The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-17
HOPING TO end TIE war
British Interest Mainly Centred on
Peace Negotiations.
a Belief That Terms Arc Being Ar
ranged With F<rugcr-The Military
Situation Considered satisfactory
Natal Cleared of the BOers-Try-
ing to Entrap Steyn and De Wet.
Special Cablegram-Copyrighted.) }

LONDON, June 16-The crisis in the Fai
| and possibly the peace, of the civilized
! world has thrown even the Transvaal wal
into the background. So far as the news
| from South Africa is concerned, 1t prac-
| tically consists of official dispatches.
AS regards the actual military situa-
| ton, it seems as though the recent Wig
| crcus Boer operations have been success
| fully checked. Natal is thoroughly cleared
| and Roberts is now aiming completely to
cut off the Free State from the Trans
yaal.
General Baden Powell is now at Rusten-
burg, having successfully handled the coun-
try through which he passed. He will join
the Pretoria column tomorrow, while to
the southeastward OF Pretoria Roberts is
sending a column TO Heidelburg to join
han6s with Butler This. as Roberts says.
would completely cut off the Free State,
and the active and troublesome forces un-
der President Steyn and General De Wet
would be trapped.
AS regards the latter point though
there seems to be a good chance that the
Beers will again repeat their oft-accom-
plished success by slipping through what
had been hoped was a well-estab,ished d
Gordon.
General Roberts. in his cable despat b
of today, said he hoped that General Butler
was then at Standerton, but Butler cabled
last evening that he was still at Laing S
Mex. Thus the burghers of the Free State
will possibly make their way to ErmelO,
where a considerable force is reported to
be concentrated, o. to Middleburg, where
the Beers are also in large numbers, in
cluding Botha's force, which arrived there
after the demoralizing rear guard action
with Hamilton.
Ihls state of affairs is considered here
eminently satisfactory so far as the mere
military situation is concerned There is
also strong idea that General Caring
tons mobile force may appear at Ko;mati-
poort, cutting off the railroad to DeIagoa
Bay. This is merely a surmise. but it is
taken into serious consideration in sum-
ming up the situation.
The main interest, however, centres in
strong general belief that General Rob-
erts is busily negotiating with President
Kruger and General Botha in regard to
terms of surrender. After the repeated
declarations made here and by the British
generals at the front on various occasions,
that unconditional surrender alone would
be accepted, this may appear doubtful.
But with the urgent need to get freed
as soon as possible to the greatest extent
in South Africa. in order to be able 10
throw all possible vigor into the dealings
with the Chinese crisis. 1t would no, be
unnatural for Lord Salisbury to consent 10
allow portion of the subsequent settle
ment in the Transvaal to make its first
appearance in the form of peace negotia-
tions If President Kruger. desiring to save
appearances. may thus be persuaded to
acknowledge the inevitable sooner than he
would otherwise. Every day gained now
is held to be Of vita! Importance to this
country.
Cape Colony remains in the throes of
political upheaval. The probable outcome
is indicated in a despatch of tonight from
Cape Town. Mr.. Solomon. who was Attor-
ney General in schreiner's Ministry. will
probably represent the latter and what
may be called the loyal members Of the
Afrikander Bond in coalition Cabinet