The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1900-06-09
PRETORIA WAS CAPTURED
GENERAL ROBERTS IS THERE.
He Had to Fight-Tbe Beers Contest
ed the Advance, but Were Slowly
Driven BacL-Envoys at Chicago.
Opposition Was Encountered.

|OhdOhy wal OlllNc las
issued the following dispatch from Lord
Roberts:
Pretoria, June GIVE are now in
possession of Pretoria. The official entry
will be made Tuesday afternoon at 2
o'clock"
London, June 6.-The war office has IS
sued the following ditpatch, received from
Lord Roberts,:
Six Miles Spruit, June 6.-We started
at daybreak and marched about 10 miles
to Six Miles Spruit, both banks of which
were occupied by the enemy. Henrys
West Somerset, Dorset, Bedford and Sus-
sex companies of yeomanry quickly dis
lodged them from the south bank and pur-
sued them nearly a mile, when they found
themselves under heavy fire from guns
which the Beers had placed in well con-
cealed commanding position.
Our heavy guns of the naval and
heavy artillery, which had purposely been
in the front part of the column, were,
however, rushed to the assistance of the
mounted infantry as fast as oxen and
mules could travel over the great rolling
hills surrounding Pretoria. The guns
were supported by Stevensons brigade of
Pole Carew's division, and after few
rounds drove the enemy from their posi-
tions.
''The Beers then attempted to turn our
left flank, in which they were again foiled
by the mounted infantry and yeomanry,
supported by MaxwelPs brigade of Tucker 5
division. AS, however, they still kept
pressing our left rear, l sent word to
Ian Hamilton, who was advancing three
miles to our left, to incline toward us and
fill up the gap between the two columns.
This finally checked the enemy, who wers
driven back toward Pretoria. l hoped we
would have been able to follow them up,
but the days now are very short in this
part of the world, and, after nearly two
hours marching and fighting, we had to
bivouac ON the ground gained during the
day.
The guards brigade is quite near the
southern-most fort by which Pretoria is
defended and less than four miles from
the town.
French with the Third and Fourth cav
AlIY DllHducS anu 1lullOn -NCN DOueh
Wales mounted rifles is north of Pretoria.
"Broadwood's brigade is between
Frenchs and Hamilton's columns, and
Gordon is watching the right flank of the
main force not far from the railroad bridge
at Irene Station, which was destroyed by
the enemy.
"Our casualties, 1 hope, are very few
ENs
Those who had had a chance to read
Roberts account of the resistance en-
countered yesterday were at the moment
commenting on the probability OF fierce
fight before the city was occupied, and
were wondering at the Beers capabilities
to make such determined stand when
Pretoria was hemmed in on all sides. The
presence of General French north of the
Boer capital came as a surprise and eX-
plained the communicative chiefs retriever
dispatch anent the position of the ener-
getic cavalry leader. 1t was evident that
Roberts delayed attacking until all his
column was ready to cooperate, but even
when Roberts wired last night that this
was accomplished there seemed a posi-
bility of some fighting, so when the next
dispatch was given out it came as sur
prise.
Judging from Roberts phraseology, the
occupation of Pretoria was not accompan
led by any loss of life.
What has happened to the Boer forces
which so insistently opposed the British
advance at Six Miles Spruit can only be
surmised. But presumably they have got
away for the present at any rate.
Botha Is still warIiIse.
The latest dispatches from a represent
alive of the Associated Press at Pretoria
dated June 3, quoted General Botha a.
saying:
so long as we can count on our thous
-ands of willing men, we must not dream
of retreat or of throwing away our III
dependence"
General Botha, it is added, annulled thu
regulations appointing a special commit
tee to preserve order, substituting mill
tarv control for that of the committee.
General Lucas Meyer, addressing TIN
burghers on the square, urged them t
all stand fast.
Thus, though their efforts were futile
a few faithful Boer generals worked DIES
perately to resist the overwhelming fore
of Roberts army. The war office has in
formation that one of the first things dom
by Roberts after the occupation of Pre-
toria was to direct General French to re
lease the British prisoners confined
Waterfall.