The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-13
KROONSTAO FALLS INTO
HANDS OF The BRITISH
Practically the Whole Of the Orange Free State
Now in Lord Roberts Possession.
Beers Declare Now They Will Do No More Fighting Except
ing Upon TranSvaal Soil

London, May 1S-The war Office has
received the following dispatch from
General Roberts:
Kroonstad, May y, . p. nj en-
tered Kroonstad at 100 without oppo-
sition today, when the union jack was
hOisted amid cheers from the few Brit
ish residents.
president Steyn fled last evening, af-
ter vainly endeavoring to persuade the
burghers TO continue opposing. The
Transvaalers said they would no long
er fight on Orange Free State soil, and
made OF for the Vaal river. Free
Staters accused the Transvaalers of
having made use of them and then de-
sorting. Many Of the Free Staters
have gone TO their homes.
The procession entering the town
was headed by my body guard, all Of
whom were colonies, and after my staff
and foreign officers came the North
Somerset Imperial YeOmanry, followed
by POle-CareW's division. consisting Of
the guards and the Eighteenth brigade
navals the Eig4ty-third. Eighty
fourth and Eighty-fifih batteries, two
five-inch guns manned by the royal ar
tiHery company, ana the Twelfth en-
gineers. The first of the force en-,
Camped around the town,
''BefOTc leaving Kr0onstad, Presi-
dent Steyn issued a proclamation max
ing Lindley the seat of government OF
The Free State. Generals BOtha and
De Wet accompanied the Transvaal-
lrs"
British Are Pleased.
The situation at the seat OF war in
South Africa is as satisfactory from
the British view point as the most san
guine friend could have hoped week
ago. The occupation of KrOonstad
practically places the whole Orange
Free State in British possession. It
is evident from Lord Roberts last dis
patch that the disintegratson has COM
menced.
The Free Staters are scattering to
their homes, while the I'ransvaalers
have gone nOrthward, declining to fight
longer in the Orange Free state. What
little resistance the former still are
likely to make seems to be centering
at Lindley, whittier President Steyn
has transferred his government.
1T is evident that the strategy of
Lord Roberts and the rapidly of his
advance have beWildered and disheart-
ened the Beers. as their resistance since
the British reached Zand river has
been slight The only point where
they. seriously attempted to check the
advance seems 10 nave Deen on the
British right. where they defended
with some viger two kOpjes. which
eventually were carried by the East
Lancashires and Sussexes, the Beers
finally retreating, leaving a group Of
gunners. dead on the top of one OF the
hills.
When Beers Are Located.
The only point in the Free State
where the Beers seem in any force, eX-
cept al Lord Roberts front, is on the
southeast, where Generals Rumble.
Campbell and Brabant are holding
them in check, west of Ficksburg and
LadybTand, and are gradually pushing
them back as well as effectually de-
feating all their efforts to break
through and threaten Lord Roberts
communications.
There is no further news regarding
the advance of the relief column to
Mafeking, but it is possible that Lord
Roberts success will result in forcing
the Beers to raise the siege.
Pretoria advices via LOurenzO Mar
ques state that the Beers supply of
smokeless powder is exhausted and
that all attempts to manufacture a
fresh supply have been unsuccessful.
A dispatch from Cape Town, dated