Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-01

(By telegraph to Virginian-Pilot.)
London. June 1 1880 a. m.)-Belated
messages from Pretoria confirm the re-
port of the departure of President Kru-
Tiger, with his cabinet and staff off,
Gals. Tuesday night. and the selection
at n meeting of citizens of q commit
tee to administer the city PROVISIONAL
~.
Since the kilograms left on Wednes-
day nothing apparently has reached
Lourenzo Marques by telegraph from
Pretoria.
Possibly the wires have been cut
Possibly the Boer censorship at some
in:ermediate po.nt Interectps kilograms.
Although the War Office has not re-
ceived a word about 1t, no one in Lon
don harbors the idea that the Boer
capital is not already in the hands OF
the British. or about to be there. The
possession of Johannesburg, at all
events, as Lord Roberts has telegraph
ed. is a fact.
States Attorney Snruts did not depart
with President kruger, but remained In
Pretoria
The present seat of the Boer Govern
ment, according to IL dispatch frcm
Lourenzo Marques. dated yesterday, is
Mlddleburg. but 1t will probably be
shifted further east.
The Beers lately confronting Lord
Roberts appear to have gone eastward
also, toward Lydenburg region The
defenders of Laing's Mex. when their
position becomes too perlous, will prCb-
ably trek straight northward toward
Lydenburg.
10000 IN BOER ARMY.
When this concentration takes place
there will possibly be 10000 men who
may hold out for time. with scattered
bands of guerllas elsewhere.
BELIEVE PRETORIA FALLEN.
London, May 31.-Lord Roberts latest
dispatches shed n somewhat different
light on the military situation Before
they were received celebrations were
organized in the country towns in honor
OF the fall OF Pretoria. In Chester a
public holiday was declared. while at
Dover, Portsmouth and many other
places in the provinces flags were flown
and rejoicings were general Pretoria.
however, is not yet in the hands of the
British. though there is no reason to
doubt the authenticity of the report
that Kruger has evacuated the place,
and that the municipality is ready TO
surrender when confronted by superior
numbers.
Though the British seem certain to
reach Pretoria within a day or so, they
fighting. Lord Roberts forces will be
placed to the South, West and North of
surrendered Johannesburg. These units
will probably be re-concentrated while
General French makes an advance.
Pretoria should be reached by June 2,
opposition or no opposition. General
Brabant's loss of forty men is striking
evidence that the annexation of the
Free State by no means implies its paci-
fication.
So thoroughly Is the country here i'm
bued with the belief that Pretoria has
fallen that Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain,
the Secretary of State for the Colonies,
speaking to-day at a meeting of the
University of Birmingham, proposed a
message to the Queen congratulating
her upon the capture of Johannesburg
and Pretoria, which was sent to the at
ternoon newspapers.
The afternoon newspapers ali ac-
knowledge the prompt friendliness of
the United States Consul at Pretoria.
Nfr. Adelbert s. Hay, in insisting on the
release of a number of British officers
to take command of the British pris-
oners in order to avert a disturbance
among the latter.
Lord Cecil Manners son of the Duke
of Rutland. and who is acting as a
newspaper correspondent. was among
the prisoners captured by the Beers
during Lord Roberts advance May 30.
Germiston, Transvaal, May 3d.
"wednesday 1925 p. Merchandising
is practically in British possession. The
mines are uninjured. Nine engines n
coal train and a great quantity of roll
ing stock were captured.
The remnants of the Beers rear guard
remained behind and fought in the
streets of Germiston, but they were
easily cleared by the Grenadiers.
The troops have not yet occupied
Johannesburg. General French is now
at Elandslaagte. The guards hold
Elandsfontein and Geruniston.
This. State entry into Johannesburg
will take place tomorrow.
The Beers have gone to Pretoria
The railroad from here to the Vaal
river Is uninjured
AT JOHANNESBURG.
London, May 31.-The War office has
received the following despatch from
Lord Roberts under date of Germiston,
May 80:
In answer to flag of truce sent to
Johannesburg this morning, the com
mandant came to see me. He begged
me to defer entering the town for "a
hours as there were many armed bur-