Willmar tribune., 1900-06-06
w a r B ENDED.
Pretoria Said to Have Been sAban-
doned by the Beers.
British Occupation Will Be Unop-
pOsed-President Kruger Report i
ed a Fugftive-Annexati or 8
~, Free state.

London, May 31.-Britons arose this
morning to find peace practically es-
tablished in South Africa and Presi-
dent Kruger a fugitive, with either
Lydenburg or Holland-probably the
latter--as his! destination. The ka-
leidoscopic change in the situation is
startling. Twenty-four hours finds
Lord Roberts in johannesburg, Pre-
toria abandoned by the Beers, the
Afrikanders negotiating for peace and
the armies of the Transvaal and their
allies in disorganized retreat.
There is but one verdict as to the
meaning of this. That is that the war
is virtually at an end. Editorial ex.
pressions in the morning papers to
this effect are echoed on all sides.
At this hour there is no confirma
tion by the war office either of Lord
Rosslyn's announcement that Pre-
toria would be occupied without op-
position by the British early yester-
day afternoon. that Commandant
Kraus had surrendered Johannes
burg to Lord Roberts, or that Brit
ish officers in johannesburg are ar
ranging the terms of peace. Never
theless. there is little disposition in
any quarter to question the trust
worthiness of these statements.
Flight of Kruger.
A most sensational dispatch has
been received by the Mail from Pre-
toria, which suggests that the war is
virtually at an end. Lord Rosslyn, tel
egraphing from the Transvaal capital
at 11:40 yesterday forenoon, definite
ly stated that the city would be occu-
pied in about two hours time. Presi-
dent Kruger has fled to Waterfall
bowen, but every arrangement had
been made for the reception of the
British troops, presumably the
mounted force under French and
Hamilton. Great credit is accorded by
the Mail correspondent to the Amer
lean consul and Mr.. Leigh for their
action in insisting upon the liberation
of 20 British prisoners on parole, with
the object of preventing disturbances
among the British prisoners of war;.
If this dispatch can be relied upon
and there seems no reason to doubt
its authenticity-it may reasonably,
be concluded that the end of the war
is insight. No official news has, how
ever, been received in regard to the
matter. =
Annexation Of the Free State.
B1oemfontein, Monday, May 2s.-
Amid salutes and cheers and the sing
ing of 'God Save the Queen" the mill
tary governor, Maj. Gen. George Pret-
lyman, at noon formally proclaimed
the annexation of the Free State under
the designations of the Orange River
colony. The ceremony was somewhat
imposing and the scene in the Mar
ket square inspiring. An immense
concourse had gathered and the town
was gay with bunting. The troops
were drawn up under command of Gen.
Knox and entert aimed the spectators.
Facts about the War. ,-~-
British soldiers engaged. 240, 600
Boer forces, probably. .............. $4,000
British losses in killed, wounded,
missing and invalided home.... 10000
The great battlesSwere:
Dundee, October 20, British losses. .. 1872
Elandslaagte, October q, British losses $50
Ladysmith, October 80, British losses. Il ,27O
Belmont, November Z, British losses. 231
Gras ran, November Is. British losses. 1893
Modder River. November 2S British
iossSS '.':.: .....:................. 40
Magersfontein, December 12 British
losses .....:::.....:............ ................ 1872
Stormburg, December 10, British cap
tured .;::........: .........::..::.:.:.:. 600
Tugela River, December IS, British
losses ::....: Il, 100
Spion Kop. January 20 to 25 British
losses ..............:.......... 500