Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-14
WAR IS At AN END
BOER RESISTANCE IS RAPIDLY
NEARING A CLOSE.
ARE SICK OF A HOPELESS WAR.
Refused to Fight at Kroonstadt-
Steyn's Anger Directed Against
the Beers.

| AONOOu, May Ia, 4 d. Ill., Lie war II
practically over" said the Daily Chroni-
cle's Kroonstad correspondent. and. in
less definite terms, this is the viaw ia
be gathered from all the correspondents
They picture the Beers as utterly demon
allied n disheartened by Lord Roberts
unexpectedly rapid advance and by his
facile turning of the carefully prepared
positions of the Beers. ~
There was practically no fighting and
there are no futher details to give re-
speeding the occupation Of Kroonstad.
The correspondent Of the Daily Telegraph
says: 1.-The union jack was hoisted. in
the market square by Mrs. Lockhead, the
American wife of a Scotchman. Most of
the horses Of the Beers are in a wretch
ed condition, but President Kruger de-
clares that the war will be continued"
1t appears hat the Beers at kroonstad
had been reinforced by 5000 men from
Natal last Friday and that altogether
$1,000 men with 20 gun rekked from
kroonstad at the approach of Lord Rob-
erts. The Beers made an Intellectual
stand at Boschrand and had elaborate
entertainments in front of Kroonstad,
which offered great facilities for q rear
guard action. Their only anxiety, how
ever, appeared to hav been to get away
safely with all their guns and conveys,
which again they have successfully ac-
~ lcW SUITES they WtIS
unable to carry they burned.
President Steyn is reported 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 being worthy of being rank
ed with his famous march to Kandahar,
has thus covered another stage of his
campaign, a stage which, although sue
cessful and without the mistakes and
miSfortuneS that characterized the ear
Tier stages, leaves the Boer forces quite
intact. not having lost a gun and having
lost very few men.
Experience has taught the critics to be
chary over accepting reports of Boer
decentralization. The Times says: "The
signs point to military breakdown on the
part Of the Beers. but after experiences
of the past we cannot accept the reports
of decentralization without reserve. The
game of war must be strictly played out
to the end"
As miles northeast of Kroonstad, half
way to Bethlehem, and was probably Sc
lected as a convenient rendezvous tor
the commandos now retiring before Gen
erals Brabant and Rumble in the Thaban-
chu district. Brabant has occupied
Hoepellok half way on the road from
~Thabanchu to Ladybrand. IN
There is not a word of news regarding
General Buffers movements or from the
far western side. Nothing is known,
therefore, of the progress of the Mafe-
king relief column
K~roonstad, Saturday, May 12.-Tne ar
rival of Lord Roberts was Hailed with
satisfaction by all British residents. The
railroad to the south had not been de-
stroyed. but the large bridge near "ho
town had been demolished. The ~rtlh
brigade, with the Federals, yesterday
burned the goods shed.
The Beers are now trekking to the
Naal river. where they are e~ntrenched.
General French encamped northeast of
the town and dispatched a force to cut
the line. The project succeeded late at
night, but unfortunately after the de-
parture of the last train. Although the
troops had marched Is miles they were
in excellent form on entering the town.
Many arrests have been made. chiefly
those who had maligned the British.
President Styn has gone to Lindlev.
the new seat of the Free State govern
ment. A number OF the burghers ara
rekklng homeward. The opposition in
the Free State is practically over.
All the prisoners in the hands of the
British here agree that the quarrel he
tween the Free Staters and the Trans
walters is so acute that the Transvaalers
nave decided to leave their allies. whom
they accuse of cowardice and lack Of
patriotism.
Ae iIdnsNddl prisoners think
tnat II they are defeated at the Vaal river
the Beers will retreat to Pretoria. n,,t
there appears to be a growing distrust
IN the Transvaal government. In a word.
the of the Boer resistance
seems to have been broken. The burghers
are lighting without their previous stub
ornhe They seem ready to retreat
on the slightest pretext.
me prisoners, even the Transyaa1ers
appear glad to have been captured. They
say they are sick of a war which can
nave only one end. Several have ex-
canned: We have lost our liberty, but
why should we lose our lives?"