Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-06
PRETORIA TAKEN.
Botha Surrenders and Roberts
Enters Beer Capital.
Asked for Terms, He Refuses Anything
bat Unconditional Surrender.
All England Celebrates, This Time Sure Of
Reason for Celebrating.

London, June j.-At O'Clock this
afternoon almost eight months after
the declaration of war, Lord Roberts
enter. 4 Pretoria. While the command
cr-in-chief is fulfilling the promise he
made to the guards at Bloemfontein
ID lead them into the capital Of the
TranSvaal, England is celebrating the
event with wild enthusiasm. Through
out the length and breadth Of the
country the news spread like wildfire.
BASED on the recollection of recent
European wars, when the occupation
of the cnemys capital signified the
end OF hOStiiities, Lord Roberts terse
telegram was taken to mean the prac-
teal finish Of the war, which has tried
Great Britain's military resources as
they We're never tried before. In Lon
don, the Mansion House and war Of
flee almost simultaneously became the
centers for jubilant throngs so large
that traffic had to be diverted through
other streets. Hatless and coatless
men and boys ran through the city al
leys to see for themselves the bulletins
announcing the good news and stayed
tD ada their voices to the throng sing
ing God Save the Queen" Old men
on top Of omnibuses and aldermen
from the windows Of the Mansion
House encouraged the crowds to still
further efforts.
The premature report of the fall of
the Beers stronghold did not seem to
have taken the edge off today's cele-
bration. Lord Roberts Six Miles
spruit dispatch was hardly printed in
the extras" before the Union Jack at
the war office was rapidly hauled up
To the flagstaff and the brief message
was passed from mouth to mouth
Pretoria is occupied" Those who had
had chance to read Lord Roberts
account of the resistance encountered,
yesterday. were ut that moment COM
merting on the probability of a fierce
fight before the city was occupied and
were wondering at the Beers capabili-
lies to make such determined stand
when Pretoria was hemmed in on all
sides
The present position Of Gen. French
north Of the Boer capital came as a
surprise and explained the commander
in-chief's retriever anent the position
of the energetic cavalry leader 1t was
evident that Lord Roberts had delay
We're ready to cooperate But even
when Lord Roberts wired, last night.
that this was accomplished there
seemed q possibility of some fighting.
Sd when the next momentous dispatch
was given out il came as a surprise
Judging from Lord Roberts phrase
ology, the occupation of Pretoria was
not accompanied by loss of life What
l,.,e l..
So mistakenly opposed the British ad-
vance at Six Mile spruit can only be
surmised. Eut presumably they got
away for the present, at any rate.
Dispatches from n representative of
Tho Associated Press at Pretoria dated
June 3. quot" Gen. Botha as saying:
so long rs we can still count on
our thousands Of willing men we must
not dream of retreat or throwing away
our independence"
General Bntha, it is stated, annulled
the regulations appointing a special
committee tn preserve order. substitu-
ting military control for that of the
committee. Gen. Lucas Meyer, ad-
dressing the burghers on the church
square, urged them all to stand fast.
Thus. though their efforts Were pitt
fully futile. it is evident that a few
faithful Eoer generals worked desper-
atcly to resist the overwhelming force
of Lord Roberts army
The war office has information that
one of the first things done by Lord
Roberts after the occupation of Pre-
toria. was to direct General French to
relieve the British prisoners confined
at Waterfall
London. June Gas a. M-Queen
Victoria. surrounded by the Duke and
Duchess Of York. Princess Christian.
Princess Victoria and many notables
Of her court, drank to the health Of
Lord Roberts and the army at Bal
moral, last evening. great bonfire,
lighted ut Her Majesty's command.
bIaZed on Craiggowan mountain. illum-
mating the country for miles around.
The nation joins in the toast glorify-