The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-24
Rumor that Several Women Have At
tempted to FIog President T<ru-
ger with a Rawhide.
ADvICEs FROM ROBERTS
PASSAGE OF THE RHENOsTER AC-
COMPLIsHED AFTER A FIGHT.
Hundreds Of Free Staters Surrender
ing-"Oom Paul" and DIR. Leyds
Said to Have Quarreled.

LONDON, May "A, $40 a. m.-Lord Rob
erts is drawing near to the frontier of the
Transvaal. His infantry masses are thir-
ty-three miles north Of Kroonstad, at the
Rhenoster river. Some thousands of cav
airy are already across the river.
The Beers are retiring toward the vaal
with their heavy baggage. They are re-
ported from Pretoria as already across
that river. Twelve thousand men and four
teen guns compose the retreating army.
Trains continue to run from vereeniging.
at the vaal, to Pretoria.
Foreign engineers assert that Pretoria is
able to stand e years siege. According to
advices from Lourenzo Marques the Pre-
toria Notifications are described as COM
plete. but johannesburg has not yet been
placed entirely in state OF defense. The
Transvaal government papers and the war
chest have been removed to Lydenburg.
Foreigners continue to leave the repub-
lie. The Dutch cruiser Friesland is at Del
agoa Bay, so 1t is reported, to furnish an
asylum to the fleeing Hollanders and pas
sage to Europe.
The Boer forces continue to dwindle.
Some Of the correspondents assert that
probably only about 24.00c of the hardest
fighters yet remain. although there are de-
tached parties in various parts of the
Transvaal.
One of the curious pieces OF gossip sent
from Lourenzo Marques is that several
women tried to "sjambok" President Kru-
ger, who was rescued by his body guard
He rarely leaves the presidency now, but
works necessarily. holding councils at day.
v.roo Il
nounced at Pretoria Sunday that the gov
ernment proposed removing the British
prisoners from Pretoria.
A dispatch from Heilbron. dated Tues
day, says: Fighting has been in progress
since Sunday. when three British divisions
started to sweep the country as far as
Bethlehem Yesterday the Beers attacked
the British rear. but were driven of. To-
day. after a slight rear-guard action. Col.
Broadwood arrived with cavalry in front
of the town. having attacked the COM
mando which held the railway and driven
It headlong. capturing thirteen wagons and
taking number OF prisoners. The burgh-
ers are Fastening to surrender their arms.
President Steyn is at Frankfort"
The ensnaring OF the squadron of Beth
une's Horse appears to have been quite as
bad as was at first reported. General Beth
une. thinking there were no Beers at yrv-
beid. determined to go that way toward
Newcastle. as a short cut The advance
squadron was hurrying to make vryheid
before dark. 1t left the main body behind
md trotted into the ambush. The Beers
lad Maxims. and the British. seeing they
lad no chance TO retire. dashed forward To
rxr.fr.
rifles Five officers and sixty-three men
were killed or wounded. Bethune ordered
bis four other squadrons to retire
The Daily Telegraph had the following
from Newcastle. dated May 2: when the
Beers passed Newcastle their wagons raced
over the velds fifteen abreast in the hurry
to get away a Boer remarked: If we shoot
one British soldier a hundred Don up 70
take his place Several rebels were start
Ing to trek when the British patrols ar
rested them. They had plenty of money"
The damage to Laing's mex tunnel is
capable OF prompt repair. The strength of
the Beers at that point is not known. Prob
ably they have from 5000 to 5000 men.
DIR. Leyds, according to the Brussels cor
respondent OF the Daily Express, has quar-
relied with the Transvaal government. One
report is that President Kruger is alleged
10 have demanded an accounting respecting
$2.50o.oeo that has passed through Dr.
Leyds's hands. DR.. Leyds is said TO have
replied that the money had all been ex-
pended. and TO have expressed indignation
when asked for an itemized statement.
President Kruger's emissary is described as
showing to DR.. Leyds certain ante-war let
ters In which Germany and France said
they would intervene; and DR.. Leyds. ae-
cording to this account. grabbed the docu-
ments and threw them into the fire, having
bodily struggle with the emissary. These
alleged incidents are cited to explain the
recent reserve Of DIR. Leyds
ROBERTs's DISPATCHES.