The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-18
END OF WAR THOUGHT NEAR.
CsnpIste Division 81 BsIier's Army
% Ne Withdrawn and sent TO
China-steyn Issues ProcIamation
Declaring the Free state Exists.

LONDON. June Is, a. m.-There are
some Indications that Lord Roberts con-
siders the wars end in South Africa not
far distant one OF these Is the iact
that the rational volunteers who had seen
hard service were dismissed to their homes
by Sir Redvers Butler Saturday. They
were cheered as they left camp.
Another Indication rs the report. cur
rent in authorftitivcly Informed military
circles In London. that a complete d.
Vision of regulars is 20 be Withdrawn from
Gen. Buffers army and embarked at Dur
ban for China.
The troops drawn from lnd'a VIII PROB
ably 20 next.
Lord Roberts let them go without teie-
graphing Tho correspondents at head-
quarters are, as they have been for ten
days. silent
Unofficial intelligence from Machado-
dorp. via Lourenzo Marquee. r. TO tho
effect that the British troops are near
MddleburY The Boer narrative of the
fighting east OF Pretoria. posted on a bui-
iefin board outside OF President Kruger's
car Mt Machafodorp. ran thus
CopAmasdos Forced 20 Retire.
The cofnmandos east OF Pretoria, in
the direction Of Bronkhorstsprult, are
compelled 30 retire after a fierce stand OF
more than two days, in o way that won
admiration ~ the acting commandment gen J..
eral. The short-ranee rihe-hre was very
hot, and for part Of the day. especially
late In the afternoon the enemy fought
At A. distance of 100 yards. Our loss cam
not yet be given. The acting commansant
general only mentions Field Col John
Van Buren, killed. He was ono OF the
plucklest men In the field.
Information Is again 10 hand regard
ing tho miserable condition OF the enc
my's troops that have penetrated TO Jo-
hannesbnrg from Pretoria. They con-
finuaily complain Of the lack OF food
Several British soldiers have died In the
streets OF Pretoria OF exhaustion and
starvation. Along the roads lie the
corpses of horses and mules, while the
living animals are so weak that they
hardly can carry their loads"
Another bulletin at Machadodorp. ac-
cording 10 dispatch dated June l5,
says:
Fifteen officers and 100 British SOL
der prisoners have arrived Mt Standar-
ton. Free State bound for NooIt Ged-
acht. Thirty burGhefs were killed and
wounded during the last few days fight
near Pretoria"
Mr.. stcyn. In consequence OF Lord
Roberts annexation OF tho Free State
by pro iamation. has Issued a counter
proclamation declaring that the Free
State still exists, Is independent. aud
does not acknowledge the authority OF
great Britain.
The British prisoner. AZ Nooit Gedacht
have been playing games OF football In
order 70 keep themselves warm. They
are. according to a dispatch from Lour-
enso Marquee. without shelter or medi-
cal comforts. and are confined between
two mountains, where the sun does not
shine until $50 a. m.
Delaxoa Bay merchants are rushing
goods towards Machadodorp the Boer
expectation being that the use of the
railway will be soon lost. and that the
preparations for final stand In the Lyn-
denburg district must be promptly com
pleted