The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-10
Boer Raiders Estimated to he Two
Thousand Strong and to Have Six
Pieces of Field Artillery.
BULLERs THREE-DAY TRUCE
FIRST REPORTS OF THE ALLEGED
ARMIsTICE NOT CORRECT.
Christian Botha Asked Time to Con-
slider Whether He and His
Troops Would Surrender.

LONDON, June 9.-General Forester
Walker cables to the War Office from Cape
Town under date of June as follows:
"Kelly-Kenny. at Bloemfontein. reports
that the telegraph has been cut at Roode-
val, north of Kroonstad. by a body of
Beers estimated to be 1000 strong. with six
field guns. He is sending strong reinforce
ments to Kroonstad and I am reinforcing
from Cape Colony. hope the interruption
will be only temporary"
London is somewhat disgusted at the
''disagreeable activity" manifested by the
Beers In cutting Lord Roberts's telegraphic
communication, as stated In the foregoing
dispatch. AS yet there is no indication
whence came the strong body Of 1000 Beers
that has arrived at Roodeval. unless it is
the force mentioned In recent Boer dis
patch as having started from standerton
with this very object in view. Apparently
the authorities on the spot regard the sit
uation at least as temporarily serious. as
they are not only reinforcing the garrison
at Kroonstad. but are sending more troops
from the lines of communication In Cape
Colony.
Roodeval is a fairly strong position. thir-
ty-five miles north of Kroonstad, capable
of giving General Kelly-Kenny trouble,
he faHo o1o ole 20 t<e
session. as General Kelly-Kenny cannot be
overburdened With cavalry with which to
threaten the burgher line of retreat. The
news somewhat discounts the flattering de-
ductions the Britishers have been extract
ing from Lord Roberts's silence, as it indi-
Gates that the menace of the Beers to carry
on a porlonged guerrilla warfare is no
empty threat, and that President Steyn is
still capable of creating serious IL only
temporary trouble.
A belated dispatch from Mount Prospect,
via New Castle, Natal, dated June Z.
throws light on the armistice agreed upon
between the British and the Beers recent
ly. 1t appears that General Butler met
Gen. Christian Botha. June 2, at O'Neirs
Station. between Umgula and Majuba, and
summoned Botha to surrender. General
Botha said he was not empowered to ac-
cede to the demand. General Butler re-
piled: Every WE'LL" and turned to go away,
when General Botha pressed him to make a
proposal. General Butler said he had no
proposal to make. but pointed out that the
Beers were surrounded and referred to the
uselessness of shedding unnecessary blood
what do you want us to do?" asked
General Botha, beseechingly.
Return to your farms, leave your big
guns and await Lord Roberts's decision, -
replied General Butler.
The federal commandant said he would
refer the question to the burghers. General
Butler then acceded to his General
Bothas) appeal for armistice until day
break June g. showing that the Boer re-
ports of General Butler having requested
an armistice to have been incorrect. The
dispatch adds that the federals are under
stood to have twenty-three guns in posi-
tion, but 1t is doubtful If they can remove
them. Their only line of retreat is in the
direction of Lydenburg. General Buffers
dispatch of yesterday evening shows the
burghers ultimately decided not to surren-
der.
A parliamentary return issued this morn
ing shows that thirty-six members of the
House of Lords and twenty-eight members
of the House of Commons are serving with
the British troops in South Africa
Advices from Cape Town say the opinion
prevails there that the Boer supplies of
ammunition and food Will not suffice to en-
able them to prolong the struggle In the
Lydenburg district for more than eight
weeks. Cape Town also anticipates that
the Beers will be seriously harassed by the
Kaffirs.
Piet Grobler, the Transvaal under secre-
tary of state for foreign affairs. has arrived
at Lourenzo Marques