The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-06-02
PRETORIA MAY NOT
HAVE BEEN TAKEN
CONTINUED from First Pagel

Continued from First Page.)
in the official chain. Hamilton's col.
umr which was supporting Freneh's
cavalry brigades. was confronted on
Tuesday with a Boer force strongly
intrenched among the kopjes west OF
johannesburg. Hamilton attacked the
position with vigor, although it was
defended with two heavy guns and
other artillery The Beers fought with
persistent courage but the kopjes were
cleared before nightfall. The GOrdons,
who were nearly cut TO pieces at Ma
gersfontein. showed how we'll they
could fight by capturing one position
after another and the City Imperial
volunteers. at the opposite end Of the
lire. displayed equal gallantry, Ham
ilton's column, after clearing the hills.
advanced to Florida, on the railway
between johannesburg and Krugers-
dorf. and halted there on Wednesday
night, while French was on the road to
Pretoria, few miles away.
General Roberts had deferred for "a
hours his entry into johannesburg, but
the seventh division was holding the
mills north of the city and a portion of
Hamilton's column was guarding the
western approaches. johannesburg was
defenceless and the local authorities
had arranged for the British occupa-
tion and protectio nof the mines. The
city had been surrendered and Cen
eral Roberts and Commandant Kraus
were cooperating to prevent an out
break Of violence and the destruction
of valuable property.
The chief breaks in the continuity
of this story were caused by the lack
Of information respecting French's cav
airy force and Pole-Carew's division
with the Guards brigade. Both forces
were known to be moving in the direc-
ton Of Pretoria, but not so rapidly as
Lord Rosslyn's imagination had pic
tured. Pretoria was at the mercy Of
the advancing cavalry and the infantry
and arrangements had been made for
the surrender of the capital and for
the release of the British prisoners.
but there was no official news respect
ing these two events at midnight.
Johannesburg had been occupied on
Thursday. the British troops under
General Roberts having marched in.
and the flag having been raised over
the Gold Reef City. The occupation of
Pretoria is a foregone conclusion, even
if it has not occurred already. There
are two theories here respecting the
complete collapse of the Dutch de-
fense. One was briefly summed up by
a prominent official yesterday in these
words:
Kruger has been forced out. The
people of Pretoria are unwilling to fol-
low his fortunes longer and have TAX
en- measures to protect the city against
a siege and devastation. He has gone
to Lydenburg in a final attempt to
rally the Beers in that mountain
stronghold and the burghers are row
saving their property and separating
themselves from a lost cause.
johannesburg has looked after its
interests in the same way and the Boer
generals are not disposed to sac
rihce their business investments.
The other theory has already been
referred to in these dispatches, as sup
ported by members Of parliament and
military men. 1t assumes that Kruger,
Botha, Kraus and other Boer leaders
have entered into a secret arrange
ment with either Sir Alfred Miner or
Lord Roberts, by which the march Of
the British columns has been expedited
and the Boer commandos scattered and
kept under restraint with a view to
the protection Of property and the pre-
vention of needless bloodshed.
If President Kruger has made terms
Of his own, it has been the deepest
game ever played by him, but there
are members Of parliament who be-
lieve that this has been done, and
that he has retired to Lydenburg for
the purpose Of concealing his own ar
rangements for bringing the war to
an end, and obtaining guarantees Of
personal security and immunity from
Imprisonment.
The Boer powers Of resistance bave
weakened so Unexpectedly, and the
British successes have been so rapid
and complete, that this theory helps
to explain what is happening in South
Africa.
Possibly more accurate summary
of the case would be the sample state
ment that from 1900 to 10000 burghers
have found the on-rush of an army
of 250000 British eo1diere frraeie+itto