The sun., 1900-03-17
MILL LEAD TO pretoria"
Lord Roberts Promises to Head
Guards IHtO Pretoria
Victorious.
dAFEKING STILL HOLDS OUT
Ramor Has 1t That President Steyn,
Chief Executive OF the Free
State. is Now Willing to
llzsa 4 SSurrender, But is
! Not Verified.

London, March 16.--Lord Roberts sue.
cess in handling the civil problems at
Bloemfontein and the manifest equanimi'
ty with which the residents of the capi.
tai of the Orange Free State accept the
British occupation momentarily eclipse
ia interest the military situation. 1t il
believed here that the commander in
chief of the British forces in South Al.
lica will soon push on to Pretoria, but
Great Britain is quite content to listen
fora few days to the acclamations of the
people of Bloemfontein and permit the
troops to enjoy Il few days rest before
expecting further success. Lord Roberts
made Il quaint speech to the guards at
Bloemf0ntein, when. in his first c0ngrat-
ulatory words. he expressed pride in their
splendid march Of IS miles in % hours
and gave ample assurance of his ultimate
design. Through il small mistake" said
Lord Roberts, II have not been able tn
MARCH into Bocmfontein mt the head of
the brigade. as | intended. | promise
yen, however, that | will lead you into
\ Pretoria''
General Gatacrc is holding Bcthule
and the whole line of the railroad south
OF Bloemfontein is now iii the hands Of
the British, and, General Brabants col
umn having crossed the Orange river
4 after forced march ut Aliwal North on
Sunday. General Clements column being
across Mt Nalzyl. the three columns will
Fform an army of 10000 to $4,000 men,
which is expected to replace the forces
Of Lord Roberts at Bloemfontein as he
pushes northward. Just where the Beers
will attempt to oppose that march is an
Important question. but il cannot be east
w answered until General .Toubert is
more definitely located.
News From Mafeking.
Further news has reached the outside
world from Mafeking, dated Friday,
March o. showing that, though the garri-
son was i'll hard straits, they were buoyed
up by the knowledge that their plucky
6ght was appreciated at home.
General Roberts reports that he found
British officers and 43 men wounded in
: the hospital at Bloemfontein. lie adds:
81 reioced the wounded Beers by tell
ing them they will he allowed TO proceed
to their homes instead of being made
priSUncrS as soon as they can leave the
hospital"
\ dispatch from Bloemfontcn dated
March 10 says:
General Prrttyman. who was appoint
ed military governor by Lord Roberts, is
Succeeding admirably in the discharge of
his duties. lie issued proclamation to-
day requesting the burghrrs within il
radius of ten miles to deliver up their
arms, assuring them they would be paid
for the coniiscation of their property.
lord Roberts is about to issue fresh
prmlamatons which, it is considered,
will have the effect of disarming further
Opposition upon the part of the Free
Staters
"AIr Ceilings has been appointed land
drost, vice Pappenfus, deposed and Mr..
Fraser will act rs mayor.
"Grcat quantities of stores captured at
Wasserfall have been recovered. AS Il
result of Hunter and Westons line cut
fling the British have secured 26 engines
and the line has been cleared to the Kaf-
fir river. Rumors are current that for
mer President Steyn is willing to slrren-
4 der Much unrest exists among the
Dutch populations The burghers describ.
ed the soldiers aS locuSts saying they are
innumerable and Of identical color with
them."
Qneer RuBt0r About Steyn.
nfspaTcn from oloeInfonreln says:
"Rumors are current that former Pres
ident Steyn is willing to surrender
A dispatch from Cape Town says:
I'm an interview published in the Capt
Argus, Mr., Cecil Rhodes is quoted ;ls
saying:
~ feel strongly that we cannot have
peace in South Africa so long us we have
ii the republics ralying ground for dis
loyalty and disaffection. To 20 further
i do not think we can safely fcderate till
Ne have had some years of crown colony
government. Personally. have don,
With the bnnd.'
There was great rcjoicing throughout
the Colony upon the receipt of the news
that Bloemfontein had been occupied by
The British. The first intimation Of til,
news ut Port Elizabeth was the firing OF
III guns ut / o'clock in the evening
The inhabitants hastened to the streets
and carried the mayor on their shoulders
TO the town hall. where Il demonstration
was made. Today is observed as Il gen.
eral holiday.
5 "Wltcn the British forced the passage
pf the Orange river. they surprised thu
fRB0crS.
''rhe British troops occupied Il position
on the north side of the river with ittl,
Exposition and are now building pom.
toon bridge.
N& "'rhc British first class cruiser Power
ful. with the naval brigade which has
been operating against the Beers in
South Africa, has sailed for England"
\ dispatch from jamestown, dated
# March IL. says:
There was much enthusiasm ut Ali
wa North when General Brbant's
trnops occupied that place commaitdant
Olivier. the Boer commander. apulogizcd
for the action Of the Bocrs during the
H last days Of the occupation. saying he
~ could nut cnntrol his men,
IA ~Thr British are now iatrenclicd on
3l4a Free St;tse side of rhc Orange river
! Nth the Butrs holding an advantageous
~lill in front Of them. General Bl;Ibami
VI is greatly hampcred owing to the lack pi
4 &ssrtilIery, having oaly two 10 Founders" "