Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-06-08
THE COAL REACHED.
Lord Roberts Reports That He Has
Taken Pretoria.
TRANSVAAL CAPITAL FALLS EASILY.

The Commanders Description of tn,
Occupation-The News Creates
the Widest Sort of En-
thusiasm in London.
London, June 6.-The war office ha
received the following from Lord Rob
erts:
Pretoria, June 5-Just before dark YES
terday the enemy were beaten back from
nearly all the positions they had beer
holding, and Ian Hamilton's mounted in
1antry followed them to within 1000 yards
OF Pretoria, through which they retreatet
hastily De Isle then sent an office,
with flag of truce into the town, de.
manding its surrender in my name
shortly before midnight l was awakened
byStwo officials of the South African re.
public, Sandberg, military secretary tc
Commandant General Botha, and gen.
eral officer of the Boer army, who brough,
me a letter from Botha, proposing ar
armistice for the purpose of settling the
terms of surrender.
Il replied that l would gladly meet the
commandant general the next morning
out that l was not prepared to discuss
any terms as the surrender of the town
must be unconditional. l asked for a re-
ply by daybreak, l had ordered the
troops to march on the town as soon as
it was light.
I'm his reply Botha told me that he had
decided not to defend Pretoria, and that
he trusted women, children and property
would be protected. At one o'clock a. m.
to-day, while on the line of march, 1 was
met by three of the principal officials,
with flag of truce, stating their wish
to surrender the town. 1t 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 a
hundred of the officers are in Pretoria
The few have seen are looking Well"
Based on the recollection of recent
European wars, when the occupation
of the enemy's capital signitied the end
of hostilities, Lord Roberts terse tele-
gram was taken universally to mean
the practical finish of the war which
has tried Great Britain's military re-
sources as they were never tried before.
Jubilant Thronss.
In London, the mansion house and
the war Office almost instantaneously
became the centers for jubilant
throngs. Flags again appeared as ii
by magic and traffic had to be diverted
through other streets. Hatless and
coatless men and boys ran through the
city alleys to see for themselves the
bulletins announcing the good news
and staying to join in the thunder of
cheers or add their voices to the joy
full throngs singing God Save the
Queen" Hats hoisted from thousands
of heads We're waved in exultant hands
and shimmered like coal bed in the
sun. Old men on top of the omnibuses
and aldermen from the windows of the
mansion house encouraged crowds to
Still further efforts.
Expected Fierce Fight.
The premature report of the fall of
the Beers stronghold did not seem to
take the edge off Tuesdays celebra-
ton. Lord Roberts Six Miles spruit
dispatch was hardly printed in the sex
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" Those who had had chance to
read Lord Roberts account of the resist
ance encountered Monday were at that
moment commenting on the probabil-
aty of a fierce fight before the city was
occupied, and were wondering at the
Beers capabilities to make such de-
termined stand when Pretoria was
hemmed in on all sides.
No Loss of Life.
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 British advance at Six Miles Spruit
can only be surmised. But presume
ably they have got away 1or the pres
;ent. at any rate.
! Drank Lord Roberts. Health.
London. June Queen Victoria,
surrounded by the duke and duchess of
Nork, Princess Christian, Princess Vie
1oria and many other notabes of her
court. drank to the health of Lord Rob-
;erts and the army at Balmoral last
evening. A great bonfire, lighted at
her majesty's command, blazed oh
Craiggown mountain, illumina ting the
country. for miles around. The nation
Joins in the toast, clarifying Lord
Roberts and turbulently rejoicing in
his victory.
The dispatches of Lord Roberts, tell
ang of the incidents before the surren-
,dering of the capital by three civilians,
stand alone, as the correspondents
with him have not had their turn with
fhe wires.
Lore Roberts postscript announcing
the loss of the Yeomanry battalion
came too late for the public to know
1T last evening. The newspaper com
mentators consider the incident de-
Plorable. but as having no weight to
speak 81 in the results. The battalion
nus ID between 400 and 500.
.. IA and most of his men got |
away t.4l.i Pretoria. This is inferred |
from Lord Roberts message. but the |
presumption is that the Boer com
mandant general cannot escape the |
British dispositions without a fight,
Operations elsewhere seem to have
dwindled to nothing. Gen. Baden
Powell Joined Gen. Hunter on SUNDAY
at Lichtenburg. Sir Redvers Butler has
not moved.
Bennett Burleigh. wiring from 10.
hannesburg. says President Kruger
took e2,0O0,000 in cash to Middlebure.
! Irish Battalion Overwhelmed.
London. June 6.-Lord Roberts re-
ports to the war Office that the Thir-
heenth battalion of the Imperial Yeo-
manry Qrish) was overwhelmed by
the ROarS nj TiplIa,.v I o,,,1 \f.4l,,,.-, i