The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-02

side is rehandled, cables that communi-
cation with Pretoria Is now suspended.
Some messages by courier have reached
Lourenza Marques, but none OF later date
than Wednesday. They have it that the
burghers are in a state of panic and that
Pretoria is being controlled by a vigilance
committee.
Lourenzo Marques again reports that
President Kruger has been captured. The
news blank gives a suspicion that the citl-
zen committee at Pretoria may not have
been able to carry out their plans for Sc
curing the peaceful entry of Lord Rob-
erts and sparing the city the horrors of
a siege.
The peace party appeared to be in the
ascendant, and as soon as President Kru-
ger and his cabinet left Pretoria to or
ganize a new capital the citizens commit
teen persuaded the commandments of the
forts to withdraw their troops from the
defenses, perhaps with a view to Keeping
order in the town. If messengers were
sent to the British, or if the British, be-
ing two hours march from Pretoria, on
Wednesday, entered it at any time prior to
Friday noon, Lord Roberts would certain
ly have telegraphed this fact. Hence 1t
looks as though there was a Boer force
between Pretoria and Johannesburg.
CAN STAND A SIEGE.
The Beers trekking back toward Pre-
toria, some Of them fresh from the fight
with Gen Hamilton, would have brought
a new element into the situation and
would probably oYerrule the peace COM
mittee taking the direction of affairs out
of their hands. If this has happened the
British may, as the Daily Chronicle says,
see some hard fighting before the British
flag flies over Pretoria, for, even il the
Beers held three forts standing close TO-
l, t11n fTxrT
they would be in a position to stand
siege.
The Beers, according to a dispatch from
Lourenzo Marques, have re-entered the
northeastern territory of the Free State
and are engaged with the British between
Ficksburg and Harrismith.
1t is reported from Antwerp that the
best rooms at the Het Haasje, one of the
principal hotels there, have been engaged
for President Kruger's occupancy from
June %.
A dispatch from Vryburg, dated May 80,
says:
During the occupation of this place by
the Beers they f1ogged the natives for
slight offenses. A whip and several cords
knotted and salted were found at the po-
lice station. A boy who brought a letter
to a woman received twenty-five lashes,
and another who sympathized with him
received fifteen"
Lady Georgiana CurZon has raised En-
900 to provide comforts and luxuries at
Mafeking.
CONFLICTING REPORTS.
The Times has the following from
LourenZo Marques, dated June /:
Reports cf the most conflicting char
acter are current here, due to the Gctiv-
ity of the Boer agents. While one sec
tion declares that President Kruger has
n
arranging terms of surrender, another
asserts that the British have been re-
pulsed outside of Pretoria. Nothing
authentic is known here regarding Mr..
Kruger's whereabouts or the situation In
the Transvaal."
MORE KRUGER RUMORs
A belated dispatch from Kroonstad,
dated Tuesday, May 20 reports that
President Kruger is very ILL., and adds
that the station-master at Kroonstad
says the president is dead. This, how
ever, was not credited.
BERLIN PRESS PROTESTS.
BERLIN, June 1.-Various German
newspapers take exception to the terms
of the proclamation, which it is said
Lord Roberts will issue on the occupa-
tion of Pretoria by the British troops,
especially regarding the treatment of
noncombatant as opposed to combatant
burghers. The Vossische Zeitung says:
"Were the Beers, who have honorably
fought for their country, to be punished
after the conclusion OF peace, the civil
lized powers would have cause to pro.
test. Any detention or trial of President
Kruger would be contrary to the tra.li-
tions of international law. a general am
nesty being the logical result of peace"
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