The age-herald., 1900-06-02
A SIEGE MAY FOLLOW An Army of BoerS Between Pre- toria and Johannesburg. NEW ELEMENT IN THE SITUATION Boer Forces Who Are Trekking Toward the Transvaal Capital May Give
 the British Hard Fight
 Before Capitulation
NEW ELEMENT IN THE SITUATION

London, June 2.-(3:45 a. m.)-Lord Rob- erts continues silent regarding Pretoria, probably because he cannot wire of events from his own knowledge. Lourenzo Marques, where all the news from the Boer side is re-handled, cables that com- munication with Pretoria is now suspend ed.
 Some messages by courier have reached Lourenzo Marques but none of later date than Wednesday. They assert that the burghers are in a state of panic, and that Pretoria is being controlled by a vigilance committee LonrenZo Marques again sends the report that President Kruger has been captured.
 The news blank gives rise to a suspicion that the citizens committee at Pretoria may not have been able to carry out their plans for securing the peaceful entry of Lord Roberts and sparing the city the horrors of siege.
 A peace party appeared to be in the as- cendant, and as soon President Kruger and his cabinet left Pretoria to organize new capital the citizens committee per suaded the commandants Of the forts to withdraw some of the troops rom the ue- fenses perhaps with the view or keeping order in the town. If messengers were sent to the British, or if the British, De- ing two hours march from Pretoria on Wednesday, entered it then or at any tune prior to Friday noon, Lord Roberts would
 certainly have telegraphed this fact. Hence, it looks as though there was l Boer force between Pretoria and Johannes | burg.
 | New Element in the Situation These soldiers trekking back toward Pre- tcria some of them fresh from the fight with General Ian Hamilton, would nave
 brought a new element into the situation and would probably overrule the peace com mittee taking the direction of affairs out Of their hands,
 If this has happened, the British may, as
 the Daily Chronicle says, see hard fighting before the flag flies over Pretoria, TOT II | the Boers heia only three forts standing close together on the hills south Of the town
 they would be in position to stand siege. The Boers, according to a special dispatch from Lourenzo Marques, have re-entered the northeastern territory of the Free State and are engaged with the British near Ven- tersburg and Harrismith.
 It is reported from Amsterdam that the best rooms at Hethaasje, one of the prin-
 cipal hotels there, have been engaged for
 President Kruger's occupancy from June 18th.
 General Butler is moving slowly against
 the Boer Hanks.
 A dispatch from Vreyburg dated May 3O
 says:
 During the occupation of this place by the
 Boers they logged the natives for slight offenses. whip and several cords knot ted and salted were found at the police station. A boy who brought letter to
 woman received twenty-five lashes, and another who sympathized with him, re- ceived fifteen."
 Lady Georgiana Curzon has cabled HOO pounds to provide comforts and luxuries at | Mafeking. The Times has the following i from Lourenzo Marques, dated June l: Reports of the most conflicting char l acter are current, due to the activity of l the Boer agents. While one section de- clares that President Kruger has returned | to Pretoria for the purpose of arranging
 terms of surrender, another asserts that l the Boers have been repulsed outside Of l Pretoria Nothing authentic is known here
 regarding MT. Kruger's whereabouts or the situation in the Transvaal"