The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-29


office just before midnight published the
following dispatch from Lord Roberts,:
Kip River, Transvaal, May 2S, 5:25 p.
m.-We marched twenty miles today and
are now eighteen miles from Johannes
burg. The enemy had prepared several
positions where they intended to oppose
US, but they abandoned one after the
otfs2r as We neared them.
we pressed them so hard that they
had only just time to get their five guns
into train and leave as soon as some
cavalry dashed into it.
"French's and HamiIton's forces are
apparently engaged with the enemy
about ten miles to our left, as firing has
been heard since noon. The farmers
along our line of advance are surrender
Ing with their arms and horses.
RundIe occupied Senkal on May 81.
No report of what took place has
reached ME yet
'B. J. Whigham has just returned to
Lourenzo Marques from Pretoria, where
he went disguised. He wires Kruger has
all the arrangements made for flight,
presumably for Holland A special train,
provisioned, is always ready. with steam
up The train waits some distance from
Pretoria"
AT GATES OF JOHANNESBURG.
LONDON, May 2S-Lord Roberts is now
within a days march Of Johannesburg
and Gen. French and Gen. Ian Hamilton
fought the Beers from noon until even
Ing of Monday, with what result is not
known here H. J. Whigham in a dis
patch to the Daily News, dated May %,
says:
The decentralization in the Transvaal is
remarkable. Panic and confusion pre-
vail everywhere. Everyone is weary Of
the war, and full of fear as to the con-
duct of the British. Preparations We're
being made for encircling Pretoria with
telegTaphic communication. Fourteen
points on the line of defense were con-
nected with horse and the staats artil-
lery, but this was apparently the only
defensive means adopted. There were no
other visible preparations. Not much
gold is likely to be found in the treasury.
The salaries Of the officers or judges
, have not been Paid, or if paid, only in
bank notes, which will be worthless when
Lord Roberts arrives. The seat of gov
ernment will be removed to Waterfall
Bon, a small station on the Delagoa Bay
railway line, and then, If necessary, to
Lydenburg.
Both President Steyn and President
Kruger complain bitterly of Lord Rob-
erts' unfair tactics in refusing to meet
the Beers in positions chosen by them,
and in eternally turning them by flank
movements.
Around Johannesburg a few trenches
have beeen dug, but no other steps have
been taken for defense. The railway
line is blocked with refugees from the
west and southwest, who are packed like
sardines in trucks.
The government is now endeavOring to
reassure the people by telling them that
ha will no troo nd nh
them but it is too late. The previous
misstatements are bringing their rewards.
Food is very scarce and prices rule
high The proposal to release the Brit
ish prisoners of war is due to this cause.
Members of the government and of the
volksraad express approval of the propos-
al, but President Kruger is violently op-
posed to it.
INTERNAL MACHINES.
'One form of internal machinery which
meets with much approval is to be laid
under the rails Of various lines. The pres
sure of an engines weight will cause it
to explode with terrible force. Many of
the machines are at the arsenal, and great
caution will have to be employed in neu-
tralizing them.
There has been a decided change in
public opinion, which has become quite
English. The burghers are singing God
Save the Queen and they cannot be
stopped. In towns the rabid anti-Eng-
Nshism is less rampant. People are pro-
tecting their property The party eager
for surrender is now very influential and
includes the principal leaders at the front.
The intelligent public feel that the game
IS up. False news no longer has any eff
feet and the lying reports of the news
papers are universally disbeTieved AL
though the hand Of the censor has been
very heavy on news of all kinds recently,
every one believes the worst
The government continues the agita-
tion against the occupation of the two re-
pubHcS in Europe and America Great
efforts are to be made in this direction.
and no expense is to be spared.
L learn on excellent authority the
Bewaasplaatzen rights have been sold to
a French syndicate without the sanction
of the volksraad. The government hopes
by this means to bring about French in.
terventiOn for the protection of French
rights in the Witwatersrand and thus to
cause England grave difficulties
The conduct of United States Consul
Hay is admirably discreet and meets with
universal praise alike from Boer and
British sympathizers"
BOTHA URGES PEACE.
Another dispatch from Lourenzo Mar
Ques says:
Gen Luis Botha is at Pretoria, urging
President Kruger to arrange peace terms.
Runaway burghers from Eaing's Mex
passed through Heidelberg last week
Wounded officers with their families are
leaving johannesburg and Pretoria for
Lydenburg. President Steyn occupies the
house of British resident at Pretoria.
Passengers arriving at Lourenzo Mar
ques Monday from Pretoria said it was
believed there that the British would not
De at the capital for month Never
hor
iety."
BOERs NEAR DUNDEE.
The Times publishes the following from
Newcastle, dated Sunday:
-Four hundred Beers are advancing
toward Dundee. There is no fear that our
communication Will be cut
SUFFICIENT WARNING.
The Morning Post has the following dis
patch from Lourenzo Marques, dated
Monday:
President Kruger has issued public
proclamation warning all people to leave
Johannesburg or to remain there at the