The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-05-17

F6fces-steyn and His Govern
ment Move to Lindley--Practical-
M " No Fighting Mt hroOnstad--
Boer Army Again successfully
Eludes the British.
London. May 15.s.The war is prac-
tically over, says the Daily Chroni-
cle's Kroonstad correspondent, and, in
less definite terms, this is the view to
be gathered from all the correspond
ents. They picture the Beers as most
# ly demoralized and disheartened by
] Lord Roberts unexpectaA rapid ad-
vance and by his facile turning OF the
{ carefully prepared positions Of the
Beers. Lord Roberts has entered
Kroonstad. President Steyn and the
! Orange Free State government having
fed to Lindsey, some sixty or seventy
miles to the east. and the BOer army
( retiring to the Vaal river. The news
a Of the capture of Kroonstad was re-
ceived at the war office Saturday in q
dispatch from Lord Roberts. There
was practically no fighting, and there
are few details to give respecting the
Occupations of KroOnstnd.
The correspondent of the Daily Tele-
graph says: The union jack was
hoisted in the market place by Mrs.
Lockhead. the American wife of a
Scotchman. Most of the horses of the
Beers are in d wretched condition. but
President Kruger declares he will con-
tinue the war.
It tappears that the Beers at Kroon-
stad had been reinforced by 5000 men
from Metal last Friday, and that alto
b gether 10000 men. with twenty guns,
trekked from Kroonstad on the ap-
proach Of Lord Roberts. The Beers
made an Intellectual stand at Bosch-
rand and had elaborate intrenchments
in front Of Kroonstad. which offered
great facilities for "a rear guard action.
Their only anxiety, however. appears
to have been to get away safely with
all their guns and conveys, which
again they have successfully accom-
plished. The few stores they were
unable to carry they burned. Presi-
dent Steyn is represented as having
been frantic with rage and as having
kicked and cuffed the burghers after
vainly imploring them to continue the
fight. Lord Roberts, after a march,
which is regarded as worthy Of being
ranked with
His Famous March
y to Khandhar, has thus covered another
stage Of his campaign. a stage which,
although successful and without the
mistakes and misfortunes which char
acterized the earlier stages, leaves the
Boer forces quite intact, not having
lost gun and having lost very few
men. Experiences have taught the
correspondents to be chary of reports
of Boer decentralization. The Times
correspondent says 'signs point to q
Boer military breakdown. but after
{ experience we cannot accept the re-
ports of decentralization without re-
serve The game of war must be
played out to the END"
Lindley, the new Free State capital,
IS forty-five miles southeast Of Kroon-
stad. halfway to Bethlehem, anw was
Is probably selected as convenient rem
desvous Of the commanders now re-
firing before Gen Bra hant and Gen.
Rumble in the Thaba N'Chu district.
Brabant5 has occupied Hoepelook, half
way on the road from Thaba N'Chu
to LadybTand There is not word
of news regarding Gen. Buffers move
! ments or from the far western side.
Nothing is known Of the progress OF
the Mafeking relief column. &
All Must Assist in the Defense.
London. May Is. - The Lourenzo
MARQUES correspondent of the Times,
telegrap phing Sunday, says: "Itsis ru-
mored that the IRA raad in Sc
cret session has resolved to order all
residents. irrespective of nationality,
TO assist.in the defense Of the republic,
in. accordance w.Sl the terms of the
amended military laws. The Beers
recognize that they are now in the last
extremity and all sorts and conditions
Of men are being commandered. The
merchants here have protested against
the stoppa ge Of consignment Of cloth
4 ing and corned beef. of which the lat
ter was purchased in America. United
States Consul Stanley Hollis, whose
sylnpathies are notorious, is said to
have demonstrated against whot he
called interference with American
trade.
Heavy Fighting I'm Natal.
London. May 15.-The Standard pub
fishes the following from Durham,
dated Sunday: There are persis-
tent rumors here of heavy fighting in
Natal A Red Gross train left last
night for the north.