The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-28

A|O4>OOIN' may ZS, 3:20 a. H.-When Gen
Roberts wrote his first dispatch on Trans
Vaal territory yesterday afternoon, short
~ before o'clock, he was ffty-one miles
from johannesburg and seventv-seven
from Pretoria. His immensely superior
force had safely passed the VaaI river.
their last great natural obstacle. without
opposition. The VaaI river forms a bend
OF eight miles from Parys to Zand Drift.
The Beers retreated almost without a
show of defense. Gen French and Gen.
Hamilton apparently did not fire a shot
OF Lord Roberts Immediate force.
eleven men belonging to the Eighth
mounted infantry were the first to ford
the river. They came upon a Boer patrol
looting at Villjoen's Drift, and a skirmish
lasting ten minutes followed Two hundred
Beers tried feebly to hold the Vereeniging
colliery, but they were dislodged
The Boer rear guard is at Moyerten, ten
miles south of Vereeniging The main
body is moving toward the Kip river hills
that cover the south side of Johannesburg.
While Lord Roberts 10000 infantry, 20, 900
horse and 100 guns are moving on johann
nesburg and Pretoria, through parched
and deserted country, the situation at the
Transvaal capital, as it was last Friday,
is thus described by an observer who
sent his message by private hand to Lou
renzo Marques yesterday:
AT THE CAPITAL.
The situation, both from a military and
a political point of view, has become very
critical. President Kruger yesterday ad-
p6 he fret
very grave. The Boer determination is to
trust everything to a last stand on the
Gates Rand mountains, to the north of
Potchsfontein, where 300 kaffirs are dig
ging trenches. To that point every avail
able man and gun have been sent.
The whole of the western border of the
TransvaaL from end to end, is defense
less, and Gen. Baden-PoweH can march
In when he likes. Gen. Roberts. on the
other hand, will encounter the greatest
opposition. The Beers will lure the Brit
lsh into threatening Johannesburg as an
excuse for them to destroy property The
Transvaal government intends to destroy
the mines and property without an ex-
cuse. Much dynamite has been sent down
the line, and 5000 cases lie ready at
Zurchsfontein, sixten miles from Johan-
nesburg.
BOTHA AND MEYER PROTEST.
Gems. Botha and Meyer have protested
against the destruction of property. Both
are large proprietors of land and fear
confiscation, but they have been unable
to obtain satisfactory assurance from
President Kruger. Meanwhile French and
German adventurers have come forward
with schemes for blowing up the British
troops Some Of these have received tacit
permission for experiment One German
plan is to mine the railway wnere 1t lies
perfectly concealed until the weight of a
passing train explodes the charge.
Gen. Lucius Meyer says that surren-
der would be welcomed by the Beers, but
everybody fears the ignominy of making
the proposal He says he is assured his
men will not stand. President Steyn and
Mr. Reitz, the TransvaaI state secretary.
are strongly opposed to peace, but Mr..
Kruger is not so much against it."
President Kruger's proclamation to the
burghers, asking their votes for or
against continuing the war, is equivalent
to saying that they can quit now with the
prospect of returning to their farms or
continuing to the bitter end. The indica-
tions are that the majority Of the Beers
favor surrender.
Some correspondents telegraph that
there are 100000 foreigners in the Boer
army, but this is hardly credible Indfca-
tions are that there will be a pitched
battle at Laing's Mex, where Gen Bull
Ter faces the Beers. reinforced to an esti-
mated strength of from 5000 to 10000. The
Ex,~.9 r.
Ladybrand and fresh commanders from
Pretoria.
GEN. BULLER'S IDEA.
Gen. Buffers officers are doubtful of the
ability of the Beers to display the same
tenacity as in the fighting at Ladysmith
The British are confident that when the
moment arrives they will be able to force
the pass. Two boxes of dynamite fuses
have been found under the Newcastle
city hall.
Gen. Butler is causing numerous arrests
OF suspected rebels. Forty-tw0 have been
sent to Pietermaritzburg. Mr.. Cav
thorpe, a chemist, and his wife have
been arrested on charge of high treason
With the exception of a few shots ex-
changed with the retiring burghers at
Vereeniging, the only fighting during the
past three days, with all the armies in
the field, appears to have been two small
engagements in the eastern part Of the
Free State.
Gen. Rumble is slowly sweeping the
eastern portion of the Free State. Oc-
cas-. .onally his squadrons come across par
ties of Beers, two or three in number,
and usually on foot, who are wearily go
ing to their farms. Some of them carry
saddles on their backs. Wholesale sur
renders are expected. but thus far they
have not occurred. Small commanders
are described by correspondents as wan
dering round and finding every road
blocked.