The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-30
THE WAR IN AFRICA.
TIE BOERS SAID TO BE
DEMORALIZED.
Predictions Made That British Flag
Will Fly Over Johannesburg To-
day and Pretoria Saturday.

London, May 20. 3 Q m.-I.ord
Roberts is now within dsy's march
of johannesburg and Gen French
aud Gen Ian Hamilton fought the
Boers from noon until evening on
Monday, with what result is not
known here
H. j Whighsm, in q dispatch to
the Daily Mail, dated May %, says:
The decentralization of the Trans
vssl 10 remarkable. Panic aud con
fusion prevails everywhere. Every
one 10 weary of the war aud foil of
fear IS to the coming Of the British.
Operations we're being carried on for
encircliug Pretoria with teiegraphic
communicsticns. Fourteen points in
the line of defenses were connected
with headquarters and with the
Stats artillery, but this apparently
was the only defensive measure adopt
ed There we're no other visible
preparations
mot much gold 10 likely to be
found in the treasury. The salaries
Of the officials and judges have not
been paid, or have been paid only in
national bank notes. which will be
worthless when Lord Roberts arrives.
The seat of government will be re.
moved to Waterfall Bovau. q email
station on the Delegos Bay railway
line and then. It necessary, to Lyd.
enburg.
"Boih President Steyn and Presi
dent Kruger complain bitterly Of
Lord Roberto unfair tactics in refus
ing to meet tho Boers in positions
chosen BY them and in eternslly
turning them by flank movements.
"Around johannesburg few
trenchs have been dug. but no other
steps have been taken for defense
The railway line 10 blocked with
refugee from the west and southwest, !,
who are packed like sardines in
trunks.
Zone form of internal machine
which meets with much approval. 10
to be laid under the rails Of various
lines A pressue of some tons
weight Of the engine will cause this
10 explode with most terrible effect.
Many of these machines are being
made st the arsenal and great caution
will have to be employed iu neutral.
izisg them.
"There has been . decided change
in public opinion. which has become
quite English They are all sick Of
warfare. The party eager for surren-
der is now very Influential and in
cludes the principal leaders at the
front
The government has arranged to
continue 10 agitation against the
British occupation of tie two repub
lies on the continent of Europe in
Great Britain and in the United
States No expense will be spared
| have excellent reaeons for believing
that the Bewarrplsatzen rights have
been sold to . French syndicate,
without the sanction of the volksrasd
an order to bring abou. French inter
vention for the protection of French
rights 10 the Witwatersrand and thus
to cause England gave difficulties "
LORD ROBERTS REPORT.
London. May 28 -Midoigh,-The
var Ofi,e. just before uidoight publish.
ed the following dispatch from Lord
Roberts:
kip River. Trsnsva.l. May %.
525 p m-Ws marched 20 miles
today aud are now Is miles from
johannesburg. TIE enemy had pre-
pared several positions where they
intended to oppose US but they aban
doned Que after the other IS wo nesred
them.
1--WE pressed them 90 hard that they
bad only just time to get their five guus
into tram aod to leave this station as
some Of the West Australian mounted
iDisu,ry dashed ioto il
"F,such's aud lsu Hamilton's forces
ere srpsrsotly engaged With the enemy
about teo miles to our left. "a 6riog
hss been beard cinoe noon
III. j. Wnigham has just returned
to Lorenso Marques from Pretoria.
where be won't disguised. He wires
tha; Kruger has all the arrangements
made for fight. presumably to Holland
A special train. provisioued, 10 always
ready With steam up. The train waits
some distance from Prstoria.
"The farmers near our lioe Of
advance ere surreodsriug With their
arms aod horses.
"Ruudle occupied Seseksl on May
24.h, No report Of what took place
hes rsavhsa NO yet"