The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-05

London, May 31.-The war office has
received the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts under late of Germiston
May Goth:
In answer to a flag OF truce 1 sent
to johannesburg this morning h COM
mandant came to see. me. He begged
me to defer entering the town for
twenty-four hours, as there were many
armed burghers still inside. 1 agreed
TO this, as 1 am most anxious TO avert
the possibility of anything like dis
turbance inside the town and as bod
les of the enemy are still holding the
hills in the immediate neighborhood
from which they will have to be clear
ed beforehand.
Rumble reports that he attacked
a large party OF Beers near Senekal
We're not heavy.
"Brabant reports that on May 28th
two of his patrols, consisting of W
officers and forty men, were cut off by
the enemy and taken prisoners"
The war office has received from
Lord Rober another dispatch dated
GermistOn May Both, 9 p. m. saying:
The brunt of the fighting yesterday
fell upon Ian Hamilton's column. L
have sent him, as already mentioned,
to work around to the west of Johann
esburg in support of French's cavalry,
which was directed to go north near
the road leading to Pretoria.
Il have not heard from rench yet,
but Hamilton, in a report which has
Just reached me, states that at about
l clock in the afternoon he found his
way blocked by the enemy strongly
posted on some kOpjes and ridges three
two heavy guns and several field guns
and prOmpOms. Hamilton forthwith
attacked.
THE right was lead by the Gordons,
who, after capturing the extremity of
the ridge wheeled around and worked
along it until after dark, clearing it of
the enemy who fought most obstinate
ly. The One and Fourth led
on the other flank and would not be
denied but the chief share in the &C
ion, as in the casualties, fell to the
GOrdOns, whose gallant advance eX-
cited the admiration of all.
Hamilton is now at Florida, due
west OF Johannesburg and French is
a few miles further to the northeast.
The GOrdons, the cavalry, the mounted
infantry and the Seventh division are
holding the heights of the town. The
Eleventh division, with batteries H,
n G., and the heavy artillery, are
south of Johannesburg"
KRUGER CAPTURED.
London, May 81. 6:45 p. m.-The
West Minister Gazette says it is rumor-
ed tonight in a quarter likely to be
well informed, that President Kruger
has been captured by the British six
miles beyond Pretoria. The war Of
flee here knows nothing about it.
THE BRITISH FLAG FLIES OVER
JOHANNESBURG.
London. May 31.-The following dis
patch from Lore Roberts has been re-
ceived at the war office:
Johannesburg. May 81, , p. M
Her majesty's forces are now in pos
session of Johannesburg and the Brit
ish flag floats over the government
building"
A special dispatch from Germiston,
a suburb of Johannesburg, says several
hundred Beers lave sought refuge In
a mine where the British GrenadierS
have cornered them and barred all eS-
cape.
cape Town, May 31.-The British
have occupied Heidelburg, on the rail-
road connecting Johannesburg with
the Transvaal frontier town of Volks-
rust on the Natal frontier near Laing'S
mex.
PRETORIA NOT YET CAPTURED.
London, May 31.-Lord Roberts
latest dispatches shed a somewhat diff
ferent light on the military situation.
Before they were received celebra-
tons were organized in the country
towns in honor of the fall of Pretoria.
In Chester a public holiday was de-