The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-05-30

-The Boer Army Confronting Butler
 60 Pretoria-CoIlnpse of Boer Army
 lmminoni-TaIls of Pcace-saIisbnry
 Speaks.
 London. May 29.-The following dis patch has been received from Lord Roberts:
 "Germiston, May 29.-6.30 p. m.-We arrived here this afternoon without be- ing seriously opposed. No casualties so far as I am aware in the main column, and not many I trust, in the cavalry and mounted infantry. The enemy did not expect US till tomorrow, and had not therefore, carried off all their rol- ing stock. We have possession of the junction connecting Johannesburg with Natal, Pretoria and Klerksdorp by rail- road
 Johannesburg is reported quiet, and no mines, I understand, have been in jured.
 q shall summon the commandant in the morning, and if, as I expect, there is no opposition, propose to enter the town with all the troops at noon"
 Town Already Occupied.
 Lord Roberts dispatch was at once regarded as announcing the actual oc- cupation of Johannesburg. That this view was true was made certain by a statement of Lord Salisbury at the Con- servative associations dinner in Lon don a few hours later, when he announc- ed the news to the assemblage in the following words: T find that Lord Rob- erts has occupied Johannesburg, which was greeted with wild enthusiasm. Ap- parently the Boers have again effected a retreat, as there is no mention of any prisoners or captures except of rolling stock.
 Germiston is a suburb to the south east of the Johannesburg railway june tion and General Roberts mentions it in his message to the war office. Probably Elandsfontein station is further east ward. Additional evidence that the mines are intact comes in a message re- ceived by mining company here to- day from it's Johannesburg representa- tive dated May 2S, via Delagoa Bay, saying All right"
 Warmed 10 Protect Property.
 The last message out of Pretoria is the following, dated May 2S, and cen sored by the Boer government: "Krauee, acting as special commandant at Johannesburg, has issued a circular to the officials concerned, warning them of the necessity of controlling the for eign element in the town and directing fIor, tn ct oil al r,tc tn property or life, meeting force by force" The Netherlands Railway company yes- terday notified the authorities at Lour- enzo Marques that they must decline to accept goods for delivery at Johannes burg. Johannesburg telegrams are still accepted, subject to stoppage at Pre- toria.
 TotaI Collapse n' Hand.
 The fighting burghers still continue to desert and the total collapse of the Boer military organization Is not far off. Bonnet Burleigb, wiring from Lord Roberts headquarters at Vereeniging on Sunday says: q doubt if President Kruger can muster 5000 men, as many of the burghers have gone to their homes" The stauncher Boers are sending their families, with wagons and stores to the Zoutpansberg district Whether Pretoria will be defended is uncertain although Pretoria message, dated Sun day, pictures the work of defending the capital as going on with "feverish &C., tivity." Pretoria Is situated in a will i derness of kopjes and ranges. and Is provided with defences that require at 1aa st tyvopty tbpl1ca man to mo n tl,o,,, properly. There may still be one hard l nut for the British to crack.