The sun., 1900-06-15
BOTHA RETREATS EAST
Roberts and Butler Are Now Acting
In Cooperation. .-
RAILWAY rs BEING REPAIRED
LyttIeton Receives the Formal Sub
mission of the Town and Dis
trict of WnISIxerstroom In
the TransvaaI.

LONDON, June lt.-lt mas Deen 0tnclally
announced that the Beers under General
Botha have evacuated their strong posi-.
tion near Pretoria and retired to the east.
ward. The war office made public the
following report from Lord Roberts, un.
der date of Pretoria, June 13:
"The enemy evacuated their strong po-
sition during the night, and have retired
20 the eastward. Buffers force and mine
have afforded each other mutual assist
ance. Our occupation of Pretoria caused
numbers of Beers to withdraw from
Laingsnek, and Buffers advance to Volks-
rust made them feel their rear would be
shortly endangered"
Lord Roberts also reported to the war
office, under date of Pretoria, June 13, as
follows:
"Methuen advanced to Honingspruit
yesterday and found all quiet. Kroon-
stadt is strongly held. Methuen returned
today to Rhcnoster river, where the rail
way is being repaired.
1--WE were engaged all yesterday with
Bothas army. The enemy fought with
considerable determination and held our
cavalry on both flanks, but Ian Hamil-
ton, assisted by the guards brigade of
lole-Carew's division, pushing forward,
took the hill in his front, which caused
the enemy to fall back on their second
position to the eastward. This they are
still holding. 1t is slightly higher than
the one we have captured.
"The great extent of country which
has to be covered under modern condi-
| tions of warfare renders progress very
slow. Details of the casualties have not
reached me, but l understand they are
moderate in numbers. The only further
casualties reported to date are two offi-
GERS wounded"
| Report From Butler.
General Butler reports to the war Of
| fee as follows:
Headquarters at Laingsnek, June IA
General Lyttleton yesterday received
the formal submission of the town and
district of Wakkerstroom, which the en-.
emy is believed to have completely evac
| uated."
Lord Roberts engagement with Gen
eral Botha terminated, as expected, by
the Boer commander in chiefs retiring
from his position. Beyond driving Boths
farther from the capital not much seems
to have been accomplished, as Lord Rob
erts does not mention the capture of pris
| OnerS OF guns OF Ile llIlcIlOn OIL lOSS
Perhaps the most impor INT feature re
vealed by the official dispatches is tn,
announcement that the army of Natal il
at last in touch with Lord Roberts
troops. The accomplishment of thi
movement, long delayed, should consider
ably accelerate the pacifcation of tn
Transvaal. That it is already bearing
fruit is shown by the submission of til
Wakkerstroom district to General Lyttle
ton.
Another dispatch from General Bulle
! says that General Clery encountered IL
opposition in his march from Ingogo t
Laingsnck, which he now occupies. Ger
cral Dartnel marched through Laings
mex on his way to Charlestown. Til
press dispatches say that Charleston
: was partly destroyed previous to its evat
uation by the Bocrs. hut that no damag
} was done at Volksrust,
In the Orange River Colony affair
seem to be returning to the status whic
: obtained previous to the cutting of tn
, line of British communications.
A dispatch from Cape Town says: "A
+ the opening of parliament Mr.. Schreine
will explain that he resigned because h
! was unwilling to remain in Office supper
l ed by the Opposition, believing that hi
r influence is greater with the Moderat
] Afrikanders as private member than Q
: premier by the grace of the Progressive
r Nevertheless leaders of the Afrikandt
Extremists are said to consider Nj
: Schreiner traitor to their cause"