New-York tribune., 1900-06-13
CLEARING THE LINES.
ROBERTS PARTLY OPENS COMMUNICA-
TION WITH THE SOUTH.
copyright; 1900: By The New-York Tribune.l
[BY CABLE 20 THE TRIBUNE.l


[BY CABLE 20 THE TRIBUNE.l
London. June 13, / n. m.-The defeat OF the
Beers at Honingsspruit by forces from the north
has partly cleared the situation between Kroon-
stad and Pretoria while Sir Redvers Butler has
carried the last defe at Charlestown, and has
completed the deIiverance of Natal from an in
vasion precisely eight months after the out
break Of the war. These official results and
there are press reports that fifteen hundred
Beers have surrendered to General Brabant near
Ficksburg; that Comnandant Olivier was killed
and that De Villiers mortally wounded at
Kooikrantz and the TransvaaPs Consul at
Lourenco Marques has announced that Presi-
dent Steyn has re-entered Bloemfontein in tri-
umph-a highly imaginative story which has
been refuted by the date line Of General Kelly
Kenny's bulletin.
There are also reports that General Hunter
has captured sixty johannesburg "zarps." with
a Maxim. at Lichtenburg; that the Free State
forces are massed at Bethlehem; that President
Steyn is at Reitz near Lindley, and that the
British prisoners recently captured now con-
fined at Vrede.
This full sheaf of war intelligence is capped
by the resignation Of Mr.. Sclreiner. the Cape
Premier. and the clearage of the Bond Ministry
over the question OF the trial Of rebels by a spe
cial court and their disfranchisement after con-
viction. Mr.. Schreiner remains in Office for a
few days until the Ministry can be reorganized
with the assurances of support from the op-
position Sir Alfred Miner clearly prefers to
end the with the Dutch Premier in Cape
Colony since he has had the tact and patience
to get on during critical period with the Bond
Ministry.
The most definite war news is from Sir Red
vers Butler who has completed his turning
movement difficult ground. and has COM
PEELED the Beers 10 evacuate Laing's Mex and
Majuba Hill He deserves the same credit
which Lord Roberts has freely received for turn
ing the Beers out Of their strong positions with
out running up heavy butchers bill. He would
receive this credit more generously if his bulle-
tins were not badly written. and If he had not
granted an armistice when, according to the
version given, the enemy was surrounded. The
final attack was led by the I'd Dorset Regiment
and the cavalry under General Hildyard, and
there was gallant bayonet charge Eidyard's
division encamped beyond Volksrust and Cen
eral Clery's troops rushed through Laing's Mex
General Butler is now free either TO advance
toward Standerton and Pretoria or to operate
against Vrede and TO cooperate with General
Rundle, Lord Methuen and General Colvile in
running down the Free States forces.
The situation in the Free State was not clear
when the War Office closed at II o'clock The
force from the north had reached Honingsspruit.
hao cefeateQ the BoerS and was expecting to
arrive at America Station this morning while
General Knox's troops had gone north from
kroonstad. II was uncertain whether Lord
Roberts had sent General French south from
the Transvaal or had ordered other troops to
move down the railway from the Vaal. It could
only be surTnised that General De Vets rear
guard had been dispersed and that the bulk Of
his force, with the prisoners. had moved east
ward
There had been news from Lord Methuen,
%ho was fighting Thursday at Vecht Kop,
and IL was within the range of possibilities that
MS force had Joined General Colvile at He'll
bron and that the united columns had marched
thirty miles to Roodeval.
There was official confirmation OF the re-
ports from Maseru that General Brabant had
captured fifteen hundred prisoners north Of
flcksburg, but there We're sem-off1cial assur-
shces that the news was probably correct
There was nothing from General Clements, at
senekal, nor from the garrison at Lindley, which
vas On the probable line of retreat of General
De Vets force eastward
Communications with Lord Roberts will prob
aoly be reopened to-day. and the British cam
paien again brought under the direction Of the
master mind INF