The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1900-06-22
TRANsvAAL WAR ITEMS.

There are some indications that Lord
Roberts considers the end of the strug-
| gle in South Africa not far distant.
One of these is the fact that the Natal
| volunteers, who had seen hard service,
were dismissed 10 their homes by Sir
Redvers Butler on the 10th. They
were cheered as they left camp. An
other indication is the report current
in authoritatively informed military
| circles in London that a complete di-
vision of regulars is to be withdrawn
from Gen. Buffers army and embarked
at Durham for China. The troops
drawn from India will probably go
next.
Lord Roberts, according TO Boer dis
patch from Machadodorp, sent a mes
sage to General Louis
Botha on June 10, suggested disarma-
ment, and complementing the bravery
of the burghers. 1t was pointed out
that the surrender would be without
dishonor TO the burghers and would
prevent much suffering. Gen. Botha
asked for six days armistice in order
to confer and consider. Lord Roberts
consented to five days Finally Gen.
Botha declined TO accept the proposal
and hostilities were renewed.
1t appears that Steyn and not Kruger
is now the stumbling block in the way
of the surrender of the burghers.
Shortly after the British entry into
Pretoria, Mr.. Kruger proposed to re-
open the peace negotiations. Mr..
Steyn, bearing in mind that his former
advice was secuted, demurred TO this
and pointed out that, according to the
treaty between the republics neither
could conclude peace without the other.
Mr.. Kruger equally unwilling to incur
the charge of u breach of faith, had to
continue the war.
A London Daily Express correspon-
dent telegraphs from Machadodorp, 40
miles east of Pretoria, under date of
June 10, in connection with the capture
and destruction by the Boer general,
De Wet, of 5000 suits of clothing as
follows The British soldiers complain
much of cold. There is much suffering
among them and the hospitals are full
Of sick and exhausted. The sickness
among the horses, too, is increasing,
thousands of animals having succumbed
at Kroonstad on the road from Bloom
fontein TO Pretoria.
The Boer Commands are retiring on
Middleburg, followed by the British
cavalry and artillery, occasionally
shells reaching the rear guards. The
Beers are destroying the bridges and
burning the veldt behind them carry
ing off provisions and cattle and leav-
ing the country barren.
Adviccs from Machadodorp say that
the Beers have an abundance of arms
and ammunition, with dynamite and
oxen, and that they are preparing
heavy wagon trains for retreat to the
Lydenburg district where the chiefs,
Notwithstanding rumors to the con-
trary, are determined to make stand
The Beers continue to work the Bar
berton mines, says dispatch from
Lorenzo Marquee, and there are eight
carloads of bar gold, valued at e5, OOO,-
600, with President Kruger.
Kitchener and Methuen joined forces
at Vredefort and gained complete
victory over the forces under Gen.
DeWet. Gen. D:Wet got away with
all his troops.
Gen. Lyttleton on the 18th received
the formal submission of the town and
district of Walxkerstroom, which the
enemy is believed to have completely
evacuated