The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-23
BOERS TAKE SQUADRON
OF BRITISH CAVALRY
Portion of Buffers Forces is AmbuShed Near Vry-
held and Falls Prey to BurgherS.
Roberts Forces Are Nearing johannesburg and Prepara
lions Continue for the Ci.y'S Defense.

London, May 22.-The war office has
received the following dispatch from
General Butler:
New Castle, May 22.-I have re
ceived the following from Bethune,
May q: While marching in the direc-
ton of New Castle, one of my squad
rons of Bethune,s mounted infantry
was ambushed by Beers six miles west
of Vryheid, and a very few escaped.
Lieutenant Laus0m and Captain Long
are amC ng the missing. Captain the
Earl de Ware is slightly wounded in
the leg. The total casualties are about
sixty-six. 1 have returned to MOUTH
for supplies. Will march tomorrow for
New Castle via Dundee
4 detached Colonel Bethune and
about 500 Ihen from Dundee May II,
with Instructions to march by Vaults
Drift and show his force at Mouth,
which was reported to have been evac-
uated by the enemy, preparatory to
the return Of the magistrates and civil
establishments to the district. He was
to join me at New Castle afterward 3"
A dispatch from Cape Town, dated
today, says that British troops have
arrived at Veereeniging lin the Trans
wall north of the Vaal river) The
bridge across the Vaal was found to
be intact. Twenty Free Staters
and two locomotives were captured.
Beers Prepare Defense.
The Transvaal government has in
formed the correspondents at Pretoria
that it has not surrendered, but will
fight to a finish
The foreign consuls have been in
formed that johannesburg viii be de-
Tended, and the government announces
that it viii not hold itself responsible
for injury to property resulting from
the defense measures.
Pretoria dispatches affirm that Pres
ident Kruger, President Steyn and all
the most prominent leaders of both re-
publics, after a prolonged interchange
of views, are determined to continue
the resistance, but that a minority of
the leaders advocate surrender with
out terms.
Mrs. Reitz, wife of the TransvaaI
state secretary, and her family. with
the families Of other officials have gone I
to LOurenZo Marquee. johannesburg
and Pretoria are being cleared of non
combatants. The Roer chiefs. who now
recognize the possibility that they viii
have TO defend these cities, are pre-
pairing with the utmost haste The
BOeF spirit has been rising from a low
ebb and is now ready for a steadfast
resistance.
Hollanders Take Steps.
A dispatch from Pretoria, dated
Monday, May II, says that an open-air
meeting was held today by the local
Hollanders. 200 of whom We're present,
to consider the situation in the event
Pretoria should be beleaguered. A COM
mittee was appointed to secure a place
of safety for the women and children
The consul general of The Netherlands, !
Mr.. Nieuwenhuys, was asked to advise
his government to take its subjects.
One speaker said the position was
most dark. The British, he declared, /
would be masters of the Free State
and the TEansvaal and might would
be right, the capitalists would dom
mate, the poor would be the sufferers
and the Hollanders would have no
chance.
DR.. Heyman contradicts the report
circulated regarding the health of
President Kruger, which he says is
good.
In accordance with an understanding
nth General Botha and President
Steyn, the government has issued a
circular stating that should the enemy
succeed IN gaming a position in the
Transvaal and take possession of one
or the other district. the inhabitants
will be free to decide whether or not
to leave their families on the farms,
but the men must remain with their
commanders.
The LourenzO Marquee correspondent
of the Times says he has it on unques-
tionable authority that within the last
six weeks President Kruger has trans
ferred the bulk of his property in the
TransvaaI to personal friends in order
to avoid its confscation by Great Brit
ain.
Peace Rumors Still Float.
Nevertheless, according to the Daily
Chronicle long messages in Dutch have
been received by the British govern
ment by way of Amsterdam, in which
President Kruger seeks peace. Ac-
cording to one account, President
Kruger surrenders Internationally; ac-
coTding to another, he asks for terms
There seems to be good reason for be-
lieving that he is earnestly endeavor-
ing to secure terms, but cable inquiries
fail to confirm the assertions that cor
has recently passed be-
tween Great Britain and the Trans
vaal respecting terms.
Roberts on the Move.
Lord Roberts is again moving. The
British infantry left KroonStad Mon
day, and headquarters were expected
to leave yesterday. The railway has
been restored, and the first train is due
to arrive today.
The Beers are busy blasting for mu-
nicipal emplacements along the RhoOn-
lister river. General Dewet commands,
as General Botha is i'll.
The advance OF Lord Roberts will
probably be swift. It is the expecta-
ton of well-informed observers here
that the Vaal river eighty-five miles
below KrOonstad, viii be crossed by
the end of the week.
Butler to His Troops.
Sir Redvers Butler in a general or
der to his troops, congratulating them
on the result of their ten days opera
tons, says they were only checked at
Laings Mex by q fresh commando
sent from the Transvaal General
CIery, with q cavalry brigade. en-
gagged the rear guard of the Beers at
Laing's Mex Sunday, capturing a num-
Der of wagons and took some prisoners.
His artillery shelled the Mex. The
Beers, in their retreat. laid waste the
territory. blew up bridges and burned
several houses, as many as six in New
Castle. The machinery of the navi-
cation collieries was burned.
General Butler, replying to residents
of New Castle, who presented to him
a trophy. said he expected to return
from Pretoria soon.
Canadians Are Praised.