The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-06
ROberts'OccupatiOn of Pretoria
Without Resistance
Gives Rise to a Suspicion of an
Understanding
BETWEEN LEADERS.
British Commander Again Has
Cause For Regret.
Thirteenth Imperial YeOmanry
Captured by Beers.


Roberts telegraphed to the war office as
follows:
Pretoria. June 5-5:35 p. M.-The oc-
cupatfon Of the town passed off most
satisfactorily and the British flag is now
boisted on top of the government offices
The troops. met with much more en-
thusiastic reception than l anticipated
The third battalion Of the Grenadier
guards lined the square when the march
past took place
.Oowing to their having been on duty
at some distance around the town very
few cavalry and infantry were aple TO
take part in the ceremony.
several of our officers who had been
prisoners were among the on-looKers-
SUSPICIOUS AROUSED.
New York, June "a tribune us
patch from London says;
The facility with which Johannesburg
and Pretoria have been taken leads
many military men to suspect IilaC I
there has been Il secret understanding
between President Kruger and the BRIT
ish government by which the war VIII
he brought to an end without unneces-
earz- loss of life and Wasteful deStruc-
tion of property. This theory Whlle
plausible cannot be proved since Meth
er President Kruger nor Lord Roberts
will admit that there has been any Sc
cret intrigue or that the closing scenes
of the war have been prearranged IN
any sense. The safer generalization IS
that the Beers have fought galantly
agaiust the resources OF a mighty eIh-
pire. and have been finally overwhelm-
ed by superior numbers and energy anu
that Lord Roberts has worked out an
intricate problem in the dynamlcs oil
war He has known how much force
was needed on the advance line and
what kind of force. and how to protect
his line of communications most etiec-
lively by operations on the eastern hank
under Gen. Rundle-
There are many signs that the strug-
gle viii end in the course Of fortnight,
and the details of the surrender Of Pre-
toria communicated by Lord Roberts
at midnight, support this view.
HOW PRETORIA WAS TAKEN.
London. June 6.-The war office has
received the following from Lord Rob-
erts:
Pretoria, June 5-12:55 P. Must
before dark yesterday the enemy We're
beaten back from nearly all the posi-
tions they had been holding and Ian
IIamilton's mounted infantry followed
them to within 1000 yards of Pretoria,
through which they retreated hastily.
"DeLisle then sent an officer with a
flag of truce into the town demanding
its surrender in my name Shortly be-
fore midnight l was awakened by two
officials Of the South African republic,
Saudberg, military secretary to Com
mandant General Botha. and a general
officer of the Boer army, who brought
me letter from Botha proposing an
armistice for the purpose of settling the
terms of surrender.
Il replied that 1 would gladly meet
the commandant general the next morn
ing. but that I was not prepared to dis
Cuss any terms, as the surrender of the
town must be unconditional / asked fOl
reply by daybreak as I had ordered
the troops to march on the town as sOOT
as tt was light.
In his reply Botha told me that h,
had decided not to defend Pretoria anC
he trusted women. children and pro.
perty would be protected. At 1 o'clocl
a. m. today, while on the line Of march
! was met by three of the principal of
nclals with flag of truce. stating thei
wish to surrender the town
1t was arranged that Pretoria shoul,
be taken possession of by Her Males
tvs troops at O'Clock this afternoon
Mrs. Botha and Mrs. Kruger are both il
Pretoria. Some few of the British pris
oners have been taken away but tn
majority are still at Waterfall over
hundred OF the officers are in Pretoria
Ihe few have seen are looking we'll"
OVERWHELMED BY BOERs.
London. June 6.-Lord Roberts re
ports to the war office that the Thir
teenth battalion of the Imperial yeo
nanry Qrish) was overwhelmed b
the Beers at Lindley."
Lord Methuen made a 'srnagnifcen
march to the rescue" but was TOO late
Following is the text of the dispatc
from Lord Roberts announcing the dis
aster to the Thirteenth battalion of tn
Imperial yeomanry:
Pretoria station. June ), 12:55 D. n
I regret to report that the Thirteent
Imperial yeomanry had to surrender I
very superior force of the enemy o
May n near Iindley. On receiving ir
formation of the battalion being al
tackled 1 ordered Methuen to procee
with all speed to its assistance
"Methuen was then in march on He
ihrOn side of krOnstad, and half q
hour after the receipt of my telegral
on June he started off. BY 10 a. n
of the following day he had marche
forty-five miles in twenty-five hour
hut he was too late to rescue Colon
Spragg's yeomanry.
''Methuen attacked the Beers. WI
were between two and three thousar
strong, and after "a running fight
five hours completely routed Il
enemy.
1T is a very regrettable circumstant
but I trust it viii not be very long b
fore the Irish yeomanry are release
from captivity"
KRUGER GOT AWAY WITH TIL
CASH
London. June 6-Queen Victoria. su
rounded by the Duke and Duchess
York, Princess Christian. Princess vi
toIia and many other notables of h
court drank to the health Of 10
Roberts and the army. at Balmoral la
evening. A great bonfire, lighted
hermajecty's command. blazed on Graf
gown mountain. Illuminating the cou
try for miles around. The nation joi
in the toast, glorifying Lord Rober
and turbulently rejoicing in his Vi
tory.
The dispatch of Lord Roberts telli
Of the incidents before the surrenderi
Of the capital by three civilians. sta
alone, as the correspondents with hi
have not had their turn with the wir