The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-15
UUDUEU hUDEnIOs
Steyn Escapes From BlOemfOn-
tein With His Army
Before the Surrender and Es-
tabliShes New Capital.
NOW AT KROONSTADT.
Generals Clements and Gatacre
Form a Junction.
Details of the Fall of the
Burgher City.
TOW AT KROONSTADT.

Pretoria, March 14.-State Secretary
Reitz this morning posted the following
announcement:
Yesterday Bloemfontein was occu-
pied by the British after the burghers
had retired in northern direction. The
seat of government of the Free State
has been already transferred to Kroon-
stadt."
CLEMENTS AND GATACRE UNITE.
Bethulie Bridge Camp, Wednesday,
March 14-General Clements brigade
has effected a juncture with General
Gatacre's troops at BurgersdOrp. A
patrol left today for AIiwa1 north to
join hands with General Brabant.
NO MATCH FOR MAUSERS.
Pretoria, Tuesday, March 13.-Before
returning to the front today General
Jobert said to a press representative:
THE courage of the British soldiers is
beyond question. They rushed the
kopJeS and entertainments in a fearless
manner, but We're not match for the
Mausers which simply moved them
down.
OCCUPATION OF BLOEMFONTEIN.
London, March 15.-At precisely 1870
o'clock Tuesday afternoon a Union
Jack, specially made for this purpose
by Lady Roberts, was hoisted over the
presidency at BlOemfontein, amidst the
acclamations of the commander-in-
chiefs battalions, in which, curiously
enough, the Orange Free State burghers
appear to have Joined with remarkable
heartiness.
The opposition to the entry of the
British troops into the capital was in
significant. Beers were found occupy
ing a few hills south of the place, but
a few shells drove them off and at 10
in the morning, some newspaper corre-
spOndentS entering the town, found Mr..
Frazer and other officials and guided
them to where Lord Roberts stood on
the top of a hill, waiting for them AS
spokesman, Mr.. Frazer asked protection
for life and property and surrendered
the keys. Lord Roberts, accompanied
by his staff, rode at the head of
cavalry column mile long, to the
out the ride, eliminating in a Demon
stration at the market square
Reaching the government buildings,
Lord Roberts took possession of the
city in the name of the queen and then
repaired to the presidency, where the
ceremony of hosting the Union Jack
ended forever, according to universal
opinion here, the Boer government of
the Free State.
During his progress through the town
Lord Roberts stopped and ordered the
instant replacement of goods which
were being looted from the artillery
barracks by Kaffirs, thus giving the
pOpulace an earnest assurance of the
treatment they might expect from the
victors.
President Steyn fed to Kroonstadt
without replying to Lord Roberts de-
mands for his surrender. and the COM
mander in chief remarked afterwards,
during the course of conversation while
breakfasting at the farm of President
Steyn's brother that the ex-president
had become a nonentity." The Brit
ish troops with the exception of those
necessary to police the town, remain
outside The dispatch giving most of
the above details also settled the ques-
ton raised about the cutting of the
railroad and telegraph north of Bloem-
fontein, showing it was a pIuclSy act.
Major Hunt Weston, of the Royal engi-
neers, accompanied by ten men, trav-
ersed the Boer lines and succeeded in
cutting the wires and blowing up the
tracks.
Bloemfontein is now regarded there
as a sort of halfway house and base OF
operations for the advance on Pretoria
The military authorities here expect
q period of comparative quiet while
Lord Roberts is establishing railroad
connection with Norva1's pont and
Bethulie and giving the men and horses
the rest necessary to fit them for the
severe struggles which are believed to
be still inevitable. 1t seems likely that
the next news of fighting may come
from Natal. General Warren's division
which had reached Durham has been
ordered to rejoin General Butler. indi-
eating that the outflanking movement
CONTINUED on Sixth Page.l