The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-03-16
WESTON
Cut the R.ilway and Al,o JOub.
eris Advance


BLOEMFoNTEIN. MARCH ls-Iorl
Roberts entered the Free State capita
today practically unopposed. he lay al
Nenters Welt, fourteen miles away las.
night with General Kely-Kennys and
General Colvile's divisions the guards
brigade and the mounted infantry.
General French. havin ecut the rau-
way and telegraph. experienced a very
slight sklrmish with some Peers holding
the kopjes which commanded the Beers.
A few well placed shells from the
horse artillery drove on the enemy GEN
eral French then sent out scouts to feel
their way toward the town, perceivinS
which the correspondents Of the Sydney
Herald and the London Daily News with
one other, galloped forward and entered
the town which wore an every day as
pect. The people were out shopping or
for morning walks and al FIRST the three
newspaper men were regarded as towns
folk When later It became known tha,
they were forerunners OF the British ar
my they were greeted cordially and con-
Quoted TO a club where they met Mr.
Fraser Of the executive council, the may
or and other officials. These they PER
suaded to take carriages and go TO meet
Lord Roberts
British cavalry were closing around ike
a high net The deputation soon arrived
opposite the kopje where Lord Roberts
was stationed and this correspondent
rode forward and had the honor OF am
nounclng to the commander-in-chief that
Bloemfontein would surrender
"A little later the deputation began TO
approach and Lord Roberts went for
ward to meet them.
The scene was picturesque in the ex-
treme. A few yards away the guns Of
battery pointed their grim mouths to-
ward the late position OF the Beers and
the tin roofs OF Bloemfontoin shone in
the distance.
After salutes had been "Nchapeed. q
member OF the deputation stepl Il for
ward and declared that the town wished
to surrender. hoping Lord Roberts would
I protect life and property. He replied that
provided there was no opposition, he
would undertake TO guarantee the gccur-
ity OF both. The interview was very cor
dial without a sign OF solemnness. "
struck this correspondent tnat the depG
/ tatlon seemed relieved by the presence
/ of the British troops. Lord Roberts not
/ flied the ideputation OF HIS intention OF
entering the town In state and they
| withdrew to inform the townspeOp'e.
! Lord Roberts then made his military
/ dispositions. ordering the first br gade u
follow him and TO take possession OF the
! town. With his stan and the military
attaches he descended the kopje and arr
rived in the plain, where ne waited until
the cavalry approached. Then he enter
ed the city. followed by his own persona
STAFF the general staff, the military al
taches and the troops.
LONDON. MARCH 16-5 a m.~-Event,
are moving in the South AFRICAN can.
paign In a speedy and satisfactory man
] cal points OF view. II cCu'c hardly have
beer expected from the most sanguine
Englishmen that they would take turn
/ so favorable.
| IT apears that when Major Weston ut
j the railway north Of Bloemfontein he
thereby Intercepted General Joubert. who
far from having retired from the cam
/ paign, was then coming southwark with
! 5000 men presumably TO superintend the
defense. Elaborate defense works thre
miles long have been prepared outside o.
! the town.
No Boer wounded were lcft In Bioem
fontein. When asked the r'ason by Lord
Roberts Mr.. Fraser replied:
The Burghers do not like the fish and
would not care to go 10 Cope Town"
The evidence goes TO show that so far
as the southern part OF he Free STATE
! Is concerned there will be no further re-
sistance. 1t Is understood that Mr.. Fras-
er, Mr.. Vessels and other leaders are
| quite prepared TO accept the position o,
a self governing British co'ony.
The cheers which greeted the reading
In parliament yesterday ~ the CORES
pondence with the UNITED States, ar.
re-echoed throughout the -ountry The
speech OF NJ. Delcass has Increased this
satisfaction and taken with the general
belief that Emperor Nicholas Is person
ally averse 10 any Intervention. these
incidents spread the idea that there will
be no further serious attempt 20 interfere
from any quarter
Mr.. Montagu Whites threet. IN an Am.
erican newspaper, that tho Beers WI
sacrifice johannesburg and axe II 10 tbs
ground II necessary Is not taken very
seriously. Mr. Chamberlain's statement
that President Kruger has already beer
warned as 20 the consequence Of such
conduct Is regarded as showing that sur
fcient precaution has been taken
The Times suggests that The Bureher,
should be warned that their farms viii
be taxed as guarantee against any dam
age TO British property, but no seriou.
apprehenslons are entertained OF such
conduct as Mr. White Is said TO have
foreshadowed j. - Robinson the nv
lionaire mine owner says he does not
believe the Beers win be so foolish.
BY the time Lord Roberts reaches thf
Naal river he viii. comm8nd some S0Oa
] men, while General Butler VIII have ~,
900. From the military point OF view ihJ
critics now think there Is nothing n
fear.
PRETORIA MARcH t4-state secre.
tary Reltz refutation OF Lord SALISBURY
arguments IN the reply 20 the BlOemfou-
tein Joint note was issued today Mr
Reitz says
THE British government, after the