The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-30

London, May 29.-The following dis
patch has been received from Lord
Roberts
"Germiston, May 20, $50 p. m.-we
arrived here this afternoon without be-
ing seriously opposed. No casualties so
far as 1 am aware in the main column
and not many, I trust in the cavalry
and mounted infantry. The enemy did
not expect us until tomorrow and had
not, therefore, carried off all their roll
ing stock. We have possession of the
junction connecting johannesburg with
Natal, Pretoria and Klerksdorp by rail-
road.
Johannesburg is reported quiet and
no mines, l understand have been in
jured
I shall summon the commandant in
the morning, and if, as l expect there
is no opposition, I propose to enter the
town with all the troops at noOn.'
GermistOn is a suburb to the south
east of Johannesburg railway junction
and General Roberts mentions it in his
message to the war Office probably be-
cause ElandsfOntein station is further
eastward.
Additional evidence that the mines
are intact comes in a message re-
ceived by a mining company here to-
day from its Johannesburg representa-
tive dated May IS, saying: 'All right"
Lord Roberts dispatch is regarded as
announcing the virtual occupation of
Johannesburg. Apparently the Beers
have again effected a retreat as there
is no mention Of any prisoners or cap
lures except of rolling stock.
There will no cou7a IitfIa apyinfV
pending the actual occupation of Jo
hannesburg as there are rUmOrs that
the town has been mined with the in
tention of blowing up Lord Roberts and
his staff on their entry into that place.
Cavalry Nears Pretoria.
Lord Roberts cavalry have flowed on
beyond Johannesburg A portion is
understood to be at ZuurfOntein; seven
miles north of Johannesburg, and with
in twenty miles of Pretoria.
1t is considered possible that he will
be outside Of Pretoria Friday. The
rapidity of his advance is thought an
achievement, even by
grudging continental critics.
The Beers, who were expected to
fight along the line of hills known as
Kip Riversburg, abandoned the eastern
side of the range, near Lord Roberts
ground on the extreme right near Van
Wycks ROost, when they met General
French's turning movement. The fight
continued all day, and the result is as
yet mere conjecture. Probably the BOer
rear guard succeeded in keeping Gen.
eral French off and is now in the hills
northwest of Johannesburg.
Beers Ready For Peace.
The Standard has the following adj
vices from Pretoria under Mondays
date:
1.-THE TransvaaI government has
opened, or is about to open, peace ne
1t has cabled a final inquiry
to its agents abroad, asking whether
any hope exists OF aid
Dispatches from Lourenzo MARQUES
described President Kruger
as ''wavering but demanding a guaran-
tee that he shall not be exiled to St.
Helena"
to desert, and the total collapse of the
BOer military organization is not far
off.
Bennett Burleigh, wiring from Lord
Roberts headquarters at Verenigning
on Sunday. says:
I doubt if President Kruger can
muster $4,000 men, as many of the
burghers have gone to their homes"
The stauncher Beers are sending their
families with wagons and stores to the
LOutpanSberg district. Whether Preto-
ria will be defended is uncertain, al
though a Pretoria message. dated Sun
day, pictures the work of defending the
capital as going on with feverish ac-
tivity."
Pretoria is situated in a wilderness
Of kopjes and ranges, and is provided
with defenses that require at least 90. 900
men to man them properly. There may
still be one hard nut for the British to
crack.
The news that Lord Roberts was
master of Johannesburg
was received in London with noisy en-
Lhusiasm.
Butler Has a Battle.
Sir Redvers Butler and the Beers had
an artillery duel all day yesterday
without market result. The equilibrium |
in Natal seems still maintained. On |
Sunday the British killed two Beers |
and captured ten near Muller's pass.
Beers Must Yield All.
Lord Salisbury, who was entertained
at dinner this evening by the City of |
london Conservative Association, made |
an important announcement regarding /
The governments South African policy. |
Our only certainty Of preventing a /
of this fearful war is to in |
sure that never again shall such vast |
iccumulations of ornaments occur, /
and that not a shred of the former in |
of the republics shall re-
main. (Cheers.)
Il have already intimated that their |
resistance has gone beyond the limit /
% which resistance could wisely go. 1t i
s not for us to criticise their action in /
What they are pleased to call self-de- |
'ense, but they have acted so that ev- |
cry bitterness created by the war and /
every severance of classes and races
nave been stimulated by every meas |
Ire they have taken; and so they go |
IN.
1T will also be our duty to protect |
hose native races who have been so /
;orely afflicted and at the same time /
50 to conduct their policy that so far I
Is possible there shall be a reconcilia- I
ion and that every one shall be 1
happy member of the British empire"
Burghers to Pray.
Pretoria, May 2S.-By an order re- !