The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-06-02
MOSTLY RUMORS.
No Actual News From
Pretoria.
Surrender May Have
Been Blocked
By Force Of Beers From the
South.
Kruger's Capture Again
Reported.
Telegraphic Communication
Telegraphic Communication
With Pretoria Closed.

London, June 2, 8.45 a. m.-Lord Rob-
erts continues 81 lent regarding Pretoria,
probably because he cannot wire of
events from his own knowledge. Louren-
co Marques where all the news from the
Boer side is relayed, cables that commu-
nication with Pretoria is now su spended.
Some messa ges by courier have reached
Lourenco Marques but none Of later date
than Wednesday. These assert that the
burghers are in a state Of panic and that
Pretoria is being controlled by vigil
lance committee.
Lourenco Marques again sends the re-
port that President Kruger has been cap
tured
This news gives rise to a suspicion that
the citizens committee at Pretoria may
not have been able TO carry our their
pian for securing the peaceful entry of
Lord Roberts and sparing the city the
horrors Of siege. The peace party ap-
peared to be in the ascendant and, ,as soon
as President Kruger and his cabinet
left Pretoria to organize new capital,
the citizens committee persuaded the
commandants OF the forts to withdraw
some Of the troops from the defenses,
perhaps with the view of keeping order in
the town. If messengers were sent to the
British or If the British, being two hours
march from Pretoria on Wednesday, en-
tered it, then or Mt any time prior to Fri
day noon, Lord Roberts would certainly
have telegraphed this fact. Hence 1t
looks as though there was Boer force
between Pretoria and johannesburg.
These soldiers falling back toward Pre-
toria, some Of them fresh from the fight
with General Ian Hamilton, would have
brought new element into the situation
and would probably rule over the peace
committee, taking the direction Of affairs
out of their hands. If this has happened
the British may, as the Daily Chronicle
says, see some ''hard fighting before the
British flag flies over Pretoria for even If
the Beers held only three forts standing
close together on the hills south Of the
town, they would be in d position to
stand siege.
The Beers, Eaccording to q special de-
spatch from Lourenco Marques have re-
entered northeastern territory of the Free
State and are engaged with the British
near Ventersburg and Harrissmith. 1t
is reported from Amsterdam that the
best rooms at Het Haasje, one Of the
principal hotels there, have been engaged
for President Kruger's occupancy from
June 25.
General Butler is moving slowly
against the Boer fianks.
The Times has the following from Lou.
renco Marques dated June /:
Reports of the most conflicting char.
acter are current here, due to the activ-
ity of the Boer agents.
while one section declares that Presi-
dent Kurger has returned to Pretoria for
the purpose Of arranging terms Of sur.
render, another asserts that the British
have been repulsed outside of Pretoria
Nothing authentic is known here regard
ing Mr.. Kruger's whereabouts or the sit
uation in the Transvaal."
| SURROUNDED BY BOERS.
| Capetown, May 81.-General Warren
with 700 men occupied strong defen-
siye position at Fabersprut, on May 20
At dawn he found that he was surround.
ed and he was flercely attacked by 100
rebels. The horses were stampeded but
| the force concentrated and Beers wer'
repulsed.
KRUGER'S ILLNESS.
Lourenzo Marques, June 1.-Mr. Hey
man, President Kurger's physician, and
one Of the presidents sons, passes
through Ressano-G Garcia the first station
In Portuguese territory this morning, ba
J the train arrived here without them.
Later-Firchie Eloff, President Kruger
son in law, not his son, arrived here wit
DIR. Heyman.
!, RUMoR ABOUT KRUGER.
London, June LA belated despatc