The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-06-23
BOtha and Kruger Being ignored
For the Time.
TO BE SURROUNDED
Roberts PIsa to Crush Out the Last Rem.
uaHt Of the Once Powerful Boer Army
Severance Between TnasvaaI and
Orange River Colony Complete.

LONDON. June 23.--General steyn's
forces in Orange river colony are for
time drawing most Of the attention
Of Lord Roberts. rather to the neglect
Of commandant-G General Louis Botha
and President Kruger Severance be-
tween the TransyaaI and Orange river
colony was completed yesterday, as
Lord Roberts said It would be. by
the arrival Of General Buffers army at
standerton. The wide net around 6eOO
or 5000 men under General steyn viii
now contract. Adroit maneuverlng
and brisk fighting are likely to take
place, because until all resistance
south Of the vaal Is at an end the
British lire Of communications viii not
be safe. President Krugers sons who
surrendered to General Baden Powell
are back 10 their farms working peace
fully. General Badsn-powell rode with
only 800 men from Mafeking, and made
the last section Of his ride to Pretoria
with only thirty-fve men. General
Dewets farm houses have been burned
By the British.
The war office has received the fol-
lowing dispatch from Lord Roberts:
Pretoria, June 22-Ian Hamllton's
column reached The Springs yester-
day en- route to Heidelberg. where they
win Join hands with Buffers troops,
which reached Paardekop yesterday
and will be at Standardtown tomorrow,
Thus opening up communication be-
tween Pretoria and Natal. and prevent
ing any joint action between the Trans
vaalers and the people Of the Orange
River colony.
-Baden-Powell reports from Rusten-
burg that he found the leading Beers
very pacific and cordial on his return
journey hence. Commandant Steyn
and two actively hostile field cornets
had been captured during his absence.
Lord Edward Cecil. the administra-
tor Of the Rustenberg division, has to
date collected 5000 arms.
The commissioner at Kroonstad re-
ports that s4l rifles have been handed
in at Wolmarnstad."
NEW YORK, June PA dispatch to
the Tribune from London says:
General Buffers advance to Sands
spiuit is almost the only fresh point in
the military situation in South Africa.
His march is in The direction Of STAN
derton. which commands the road
northward from Vreda. Lord Roberts
has announced his plan Of operations
already. and the occupation Of Heidel-
berg by forces from johannesburg may
confidently be expected within 4S hours.
The remnants Of President Kruger's
and steyn's armies viii then be separ-
ated and gradually hemmed in and dis
armed. The process ought not to re-
quire much time rs the Dutch forces
in the two sections cannot now number
more than 10000 men.
Military men are not surprised by
the delay on The British side. They as
sert that the business Of feeding over
100000 soldiers, in country where-food
is scarce, is most serious undertake
ing. Rumors have been revived that
ten erals Botha and Dewet win sur
render their forces if they can gain any
points by negotiation. but these appear
to be premature. Dewet has not yet
been thoroughly beaten and Botha
came near surrounding French's troops
during the last battle. The story that
the bridge on the Delagoa railway was
blown up by the premature explosion OF
a mine is hardly credible.