The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-05-29

One Position After Another Abandoned
by the Boers-Kruger Issues Proclama-
tion Warming People to Leave johann
nesburg or Remain at Their Peril.
LONDON, May 29.-Lcrd Roberts is
now within days march of Johannes
sarg and General French and General
Ian Hamilton fought the Beers from
noon to evening on Monday, with what
result is not known here.
H. j. Wigham, in dispatch to the
Daily Mail, dated May 2S. says: "The
decentralization of the Transvaal is re-
markable Panic and confusion pre-
walls everywhere. Every one is weary
OF the war and full of fear as to the
coming of the British Operations
We're being carried on for encircling
Pretoria with telegraphic communica-
tlons. Fourteen points in the line of
defenses We're connected with head
quarters and with the Staats artillery,
but this apparently was the only de-
fensive measure adopted. There We're
no other visible preparations. The seat
OF government will be removed to
Waterfall Bovan, q small station on the
Delagoa bay railway line, and then, if
necessary, to Lydenburg. Around Jo-
hannesburg a few trenches have been
dug, but no other steps have been taken
for defense. The railway line is blocked
with refugees from the west and south
west, who are packed like sardines in
trucks
The burghers i'll northern Natal are
according to General Buffers spies pre-
pairing to fsl back to Heidelburg hill.
Probably they will not contest Laing's
mex stubbornly. A correspondent with
General Butler writing from Newcas-
tie yesterday morning, wired saying
Lord Roberts had inspired the Beers
with desire to get back into Trans
yaal territory. Lord Roberts latest
movement was probably then unknown
in the Boer and British camps in Natal.
The military critics consider that
Lord Roberts is now in position to
easily render Laing's mex untenable, as
he can cut off communication and take
the Beers i'll the rear.
General Butler is remaining quiet.
The Beers fired six shells at the British
camp from six-inch gun on Pogwana
mountain.
The morning papers regard the Boer
organized resistance near an end. Pre-
dlctions are being made that the British
flag will fly at Johannesburg today and
Pretoria Saturday. One view is that
Lord Roberts may pass by Johannes
burg and move straight on Pretoria.
The Morning Post has the following
dispatch from Lourenzo Marquee:
president Kruger has issued Il public
proclamation warning all people to
leave Johannesburg or remain there at
the peril Of their lives. as it might be
mines"
Hundreds of cases OF winter cloth
ing for the prisoners at Pretoria have
been sent by the relief association TO
United States Consul Hay, as well as
$1,000 in cash
The Lourenzo Marquee correspondent
Of the Times telegraphing Monday says:
"Commandant General Botha con-
suited the Transvaal government a few
days ago and in the strongest terms
urged capitulation, recognizing that the
struggle is utterly hopeless. Steyn is
equally emphatic for peace, but Kruger
is still obdurate.'
All sorts of sensational reports are
circulated. The latest is for hauling
down the flag at the Portuguese con-
sulate in Pretoria. The Beers are un-
doubtedly strengthening their COM
mandoes on the border.
A dispatch from Mafeking, dated
May %, says the total casualties since
the commencement Of the siege were
S03. Out OF IA officers % Were killed