The age-herald., 1900-06-07
l OPERATIONS ARE
 AT 4 STANDST|LL British Troops Retiring Prepaa-
 tory to a Long Chase BOERS RETREAT 10 LYDENBERG That City is Considered Almost
 Impregnable.
 LIES IN A VOLCANIC REGION Enclosed By Great Ramparts of Pre- cipitous Rock Penetrated By Mar row Winding Passages-Great Stores of Reserve Supplies
LIES IN A VOLCANIC REGION

London, June 7.-1 a. m.-Military opera tions in South Africa are apparently at a standstill. For day or two the tired troops of Lord Roberts resting and he is filling the magazines and warehouses at his new base, Pretoria, preparatory to a long chase after the retiring Boers in the direction of Lydenberg. His cavalry is probaDIy seeking to intercept Commandant General Botha.
 Some dispatches are at hand which left Pretoria Monday while the fighting was going on outside the city. They came by way of Lourenzo Marques One of them Says: Toward the end of the day, when the British naval guns were shellng the southern forts a number of projectiles burst, damaging the suburbs All day armed burghers have been leaving Pretoria, going east.
 ''The greater part of the railway rolling stock has been removed
 General Botha was fighting essentially. rear guard action, his object being not to defend Pretoria, but to delay Lord Roberts until the railway switch had been cleared and the main part of the Boer army had started to withdraw.
 The British advance appears to have left open to the Boers the best line of retreat along the railway.
 Possibly Lord Roberts may have been | able to cut the railway before full re- l tirement was effected. That Pretoria would be defended was apparently given out after the council of war, with view of mislead- ing the British.
 Lydenburg in Volcanic Region
 Lydenburg, the district into which the provisions originally destined for Pretoria have been diverted, and where a cartridge Foo hoe knn, taI plies of all sorts stored, is a volcanic region of fertile valleys, enclosed by great ramparts of precipitous rock, penetrated by narrow winding passes. There are herds of cattle in the valleys and there is much native labor available for the fortihca- tons.
 The Boers used both heavy and light arr tillery at Pretoria What is supposed to have been the last train out of Pretoria arrived at LourenZo Marques Sunday even- ing. The passengers included number of German volunteers, who were leaving the Beers, and also the wives and children of Hollanders. The described Pretoria des- titute of food and clothing. Probably the most important Boer army is at Langs Nek where both sides are pas sive. General Rundle and General Bra bant have withdrawn little southward.
 General Baden-Powell has extended mar tial law to the Marico and the North Lich- tenberg districts Shots were exchanged be- tween Boer ana BrltlSn patrols eighteen miles east of Mafeking May 2Sth Part of the forces lately at Pretoria are reported to have gone westward to meet Baden Powell and to make show of holding the country through which he and General Hunter are moving.
 An Uuorg tnzed KabbIe
 A dispatch to the Daily Telegraph from Newcastle, dated Tuesday, describes the Boers there as an unorganized rabble, without flour, meat or sugar. Their sur render is only question of time. Never theless the correspondent ayers they hold strong positions with the prospect of a safe retreat toward Lydenberg.
 It is understood at Newcastle that the British government has approached the Natal government with proposition that Natal should voluntarily renounce local sef-government for time in order that a general system of crown government may be instituted for all South Africa, leading in the course of time to federation and the subsequent autonomy of the various states simultaneously.
 LourenZo Marques correspondents attach significance to the number of British war ships in Delagoa bay, suggesting that they are there possibly in anticipation of aiding the Portuguese in the event of disturb ances on the Transvaal border.