Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-06-21
THE WAR IN AFRICA.
Indications That Lord Roberts Con.
siders It Nearly Ended.
The NATAL VOLUNTEERS SEyT HONE
Other Soldiers to he Sent to China-Bulls.
tins Posted BY the President Of the
II snsvaaI-What the Boers
Will Probably Do


Indications that Lord Roberts con-
siders the war end In South Africa
not far distant. One Of these Is the
fact that the Natal volunteers, who
had seen hard service, were dismissed
to their homes by Sir Redvers Butler
Saturday. They were cheered as they
left camp. Another indication is the
/. report current In authoritatively In
formed military circles in London
that o complete division of regulars
IL to be withdrawn from Gen. Buffers
army and embarked at Durham for
China. The troops drawn from India
will probably 60 next.
"a. Unofficial intelligence from Machad-
odorp, via Lourenzo Marques, is to
the effect that the British troops are
near Middleburg. The Boer nara.
tive of the fighting east Of Pretoria,
posted on q bulletin board outside
Of President Kruger's car at Machad-
odorp, ran thus: 1.-THE commanders
east Of Pretoria, in the direction OF
Bronkhorst spruit, are compelled to
retire after a fierce stand Of more
than two days, in way that won nd.
miration of the acting commandant
general. The short range rifle fire
was very hot and for part Of the sec.
ond day, especially late in the after
noon, the enemy fought at distance
Of 100 yards. Our loss cannot yet be
given. The acting commandant gen.
eral only mentions Field Colonel John
Vanburen killed. He was one Of the
pluckiest men in the field. 1nforma.
ton is again to hand regarding the
miserable condition Of the enemy's
troops that have penetrated to Jo'
hannesburg and Pretoria. They con.
tinually complain Of the lack Of food.
Several British soldiers have died in
the streets Of Pretoria Of exhaustion
and starvation. Along the roads lie
the corpses Of horses and mules, while
the living animals are 30 weak that
they are hardly able to carry their
loads"
Another bulletin at Machadodorp,
according to dispatch dated June
Is, says Fifteen officers and 100
British soldiers, prisoners, have ar.
rived at Standerton, Free State, bound
for Nooit Gedacht. Thirty burghers
were killed and wounded during the
last few days fighting near Pre-.
toria.'
Mr.. Steyn, in consequence Of Lord
Roberts annexation Of the Free State
by proclamation, has issued counter
proclamation declaring that the Free
State still exists, is independent and
does not acknowledge the authority
Of Great Britain.
The British prisoners at Nooit
0edacht have been having exciting
games of football in order to keep
themselves warm. They are, accord
ing to dispatch from Lourenzo Mar
ques, without shelter or medical COM
forts and are confined between two
mountains, where the sun does not
shine until $40 a. m.
Delagoa Bay merchants are rush
ing goods towards Machadodorp, the
Boer expectation being that the use
Of the railway will soon be lost and
that the preparations for final stand
In the Lydenburg district must be
promptly completed.
The Lourenzo Marques correspond
ent OF the Times says; president
Kruger has removed his headquarters
TO Atkmaar, near Mel Pruit. Trust
worthy men who have been at Mach
adodorp within few days say It is
extremely predetermined whether the
Beers will carry out their professed
Intention to retire to the Lydenburg
hills. These people are inclined to
believe that the Beers will stick to
the main line Of railway as long as
possible, and that, unless they sur
render, they will fall back to the
Dekaap valley, the most mountainous
portion Of the Transvaal. A strong
objection to the I.ydenburg district
n the fact that the native tribes are
very much unsettled"