St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-06-20
WAR IN THE TRANSVAAL.

London. June 19.-Mr. Steyn, in con-
,onuence of Lord Roberts annexation of
the Free State, by proclamation, has is
suad counter proclamation, declaring
chat the Free State still exists, is indie
nordent and does not acknowledge the
othority of Great Britain.
The correspondents at headquarters
are as they have been for 10 days, silent.
unofficial intelligence from Machado-
dorm via Lourenzo Marques, is to the
effect that the British troops are near
Nrddleburg. The Boer narrative of the
6ghting east of Pretoria, posted on a
huletin board outside of President
Kruger's car at Machadodorp, ran thus:
1.-THE commanders east of Pretoria, in
the direction of Brookhorst Spruit, were
compelled to retire after fierce stand
of more than two days in way that won
the admiration of the acting command
ant general. The short range rifle fire
WAS very hot, and for part of the second
dav. especially late in the afternoon, the
enemy fought at distance of 100 yards.
Our loss cannot be given yet. The act
ing commandment general only mentions
Field Cornet Jan Van Buren, killed. He
was one of the pluckiest men in the
field.
Information is again to hand regard
ing the miserable condition of the
enemy's troops that have penetrated to
johannesburg 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 so weak that they are
hardly able to carry their loads"
Another bulletin at Machadodorp, ac-
cording to a dispatch dated June Is,
says Fifteen officers and 500 British
soldiers, prisoners, have arrived at
Gedacht. Thirty burghers were killed
and wounded during the last few days
fighting near Pretoria"
There are some indications that Lord
Roberts considers the end of the strug-
Gle in South Africa not far distant One
Of these is tie fact that the Natal volun-
teers, who had seen hard service. were
dismissed to their homes by General
Butler Saturday. They were cheered as
they left his camp.
Another indication is the report cur
rent in authoritatively informed mill
+or nj in, I lno%
division of regulars is to be Withdrawn
from General Buffers army and en-
barked at Durham for China. The
troops drawn from India will probably
60 next.
Lord Roberts, according to a Boer dis
patch from Machadodorp, sent a mes
sage to Commandant General Louis
Botha on June 10 suggesting disarma-
ment and complimenting the bravery of
the burghers.
1t was pointed out that the surrender
would be without dishonor to the burgh-
ers and would prevent much suffering.
General Botha asked for six days
GrmistiCe in order to confer and con-
cider. Lord Roberts consented to five
days, Finally General Botha declined
to accept the proposal, and hostilities
were renewed.
The Boer commanders are retiring on
Middcburg, followed by the British cav
airy and artillery, occasional shells
reaching the rear guards. The Beers
are destroying the bridges and burning
the veldt behind them, carrying off pro-
visions and cattle and leaving the coun-
try barren.
Other advices from Machadodorp say
that the Beers have an abundance of
arms and ammunition, with dynamite
ard oxen, and that they are preparing
heavy wagon trains for a retreat to the
Lydenburg district, where the chiefs,
Notwithstanding rumors to the con-
trary, are determined to make stand.
The Beers continue to work the Bar
berton mines, says a dispatch from
Lourenzo Marques, and there are eight
car loads of bar gold, valued at 95000,-
0OO with President Kruger.
Mr.. Steyn, in his proclamation declar-
ing the Free State still free and in
dependent, says the fact that the army
is yet in the field renders Lord Roberts
annexation contrary to international
law.
In a dispatch to the war office from
Pretoria, dated yesterday, Lord Roberts
says that General Baden-Powell has
Just arrived there.
A dispatch from Cape Town says it is
reported there that President Kruger Is
IN feeble condition.