The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-19
ON FOOT BETWEEN GEMS. ROBERTS
AND KRUGER AND B0THA.
WIVES OF THE B0ER GENERALS
The Medium Through Whom the Ne
gotiations are Being Conducted.
Botha's Rear uard Routed-Kruger's
Son to Surrender Natal Clear OF the
Boer Forces-Charges Against Them
of fDIsgraceful Conduct I'm Regard TO
Private Property In That Colony.

London, June 16, $50 p. ma rumor
is rife in the city that Lord Roberts is
negotiating with President Kruger and
General Botha, through their wives
regarding terms of surrender.
The war office has received the fol-
lowing message from Lord Roberts:
Pretoria, June 16.-Rustenburg was
occupied yesterday by Baden-Powell.
a column starts from this place to-
morrow TO meet Baden-Powell to-
morrow to meet Baden-Powell and re-
pair the telegraph between Pretoria
and Rustenburg.
Hunter is moving from Potchef
stroom. His advance brigade expects
to reach Johannesburg June 18th.
''Ruller, 1 hope, is at Stapde-ton.
Heidelberg will be occupied from this
place shortly and then the Orange
River colony will be completely cut off
from the Transvaal.
'Baden-Powell reports that the dis
trict through which he passed is set
tling down satisfactorily. Over one
thouSan dStands of arms were surren-
dered and Hans Eloff and Piet Kruger,
son of the president, were to make
submission to him yesterday, having
been previously disarmed on their
farms.
'Bothas s army has retired and is be-
lieved to be at Middleburg.> His rear
guard was surprised and entirely
routed by Ian Hamiltons mounted in
fantry.''
The war office has received the fol-
lowing from General Butler:
Laings Mex, June Is, 19O0.-Now,
that Natal is clear of the enemy 7 wish
to call attention to the disgraceful
way in which private property was
treated on the part of the colony they
occupied. Their willful and needless
damage is visible every where, and
houses, when not completely wrecked
have been desecrated with filthy in
genuity. That this has been done
with the consent of the leaders is
proved by the fact that while in Char
lestown every house was wrecked
London, June 16.-There is no news
| reported from the seat of the war in
South Africa where the British forces
are continuing to clear off the Beers
on their front or holding in check or
| dispensing those threatening the rear
of Schopeneck. General Rundle's line
at Seneckel and Ffcksburg is almost
invulnerable. The Beers attacked
Ficksburg this morning, but were dri-
ven off. President Steyn of the Orange
fiec Sldle Is Trying 10 encourage the
burghers. General DeWet is trekking
| north of Bloemfontein
In an attack on the railroad pioneers
| near Zand river to-day the Beers were
driven off; Major Seymour was killed
he was an American and was formerly
employed in the Rand.
The indications are according to re-
ports from Cape Town, that the min
| isterial crisis will soon be ended by
| the formation of cabinet by Sir Cor
don Sprigg. According to Cape
| Town special the cabinet, beside Mr.
Rose-Innes, who will accept a portfo-
| Ito, will probably include former At
| torney General Solomon who was a
| member of the late cabinet, and Sir
| P. H. Faure, who was colonial secre-
| tary during Rhodes second admins
| tration.