The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-07-26
BOER FORCES FALL BACK
EYICUATE POSITIONS BEFORE TIL
BRITISH 1DV1NCE.
Many Fsurghers Said to be for Peace =
Lord Roberts Account for the For
ward Campaign.

Brcnkhorst Spruit, Tuesday, July "a
The Beers, having got wind Of the
British advance, have evacuated all
their positions and are reported to be
moving to the northeast, towards Ley
denberg, whittier President Kruger is
going. A portion of the Beers remain
north of Bushveldt, whence they at
tempt to interrupt communications on
this line The bridges here and smaller
bridges to the west have been destroyed.
The British force comprises two brig
AIDES under General French and brig
AIDE and half under General Hamilton.
1t is likely that the advance upon Mid
dleburg will be contested.
The Beers remaining upon their
farms state that most Of the burghers
are anxious to bring matters to finish,
but that the foreigners are persistent.
London, July 25.-12:45 p. m.-The war
Office has received the following dis
patch from Lord Roberts:
'Vandermerwe Station, July "a We
made general advance yesterday from
the position we have been holding, east
of Pretoria. since June IL. Ian Ham
ilton, from the north, reached Rustfon-
tein, seven miles north Of Bronkhorst
Spruit on July %. This so completely
surrounded the enemy's line Of retreat
that they abandoned the strong posi-
ton they had been occupying in front
of PoleCarew. Stephenson's brigade
advanced yesterday, unopposed, to
Glands River station. Our right was
protected by the First and Fourth brig
AIDES of cavalry under French, and Hut
toms mounted Infantry. The former
crossed east of Wilge river.
Railway and telegra phic commune
cation was restored last night. In the
supply train, captured at Roodeval,
were 200 Welsh Fusiliers, most of whom
had been prisoners. DeWet's force is
continuing to move northeasterly. 1t
was at Roodepoort July %, with Broad
wood not far behind and Titles cav
airy brigade following Broadwood.
"BadenPowell reports as follows:
Magato Farm, July 22.-Colonels
Arey and Washington, with $50 men,
drove 1000 Beers from a very strong po-
sition and scattered them with consider
able loss Our casualties were six kill
ed and nineteen wounded"
1t is not clear whether the supply
train and 200 Fusiliers mentioned In the
above dispatch are identical with the
train and 100 Cameron Highlanders, the
capture of which was reported by Lord
Roberts In his communica ton of July
20.
The following dispatch, also from
Lord Roberts, has been received at the
war office:
"Bronkhorst Spruit (Tuesday) July
24-We marched here to-day. This is
the place where the ninety-fourth was
attacked December 20, 1880. The graves
of the officers and men are In fair pre-
servation and will now be put in good
order. The march was unopposed, but
Frenchs cavalry and Hutton's mount
ed infantry making a wide detour on
our right, met bodies of the enemy.
These were driven back leaving several
dead and wounded. A good many We're
also captured Our casualties were one
killed
"Broadwood reports that he captured
five of DeWet's wagons to-day. He was
waiting at Vredefort until Little joined
him.
MR.. CHAMBERLAIN IN HIS OWN
DEFENCE.
Proposal to Reduce His Salary-No In
definite Military Occupation of the
Transvaal.
London, July 25--Discussion of the
colonial office vote led to a spirited de-
bate in the house of commons to-day, in
the course of which liberals again aired
most of the old charges against the CO.
lonial secretary, Joseph Chamberlain,
and INDUCED in criticism of the war in
South Africa. Finally, Sir Wilfred Law
son moved reduction Of Mr.. Chamber
lains salary as mark of censure of his
policy.
Mr.. Chamberlain, replying, welcomed
the issue raised by the motion, which.
he declared meant that the war was
wrong, and that, consequently, annexa-
ton Of the South African republics was
wrong, and their independence should
be restored to them. In his opinion,
however, the war was just and right
eous, and should not be judged by it's
consequences in loss Of life John
Bright had defended the civil war in |
America as Just and righteous although |
the loss of life was thousands to units
as compared with South Africa.
Mr.. Chamberlain proceeded to combat
the liberal assertion that the Afrikander |
Bund had remained loyal and ought to |
be consulted with regard to the settle
Element. He charged the radicals with |
condoning rebellion. The policy of the
government, however was not vindic-
tive. and instead of subjecting the reb-
els to the death penalty or imprison-
ment, 1t only proposed to disarm them
politically for ten years. AS regards
the future, there would not be an indefi-
mite military occupation. At the earl
lest possible moment, a civil admins
tration would be established The gov
eminent desired to give the states at
the earliest possible moment a system
of self government similar to that en-
joyed by the other British colonies. He
believed the hope of a reaction at home
was pro onging the war. Therefore, in
the interests of the country, he hoped
1t would be made clear that the govern
ment had substantially united house
and people behind it,
tn