The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-18
1t Is Said He VIII Soon Detach an
Entire Division of Regulars
for Service in China.
BoER REPORTS OF FIGHTING
THEY TELL OF TWO DAYS OF CON-
FLICT EAST OF PRETORIA.
Another Bulletin Says British Troops
Are Dying of StarvatiOn-Pris-
oners Said tn BE Suffering.

LONDON, June IS, 400 a. m.-There are
some indications that Lord Roberts consid-
ers the wars end in South Africa not far
distant. One of these is the fact that the
Natal volunteers who had seen hard serv-
ice, were dismissed to their homes by Sir
Redvers Butler Saturday They were
cheered as they left camp.
Another indication is the report current
in authoritatively informed military circles
i'm London that complete division of regu-
lars is to be withdrawn from General Bull
ler's army and embarked at Durham for
China
The troops drawn from India probably
will go next. Lord Roberts let them go
without telegraphing. The correspondents
at headquarters are as they have been for
ten days silent
Unofficial intelligence from Machadodorp,
via Lourenzo MARQUES, is to the effect that
the British troops are near Middleburg. The
Boer narrative of the fighting east of Pre-
toria, posted on a bulletin board outside of
President Kruger's car at Machadodorp,
ran thus:
1.-The commanders east of Pretoria, in the
direction of Bronkhorst spruit, were COM
Delleu 10 retire AFTER "A ueTCt Stdilu VI iuotC
than two days, in way that won admira-
ton of the acting commandant general.
The short range rife fire was very hot and
for part of the second day, especially late
in the afternoon, the enemy fought at a
distance of one hundred yards. Our loss
cannot yet be given. The acting comman-
dant general only mentions field Colonel
John Van Buren, killed. He was one of the
pluckiest men in the field.
Information is again to hand regarding
the miserable condition of the enemy s
troops that nave penetrated to Johannes
burg and Pretoria. They continually COM
plain of the lack of food. Several British
soldiers have died in the streets of Pretoria
of exhaustion and starvation. Along the
roads lie the corpses of horses and mules
while the living animals are so weak that
they are hardly able to carry their loads. .
Another bulletin at Machadodorp, accord
ing TO dispatch dated June Is, says:
Fifteen officers and 100 British soldiers
prisoners, have arrived at Standerton, Free
State, bound for MORT Gedacht. Thirty
burghers We're killed and wounded during
the last few days fighting near Pretoria. =
Mr.. Steyn, In consequence OF Lord Rob-
erts's annextion of the Free state by
proclama ton, has issued counter procla-
nation declaring that the Free State still
exists, is independent and does not ac-
knowledge the authority of Great Britain
The British prisoners at MORT Gedacht
have been having exciting games of foot
ball in order to keep themselves warm
They are. according to a dispatch from
Lourenzo Marques. without shelter or
medical comforts, and are confined between
two mountains, where the sun does not
shine until $50 a. m.
Delagoa bay merchants are rushing
goods toward Machadodorp, the Boer ex-
pectation being that the of the rail-
way will soon be lost and preparations
for final stand In the Lydenburg district
must be promptly completed.