Willmar tribune., 1900-03-21
ENTER BLoFMFoNTEIN.
Lord Roberts and British Army Oc-~
cupy Free State Capital - Aban.
doned by President steyn.

London, March 15.-The first half
OF the campaign is over. Lord Rob-
erts arrived at Modder river on Feb
ruary 9. He entered Bloemfontein on
March 13. Thus, in little over
month, he has effected the relief of
Kimberley and Ladysmith, the cap
ture of Gen. Cronje's forces and the
hoisting of the British flag in the cap-
ital OF the Free State. All this has
been accomplished with comparative
ly trifiing losses. It is small wonder
that he is the hero of the hour in Eng
land. All the newspapers eulogize
him and congratulate the country,
They talk of the Free State as having
passed out of existence and as being
now one of the shadows of history.
London, March 15.-The following
is the text of Lord Roberts dispatch to
the war office announcing his occupa-
ton of Bloemfontein:
"Bloemfontein, Tuesday, March 13-Rv
the help of God and by the bravery of her
majesty's soldiers, the troops under nv
command have taken possession of Bloem-
fontein. The British flag now flies over
the. presidency evacuated last evening by
Mr.. Steyn. late president of the Orange
Free State Mr.. Fraser, member of the late
executive government: the mayor. the sec-
retary to the late government; the land
rost and other officials met me two miles
from the town and presented me with the
keys of the public offices. The enemy have
Withdrawn from the neighborhood and all
seems quiet. The Inhabitants of Bloam-
tonte1n gave the troops cordial welcome"
The above dispatch. though dated
Tuesday, was not received at the war
Office until 1880 p. m. Wednesday. It
was made public few minutes before
nine o'clock. The delay is attributed
to the field telegraphs not being con-
nected with Bloemfontein on Tuesdav
evening.
London, March 15.-A dispatch to
the Daily Chronicle from Bloemfon-
tein, dated Tuesday evening, March 13
says:
"Bloemfontein surrendered at ten to-day.
1t was occupied at noon. President Ste, n.
with majority of the fighting burghers.
has fled northward. Cen French was
within five miles Of the place at five o'clocl;
Monday afternoon. He sr,st u summons
Into the town, threatening to lombard un-
less 1t surrendered by four a. m. Tuesday.
white flag was hoistcd Tuesday morn
Ing. and deputation Of the town council,
with Mayor Kellner (?, came out to meet
Lord Roberts at spitz kop. five miles south
of the town, making formal surrender of
the place. Lord Roberts made a state en-
try ct noon. He received a tremendous
ovation. After visiting the public build
lngs he went to the official residence of the
president, followed by a cheering crowd,
who waved the British flag and sang the
British national anthem. They were in a
off
day afternoon, previous to the surrender,
there had been little shipping and she'll
ing, but the enemy then retired. Lord Rob-
erts has his headquarters at the presidents
house. and there are many of the British
wounded in the building. The railway is
not injured
New York, March IS. - Montagu
White confirms the rumors that the
Beers will utterly destroy Johannes
burg if forced to do so. Pretoria could
aot be defended, he says, if Johannes
burg were permitted to remain.
New York, March Is. "A dispatch
from President Kruger to the Evening
Journal dated Pretoria, March 13,
eight p. M, via Berlin, says:
''The burghers will only cease fighting
with death. Our forces are returning in
good order to our line of defense on our
own soil. The Natal campaign was longer
in our favor than we expected. The Brit
ish will never reach Pretoria. The burgh-
ers, Steyn, Joubert and myself as we'll as
all the others. are united There are no
differences. God he1p u.s.
Aliwal North, Cape Colony, by
courier to Burghersdorp, via Storm
berg Junction, March 14.-Gen. Bra
bant's forces arrived here on Sunday.
The Beers had retired the previous
night, taking up position four miles
beyond the Orange river, where Gen.
Brabant attacked and drove them
back, securing the position after
sharp engagement.