The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-06
IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The uncertainty regarding the situation
around Pretoria haA been dispelled oy horu
Roberts's dispatches describing the hghuhx
that took place on Monday at Six Mie spiu'
south Of Pretoria. and the subsequent negoua-
lions leading to the surrender Of the city Inc
overwhelming force Of the British prevaneo
over the Boer Resistance, but the coming on OF
night prevented the former from brihsuhs ,no
action to a conclusion and entering the city
The negotiations proposed by Gen bo'ha our
ing Monday night were obviously to gain time
Lord Roberts, however. returned MS s'ereo-
typed answer Offering nothing put un,on
tional surrender, and the British entered RE
toria unresisted at 2 p. NJ. yesterday ~ ne
despatch Lord Roberts speaks OF Gen french
being TO the north of Pretoria on Mohoay' 81
that the Beers who fought at SIX Mhe opru'
and have not surrendered with the Guy WIZ nave
gone away to the eastward to JON 'he COM
mandoS previously reported AZ bronhn"a'
Spruit, or have taken the ROAD going h"'h "
Petersburg. II Is, however more proo"ote
that they have gone toward MlddeiDurs 10 a"a,'
the commandos that must be moving hoith
from the Natal frontier II 1t has been decided 70
carry on the struggle In the mountain region
In the north.
Now that he Is established at Johannesburg
and Pretoria, Lord Roberts VIII. no DOUBT
see 10 opening the railway communications
with Durham, shortening the distance ior 'he
transport Of his supplies by one-hall mat from
Cape Town. and greatly reducing the risk OF
interruption by hostile bands. The next move
ments, therefore, will be 10 the 10
follow up the retreatins Beers and II possible
prevent their concentration and If that has
been effected, to push them to the north IN order
70 clear the country south OF the pretoria
Delaxoa railway Of hostile forces. and prevent
the return of any Transvaal commands there
NAV still be In the Free State back across the
vaal.
What the intentions Of the Boer leaders may
be regarding the continuance oil the war does
not seem to be yet decided upon, and the aban-
donrnent of Pretoria leaves the matter sun
In doubt. During the past two months large
quantities Of war material and supplies nave
been sent away north to the great strong
hold In Magatoland eighty miles northeast
Of Petersburg. over and above what has been
collected at Lydenburg, This points to con-
tin,ied opposition TO the British INVASION,
and we're the British Government disposed
TO anything less than unconditional capitula-
ton, might play its part In the discussion OF
terms. But as Lord Roberts clearly has In
structions TO enter into no parley with the
Beers and to push the war to its conclusion,
the Boer leaders must soon come TO a definite
decision as To the future. Persons acquainted
with the country describe the Magatoland
region as practically impregnable, capable
Of being held by a comparatively small army
so long as its ammunition lasted, and OF that
1t j. claimed the Beers have enough TO prolong
their resistance for more than a year.
The despatch from Lord Roberts giving the
details Of the disaster to the Duke Of Cam
bridges Yeomanry corps. which Gen, Methuen
failed TO rescue, explains the statement Of The
Sun correspondent at Pretoria about the arrival
there OF hundreds of British prisoners taken in
a fight at Lindley. The absence Of any news
from Gen. Butler is probably connected with
the movements Of the British revealed by this
despatch, the object Of the Generals operating
east from the railway in the north Of the Free
State being obviously TO drive the Beers into
n corner in the northeast where they would
he surrounded on all sides,