Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-06-12
RAVE CUT THE TELEGRAPH.
Strong Body of Beers Causes the
British Serious Trouble
North Of Kroonstad.
SHOWING "OlsAGREEABLE ACTIVITY. !"
Engagement Fought nt Laings Mex
Beers Offer to Surrendcr COndi-
tionnlIy But Buller Refuses Any
Terms short of Unconditional Sur
render-News from South Africa.


Terms short of Unconditional Sur
renIer-News from South Africa.
London, June II. = Gen. Forester
Walker cables to the war Office from
Cape Town under date of June s
as follows:
''Kelly-Kenny, at Bloemfontcin, reports
that the telegraph has been cut ut Roode-
val, north of Kroonstad. by n body of
Beers estimated to be 1000 strong, with
six field guns. He is sending strong re-
endorsements to Kroonstad and am re-
enforcing from Cape Colony. 1 hope the
interruption will be only temporary"
London Disgustcd.
London, June 11.-London is some
what Disguised at the ''disagreeable
activity manifested by the Beers in
the Orange River Colony in cutting
Lord Roberts telegraphic commupica-
dion at Roodeval, north of Kroonstad.
AS yet there is no Indication whence
came the strong body of 1000 Beers
that has arrived at Roodeval, unless it
lis the force mentioned in a recent Boer
dispatch as having started from Stand
erton with this very object in view.
apparently the authorities on the spot
regard the situation at least as tenn
porarily serious, as they are not only
reinforcing the garrison at Kroonstad,
but are ssending up troops from the
lines of communication in Cape Colony.
7 = Roodeyal is a fairly strong position,
BIS miles north of Kroonstad, capable of
giving Gen. Kelly-Kenny trouble should
Hhe federals elect to dispute its posses
sion, as Cen Kelly-Kenny cannot be
Jpverburdened with cavalry, with which
Ito threaten the burgher line of retreat.
Discounts Flatterins Deductions.
The news somewhat discounts the
Hattering deductions the Britishers
have been extracting from Lord Rob-
erts silence, as it indicates that the
menace of the Beers to carry on
prolonged guerrilla warfare is no
empty threat, and that President
Steyn is capable of creating serious,
IF only temporary, trouble. y parlia-
mentary return issued Saturday
morning shows that 36 members of
fhe house of lords and % members of
ithe house of commons are serving
with the British troops in South At
rica.
Advices from Cape Town say the
opinion prevails there that the Boer
supplies of ammunition and food will
mot suffice to enable them to prolong
the struggle in the Lydenburg dis
hrict for more than eight weeks. Cape
Flown also anticipates that the Beers
will be seriously harassed by the
Kaffirs.
d Butler Refuses Conditions.
r London, June IA special dispatch
,Hrom Durham, Natal, says the Beers at
Eaings Mex. after an action fought
Thursday, June Z, offered to surrender
condtionally, but Gen. Butler replied
That their surrender must be uncondi-
kional.
President steyn at Bethlehem.
New York, June ia dispatch to
The Tribune from London says the
last informa tiop~seeceived there shows
Z bat Presi2 delf Steyn-1s at Bethlehem.
& He has small band of desperate men
with him. but the great body of the
kurghers in the northeast of the
Orange River colony appear to be
heartily sick of the war.
I The mystery enveloping the fate of
fhe British prisoners at Waterfall had
not been explained officially at mid
might. Gen. French ought to have
reached Waterfall Tuesday or Wednes-
Hay, and To have released at least
1900 prisoners, if only 1000 were car
ried east by the Beers. But Gen.
Roberts has remained silent respect
ling this important detail.
The motive of the Beers in taking
off the prisoners is obvious. While the
prisoners are with them there will be
hess risk of starving out the Beers
themselves by the seizure of Komati
Poort or the investment of Gutenberg.
Nhey are hostages for the protection
pf the burghers against starvation, and
increase their resources for drawing
the British government into negotia-
Mons Of some kind
! Rundle's and Methuen's operations
against President Steyn at Bethlehem
remain unexplained. A reconnaissance
In force occurred on Tuesday, and
there was some skirmishing.
{ Finds Conditions Satisfactory.