The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-05-31
ENGLISH SOIL NOW.
Orange Free State Annexed to
British Empire.
s-MeRas press Association

~ serippa-MeRas Press Associations
Kip River, May 29.-Lord Roberts
has announced the annexation ofthe
Orange Free State to the British EN-
pire under the title of the Orange
River State.'
VIII Destroy Mines.
C~apetown, May 2s.-In an inter-
view with Pres. Kruger published
here he is alleged to have asserted
positively that the Beers would
destroy the Rand mines.
hattie in Progress.
New Castle, Natal, May 29-since
daylight a heavy bombardmeDt OF the
Boer emplacements hes been in
progress. The enemy replies only
occasionally and a strong stand by
the Beers is not expected.
Nearing johannesburg.
London, May 29.-Lord Roberts an
nounces his arrival at Kip river, is
miles from Johannesburg. A dispatch,
published by the war Office at midnight,
reads as follows:
kip River, Transvaal, May 2s.-We
marched 20 miles to-day and are now Is
miles from J~ohannesburg. The enemy had
prepared several positions. where they In
tended to oppose US; but they abandoned
one after another as we neared them. We
pressed them so hard that they had only
Just time to get their five guns into train
and to leave as soon as some Of the
Westralian infantry dashed into 1t.
French's and Ian Hamilton's forces are
apparently engaged with the esremy about
ten miles to our left, as firing has been
heard since noon. The farmers near our
line OF advance are -surrendering with their
arms n horses. Rumble occupied Senekal
on May a, No report Of what took place
has reached me yet. H. ]. Whigham has
just returned TO Lourenzo Marques from
Pretoria, where he went disguised. He
wires that Kruger has all the arrange
ments made for flight, presumably to Hol-
land. A special train, provisioned, is al
ways ready, with steam up. The train waits
some distance from Pretoria"
Decentralization In the Trnnsyaal.
H. J. Whigham, in a dispatch to the
Daily Mail, dated May 2s, says:
THE decentralization Of the Transvaal is
remarkable. Panic and confusion prevails
everywhere. Everyone is weary of the
war and full Of fear as to the coming OF
the British. Operations were being carried
on for encircling Pretoria with Geographic
communications. Fourteen points in the
line eff defenses were connected with head
quarters and with the Stats artillery, but
this apparently was the only defensive
measur adopted. There were no other Wis
ible preparations.
Not much gold is likely to be found in
the treasury. The saiaries of the officials
and judges lave 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
removed to Waterfall Boyan, a small sta
ton or the Delagoa Bay Railway line, and
then, Il necessary, to Lydenburg.
Both President Steyn and President
Kruger complain bitterly Of Lord Roberts
unfair tactics in refusing to meet the Beers
In positions chosen by them and in eter-
nally turning them by flank movements
Around Johannesburg a few trenches
have been dug, but no other steps nave
been taken for defense. The railway line
Is blocked with refugees from the west
and southwest, who are packed like sar-
dimes IN trucks.
The government is now endeavoring to
reaesnre the public by telling them that
the British will not outrage and plumber
them, but II Is too late. The previous mis-
statRnents are bringing their rewards.
Food Is very scarce and prices rule high,
Sing "God save the Queen.o
tsThere has been a decided change In pub
ne opinion which has become quite Eng
lIsh. The burghers on command sing God
Saa@-the Queen" and they cannot be
stopped. All are sick Of warfare. In the
towns the rabid anti-Englishism is less
rampant People are thinking of their prop
eIfy. The party eager for surrender is
noW very influential and includes the prin-
clpa3 readers at the front The intelligent
public feel that the game is up.
1.-THE government has arranged to con-
tinue the agitation against the British oc-
cupatlon of the two republics on the con-
tinent Of Europe, IN Great Britain n In
the United States. Great efforts are to
be made In this direction and no expense
WIZ be spared. The conduct of United
States Consul Hay is admirably discreet
and meets with universal praise alike from
Boex and British sympathizer."