro-
posing an armistice for the purpose
Of settling the terms of surrender.
! replied that would gladly meet the
commandment general the next morn
Ing, but that | was not prepared to
discuss any terms, as the surrender
OF the town must be unconditional. l
asked for a reply by daybreak, as |
had ordered the troops to march on
he town as soon as it was light.
"In his reply Botha told me that he
had decided not to defend Pretoria
and he trusted women, children and
property would be protected. At one
o'clock a. IN. to-day, while on the line
Of march, ! was met by three Of the
principal officials with flag of truce,
stating their wish to surrender the
town. II was arranged that Pretoria
should be taken possession OF by her
majesty's troops at two o'clock this
afternoon.
"Mrs. Botha and Mrs. Kruger are
both In Pretoria. Some few of the
British prisoners have been taken
away, but the majority are still at
Waterfall. Over 100 of the officers are
n Pretoria. The few have seen are
looking we'll"
All Great Britain Rejoices.
London, June Queen Victoria,
surrounded by the duke and duchess
Of York, Princess Christian, Princess
Victoria and many other notables of
her court, drank to the health of
Lord Roberts and the army at Bal
moral last evening. A great bonfire,
lighted at her majesty's command,
blazed on Craiggown mountain, illu-
minating the country for miles
around. The nation joins in the toast,
clarifying Lord Roberts and turbu-
lently rejoicing in his victory.
The dispatches of Lord Roberts,
telling of the Incidents before the
surrendering of the capital by three
civilians, stand alone, as the CORE
spondents with him have not had their
turn with the wires.
} LorJ Roberts postscript announc-
ing the loss of the yeomanry bat
TALON came too late for the public
to know 1t last evening. The news
paper commentators consider the in
cident deplorable, but as having no
weight to speak of in the results.
The battalion numbered between 400
and 500.
Gen. Botha and most OF his men got
away frbm Pretoria. This is inferred
from Lord Roberts message, but the
presumption is that the Boer com
mandant general cannot escape the
British dispositions without fight.
Operations elsewhere seem to have
dwindled to nothing. Baden-Powell
Joined Gen. Hunter on Sunday at Lich-
tenburg. Sir Redvers Butler has not
moved.
Bennett Burleigh, wiring from Jo-
hannesburg, says President Kruger
took R2,OOO,6O0 In cash to Middle
burg. Mr.. Burleigh and Guy II. Soul,
an American correspondent, entered
johannesburg the night before Lord
Roberts occupied the city and made
a tour of it unmolested by the armed
burghcrs.
Disaster to an Irish Regiment
London, June 6.-Following is the
text of the dispatch from Lord Rob
erts announcing the disaster to the
Thirteenth battalion of the imperial
yeomanry:
"Pretoria Station, June 81 regret
to report that the Thirteenth imperial
yeomanry had to surrender to very
superior force of the enemy, on May
81, near Lindley. On receiving infor-
nation of the battalion being at
tackled, ! ordered Methuen to proceed
with all speed to its assistance, but
he was too late to rescue Col.
Spragge's yeomanry. Methuen at
tackled the Beers who were between
1000 and 5000 strong and, after a
running fight of five hours, complete
~ routed the enemy. 1t is very
regrettable circumstance; but trust
II will not be very long before the
Irish yeomanry are released from
cantivifvn