New-York tribune., 1900-03-15
LORD ROBERTS'S TRIUMPH,
THE OCCUPATION OF BLOEArFOyTETN
AND THE FLIGHT OF sTEYN.

London March 1.-THE following dispatch
from Lord Roberts to the War Office announced
| his occupation OF Bloemfontein:
/ Bloemfontein, Tuesday March I3 n M
| BY the help of God and the bravery Of Her
! Majesty's soldiers the troops under nv com
nand have taken possession of Bloemfontein
! The British flag now flies over the Presidency
evacuated last evening by Mr.. Steyn late Presi-
! dent of the Orange Free State Mr. Frazer
member Of the late executive Government; the
Mayor the secretary to the late Government
the Landrost and other officials met me two
miles from the town and presented me with the
KEYS of the public offices.
The enemy have withdrawn from the neigh
borhood and all seems quiet. The inhabf
or Bloemfontein gave the troops a cordial well
come.
The above dispatch. though dated Tuesday
was not received at the War Office until 7:30
p. m. Wednesday. 1t was made public few
minutes before o'clock. The delay is attribut-
ed TO the field telegraphs not being connected
with Bloemfontein on Tuesday evening
dispatch to The Daily Chronicle from
Bloemfontein. dated Tuesday evening March 49,
says:
Bloemfontein surrendered at 10 to-day It
occupied at noon. President Stevn with a
majority Of the fighting burghers has fed north
ward
General French was within five miles of the
place at o'clock Monday afternoon. He sent
a summons into the town. threatened to bonn
bard unless it surrendered by 4 a. m Tuesday.
A white flag was hoisted Tuesday morning, and
a deputation Of the Town Council, with Mayor
keliner % came out TO meet Lord Roberts at
Spitz kop. five miles south of the town, making
a formal surrender of the place
Lord Roberts made State entry at noon He
received tremendous ovation. After visiting
: the public buildings, he went to the official
residence Of the President. followed by cheer
ing crowd, who waved the British flag and sang
the British national anthem. They were in a
condition of frenZied excitement
On Monday afternoon, previous to the sur
render there had been a little sniping and
Smelling, but the enemy then retired.
Lord Roberts has his headquarters at the
Presidents house. and there many of the
British wounded in the building. The railway
is not injured
The night crowds Of London are singing patri-
otic songs and engaging in demonstrations.
On the reception of the news the Queen at
Windsor Castle; the Prince of Wales at MarI-
borough House; Lord wolseey and others were
! Immediately informed but at o'clock the War
Office was almost deserted, the public having
given up hope Of further news until to- morrow
The appearance Of the newspapers with the It'd
ings caused great excitement along Pail Mall,
at the Service Clubs and in the West End gen
orally. Owing TO the late hour, however there
were demonstrations approaching in the re-
motest degree those which heralded the sur
render OF General Cronje and the relief Of Lady
sr.---
Z - happened that q torchlight procession
C--SpiZed extensive scale for the Widows
and Orphans Fund. was paradIng South London
with bands and banners. This included a body
Of uniformed men representing the British field
forces, the surrender of Cronie and other in
spiriting incidents The route was hung with
1 flags. and stands were erected at numerous
points for spectators. Naturally. the appearance
/ of the extra editions of the evening papers
created Juror of enthusiasm among the
paraders, who greeted the news with cheers and
the singing Of the national anthem.
At Windsor the news was received with much
JOY. The Queen commanded that 1t be inme-
diately published. and she instructed her
equerTy at the dinner table TO send a to
the officers OF the Household Brigade. The bat
talon was called on parade at 1915 p. m.
( Major St Aubyn read Her Majestys note and
called for cheers for the Queen and Lord Rob
erts The band played God Save the Queen
Wherever Lord Robertss dispatch was read
the late executive was Immediately fastened
upon highly significant.
The Lord Mayor announced the news to a
banquet to the Masters OF the City Companies
which in progress at the Mansion House.
It was received with great cheering the COM
pany rising and singing God Save the Queenr'
The evening papers in Liverpool. Manchester
and Glasgow published special editions, causing
joyful demonstrations in those cities.