The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-06-05
MAY YET DEFEND PRETORIA.
REPORTS FROM BOER CAPITAL IN
DICATE SUCH ACTION.


Surrender, but the Indications
Point to a stubborn Encounter
Before the Beers Give Up-Efort
to Cut Roberts Communication
Was Completely Bamed.
London, June 5. 1925 a. m.-Of official
intelligence regarding what is transpir-
ing outside Pretoria there is little or
nothing to-day. Lord Roberts is silent.
Nevertheless, by piecing together items
from various correspondents 1t would
seem that Lord Roberts immediate army
Ia all employed north of johannesburg,
except one brigade, which is at Johan-
nesburg and that six columns are con-
verging on Pretoria.
An undated news agency message from
Pretoria, via Lorenzo Marques, June 4, I
says: \
Pretoria is now invested by the British.
No resistance will be offered. The city
will be surrendered by the burgomaster
as soon as formal demand is made
This message purports to come in cipher.
President Kruger commands the telegraph
eastward to Pretoria, and telgraphic news
from Pretoria to Lorenzo Marquee has
ceased, but the messengers of newspaper
correspondents continue to pass to and fro
on the railway. The latest to arrive at
Lorenzo Marquee brings events at the
Boer capital down to a late hour Friday
night At that time, according to these
sources of informa ton, the military lead
ers had quite recovered from the panic and
had determined to defend the town. One
message, which is dated June l, says:
Pretoria is full of strange burghers, but
most of the ccmrnandoS are laagered out
side A great war counciI of generals has
Just concluded its delbera tions. The de-
cision as to the future military course has
not been made known, Louis Botha ard
Delarey sat in the council.
May Yet Be Defended.
Another dispatch brought 90 Lorenzo
Marquee by messenger and dated at Pre-
toria, Friday, at midnight. says:
THE war council assumes the powers of
the government. Its members declare that
the capital may still be successfully de-
Tended. One commander declared
with the help of God, the hour will
still come when Great Britain will ac-
knowledge the independence of the two
republics. A tremendous change will yet
come over the situation"
Gen. Delarey said that Pretoria would
be defended to the utmost, adding:
There is every chance that we will yet
beat the enemy out of the country
President Kruger is some where to the
eastward, but is in constant wire COM
munication with the leaders here. There
is however, a deep feeling of anger
against him on account of what is now
called his unnecessary flight and because
he and the officials look all the gold and
left their subordinates unpaid. The latest
phase of public opinion is a marvellous re-
vival of courage"
From Lorenzo Marques comes dispatch
dated June A. saying:
1T is known that some great British
movement is in progress outside Pretoria
The mysterious movements of President
. Kruger's secretary and physician, partic-
ularly their secret visit to the Dutch
warship Friesland, which is in the harbor
here. have aroused suspicious that import
ant personages are expected"
From the Minor Theaters.
The news from the minor theaters of
hostilties is less cryptic. The Boer oper-
ations 20 break Lord Roberts communi-
cations have been completely baffied, and
the Bcer columns are in danger of being
surroln6el by the British forces at Ficks-
blrg, Senekal, Hellbron and Lindley. Gen.
Rundlo, nssoad of throwing himself
against the Beers eutrenchcd at Bedulph-
berg moved toward Ficksburg and estab-
lished communication with Gen. Brabant.
The Beers marched parallel with Rumble,
mteuulnB 10 seize a sur nS position On l1e
Ficksbuig road, but Gen. Rumble got
there first The 150o Beers who were in
this movement are row reported to be
going elsewh re.
The correspondents wi Gen. Rumble
continue TO point out the hardness of the
light Of last Tuesday, hut they believe
thai il will be the last resistance. Col.
Lloyd was thrice wCu7d d. Drummer
Haynes, while aiding Col Lloyd was hit
u the hand. which W resting near the
{ loHels heart.
Gen. Buffers guns threw a she'll or two
toward the Bcer positions in front of him. 4
ten. Baden-Powell is stlll at Mafeking.
Hen Hunters column is marching unop-
posed into the Trasvaai beyond Lichten-
burg
a new phase of the Anglo-Dutql con-
net Is opening in Cape Colony. The lead
ers of the Afrikander bund propose, it
Is asserted, 20 block business In the Cape
parliament until the British government
acts upon the resolutions adopted by the
peoples congress at Graaf Reinet, declar-
ing mat the chief immediate cause of the
war was the unwarrnnted and intolerab,e
interference of the ministry in London in
me internal affilrs of the South African
Beyond Lichtenberg, the Beers are as
senOling TO oppose Gen. Hunter. Col.
NJ ~ non effected a juncture with Hunter on
thursday at Morihoso.