Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-06-14
rRANsvAAL WAR ITEMS.

The following dispatch from Lord
Roberts. 5-scd Pretoria, June 8, has
been received at the London war office:
81 regret TO report that the 18th Imper-
ial Yeomanry had to surrender TO
very superior force of the enemy on
May 81, near Lindley. On receiving
information of the battalion being at
tackled ordered Methuen to proceed
with all speed to its assistance Meth
uen was then on the march, on the
Hebron side of Kroonstadt, and, half
an hour after the receipt of my tele-
gram on June l, he started of. by 10
a. IN. of the following day he had
marched "a miles in 25 hours, but he
was too late to rescue Col. Spragge's
Yeomanry. Methuen attacked the
Beers who were between 2, 900 and 5000
strong and after running fight of five
hours completely routed the enemy 1t
is very regrettable circumstance, but
trust it will not be very long before
the Irish Yeomanry are released from
captivity"
After sharp fighting, which ragged all
day on the 4th and was resumed on the
5th, the Union Jack now flies over the
Transvaal capital, Pretoria. 1t is now
only little over eight months since
the declaration of war was announced
and Roberts has entered Pretoria, full
filling the promise he made to the
guards at Bloemfontein, that he would
lead them into the capitol of the Trans
vaal while Britain was celebrating the
event with wild enthusiasm. Great
rejoicing was manifested throughout
England and Canada when the news of
the fall of Pretoria was received. At
many places schools were let out, and
the children paraded the streets sing
ing the national anthem; factories
were closed down; parades, speeches
and other evidences of patriotic en-
thusiasm followed.
The executive offices of the Transvaal
government are in a railway car, which
is shunted on a switch at Machadorp
station. President Kruger caused the
interior of the coach to be recon-
structed some time ago with view to
contingencies that have now arrived.
Referring to the reasons why he left
Pretoria, Mr.. Kruger said: | was not
foolish enough to be taken prisoner l
provided this means of locomotion pre-
cisely for the same reason as our burgh-
ers supply themselves with horses
when they take the field. 1t is neces-
sary that | should be able to move
quickly from place to place. By and
by this car will take me back to Pre-
toria.
The Beers have torn up 81 miles of
Lord Roberts vital line of railway be-
tween America siding and Roodeval.
1t is bold raid and vexatious, but it
does not disquiet the military authori-
ties as yet, for they expect Gen. Kelly
Kenny to drive off the marauders and
reopen the line.
Gen. Butler has at length taken the
offensive and by maneuvering, has Sc
cured position west of Laing's mex,
by which he believes he can make the
Boer positions untenable. Presumably
he will Immediately follow up his sue
cess.
Gen. Hunters advance column occu-
pied Ventersdorp on the 18th, the Beers
quietly surrendering in small bodies.
Considerable looting had been done
Gen. Mahon's column has rejoined
Hunter.
On receipt of official word of the fall
of Pretoria, London's Lord Mayor
cabled Lord Rocerts as follows: 'The
Empire will never forget what you
have done"