The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-28

Situation 1T Pretoria.
While Lord Roberts 10000 infantry,
20. 900 horse and fifty guns are moving
on johannesburg and Pretoria, through
q parched and deserted country, the
situation at the Transvaal capital as
it was last Friday is thus described by
an observer who sent his message by
private hand to Lourenzo Marques
yesterday:
The situation, both from a military
and political point of view, has be
come very critical President Kruger
yesterday admitted that for the first
time matters are very grave. The Boer
determination is TO trust everything
to a last stand on the Gatsrand noun
tains, to the north Of PotschefOstroOm,
where 9, 600 Kaffirs are digging trenches.
To that point every available man and
gun has been sent.
The whole of the western border of
the Transvaal from end to end is de-
fenseless. and General Baden Powell
can march in when he likes. Lord Rob
erts, on the other hand, will encounter
the greatest resistance. The Boer en-
deavor is to lure the British into ap-
peaTing TO threaten Johannesburg with
attack. an excuse thus being given
them for TIE destruction of property.
The Transvaal government win not
dare destroy the mines and property
without an excuse. Much eHnamite
has been sent down the line and 100000
cases lie ready at ZuurfOntein, near
Johannesburg.
Plead to Preserve Property.
General Louis Botha and General
Lucas Meier have pleaded for the
preservation of property. Both are
large landed prOpTietOrs and fear con-
fiscatiOn hut they have not received
satisfactory replies from President
Kruger.
Meanwhile, many French and Ger
man Adventures have come forward
with schemes and inventions for blow
ing up the British troops. Some of
these have received a tacit permission
to experiment, One German invention
is for use on a railway, where it lies
perfectly concealed until the weight of
a passing train eXpiodes the charge.
General Lucas Meier says surrender
would be at once proposed by the Beers
but that everybody fears the ignOminy
of being the one TO make the PROPOSE
ton. He declares that he is assured
that his men viii not stand. President
Steyn and Mr.. ReitZ, the Transvaal
state secretary, are strongly opposed
to peace, but Mr., Kruger is not so
much against it. F"
Several correspondents Wire the Lon
don papers that there are 100000 fOr-
eigners in the BOer ranks, but this is
hardly credible.
Clash Likely at Laing's Mex.
The indications are that pitched
battle is imminent at Laing's Mex,
where General Butler faces the Beers,
reinforced and seemingly determined
with an estimated strength of from
5000 to 10000 men. The reinforcements
include a large party from Ladybrand
and fresh commanders from Pretoria.
LOndoners are doubtful of the Beers
displaying the same tenacity of fight
ing as at Ladysmith. The British are
confident that when the moment ar
rives they viii be able to force the
passes.
Two boxes of dynamite fuse have
been found under the Newcastle city
hail. General Butler is causing numer-
Gus arrests of suspected rebels. Forty
two have been sent to Pietehmaritz-
burg. Mr.. Gawthrop, a chemist, and
his wife have been arrested on a charge
of high treason.
General Rumble is slowly sweeping the
eastern section of the Free State Occas-
iOnally his squadrOns come across parties
OF Beers, two OF three in number and
usually on foot, who are YEARLY going
TO their farms. Wholesale surFenders are
expected, but thus far they have not Oc-
CURED in that region. Small commands
are described by the correspondent as
hurrying TO and fro and finding every
road barred.