, 1900-06-14

all 10 NulCl at l. OlOlld ~
burg.
London, June 13.-After a weeks
silence, Lord Roberts has been heard
from, his line of communication hav-
ing been practically restored by means
of a complete victory gained by Cen
erals Methuel and Kitchener over Cen
eral De Wet at the Rhenoster river
yesterday, June u. The Boer camp was
captured and the %burghers, it is added,
were scattered in all directions.
Lord Roberts, on being notified OF the
cutting of his line If communications,
sent General Kitchener in all haste to
join General Methuen. June II, Lord
Roberts attacked General Botha, who
was in strong force fifteen miles south
east of Pretoria. After m oppo-
sition, the British forces gained con-
siderable ground, but General Botha,
when Lord Roberts left the field, was
still undefeated.
All is quiet at Pretoria and johann
nesburg, and Lord Roberts says the
government need have no apprehension
about the security of the army in South
Africa, as it will not take long to rem
edy the reverses and repair the rail-
road.
A lengthy dispatch forwarded to the
war office by Major General Knox
from Kroonstad, presumably sen there
by messenger, read as follows:
"Kroonstad, June I've have been
Roberts the following dispatch from
the Pretoria presidency at sos a. m.
today:
PRETORIA, June 12.-Pretoria and
Johannesburg are perfectly quiet, and
several of the inhabitants have ex-
pressed gratitude for the peace and or
der which prevail.
"'After surrendering the city, Botha
retired to a place about fifteen miles
east, on the Middleburg road. He had
a small force, but during the last few
days his numbers increased, and his
being so near the town kept up the ex-
element in the country, prevented the
burghers from laying down their arms
and interfered with the collection of
supplies. 1t therefore became neoes-
sary to attack him. This I did yester-
day. He held a very strong position,
practically unassailable in front, which
enabled him to place the main portion
of his troops on his TANKS, which he
knew from former experience were his
vulnerable parts. l sent French, with
.Porter's and Dixon's cavalry ~brigades,
and Hutton's mounted infantry, round
by our left, and Ian Hamilton, with
Broadwood and Gordon's cavalry bri-
gade, Ridley's mounted infantry and
Bruce Hamilton's infantry brigade,
round by our right. Both columns met
with great opposition. At about 3 in
the afternoon I saw two Of Hamilton's
infantry battalions advancing to what
appeared to be the key Of the enemy's
defence, on their left flank. This was
almost gained before dark, and I order
ed the force to bivouac on the ground
they had won.
"Pole Carew, with his division, oc-
cupied our center.
"'As l have explained, he could not
attack, but he gradually advanced so
as to support Ian Hamilton, and when
I left the field he was on the line held
by the enemy's outposts in the morn
ing.
Il hurried back to get news of
Methuen's movement. On hearing that
the Free Staters had taken advantage
of our crossing the Vaal to interrupt
our line of communication, l sent
then spare to Vredefort, with orders
to push south and communicate with
Methuen, who, l knew, had a very COM
pact force in the vicinity Of Hebron.
l also dispatched a special messenger
to Methuen, in%structing him to push
on at all speed to the main line of
railway. These two officers met o. re
defort road station in the evening of
June 10. They marched yesterday to
Rhenoster river, where Methuen gain
ed u complete victory over De Wet and
took possession Of his camp and scat
tered his troops in all directions. He
and Kitchener marched today towards
|Kroonstad.
"'Her majesty's government need
have no apprehension as to the securi-
ty of the army in South Africa. The
enemy gained a slight success, which
was unfortunate, but which will be
remedied very shortly, and 1t will not
take long to repair the damage done
to the railway. As these diversions are
all in existence, I am nov able to hold
the line between this and Rhenoster
in strength. Methuen will arrange to
guard it onward as he advances.
"'Hunter should be at Poatchef-
stroom today. He will then move on
| Tohanpoohur