Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-14
Lord Roberts Has Restored His
Lines of Communication.
A VICTORY OVER DEWET
All is Quiet Mt Pretoria Knox Attoc1s
Bothu and Gains Some Ground but NJ
Decisive Result Botla's Presence Sc,r
Pretoria Keeps Burghers from Iavipr
Down Their Arms Dewet's Force Sent
tered Earl of Airlie Killed.
(By Telegraph to virgInian-pilot. ,

(By Telegraph to Virginian- Pilot)
London. June 1S.-G:05 p. m.-The fol-
lowing dispatch has been received at
the War Office from Lord Roberts,:
katsbosch June I'm yesterdays
engagement Methuen had one killed
and Is wounded. Among the latter is
Lieutenant Ccarle, OF the Twelfth bat
TALON of yeomanry.
"On June the Derbyshire militia
lost &c killed and l04 wounded, all of
whom were in the yeomanry hospital
which was captured by the Beers and
re-taken by Methuen."
LORD ROBERTS HEARD FROM.
London. June 13.-Arter u weeks ST.
lence Lord Roberts has been heard
from. MS line OF communications hav-
ing been practically restored by means
oil a complete victory gained by Gem
erals Methuen and Kitchener over Cen
era Dewet at the Rhenoster river. yes
tcrday, June u. The Boer camp was
captured and the burghers, it is adj
ded. were scattered in all directions
lord Roberts on being notified of the
cutting Of his line of communications
sent General Kitchener in all haste to
JOIN General Methuen June IL Lord
Roberts attacked General Botha. who
was In strong force. fifteen miles south
east Of Pretoria. After strenuous op-
position, the British forces gained con-
siderable ground, but General Botha
when Lord Roberts left the field. was
still undefeated
All is quiet ut Pretoria and Jo-
hannesburg. and Lord Roberts says
the Government need have no appre-
army in South Africa, as IL will not
take long TO remedy the reverses and
repair the railroad.
a lengthy dispatch forwarded to the
War Office by Major General Knox
from Kroonstad. presumably sent there
by messenger reads as follows:
"Kroonstad. June 1--WE have been
requested 10 forward You from Lord
Eoerts the following dispatch from the
Pretoria rosidcncy at sos a. M to-day:
Pretoria, jane 19.-Pretoria and
johannesburg are perfectly Quia., and
several of the Inhabitants have eX-
pressed gratitude for the pcl.e and
order which prevail.
BOTHA'S FORCE.
"'After surrendering the city Botna
retired to a place about fifteen miles
east on the Middlcburg road. He had n
small! force at first, but during the last
few days his numbers Increased, and
his being so near town kept up the en-
element in the country and prevented
the burShcrs from laying down their
arms and interfered with the collection
OF supplies 1t, therefore, became ne
cessary TO attack him. This did yes
terday. lie held a very strong posi-
non, practically unassailabc in front,
winch enabled him to place the main
portion Of his troops his tanks.
which he knew, from former expert
cnce, were his vulnerable parts. L sent
French with porter's and DiXons cav
airy brigadcs and IIuttons mounted
infantry round by our left, and Ian
Hamilton, with Broadwood and Cor
don's cavalry brigade, Ridley's mount
ed infantry and Bruce Hamilton's in
fantry brigade round by our right.
Both columns met with great opposi-
ton. At about 5 o'clock in the after
noon saw two of Hamiltonis infantry
battallons advancing to what appeared
to he the key of the cnemy's defense.
on their left flank. This was almost
gained before dark. and l ordered the
force to bivouac on the ground they
had won.
Pole-Carew. with his division. occu-
pied our centre
AS | have explained he could not
attack. but he gradually advanced. so
az to support Ian Hamilton, ana when
] left the field he was on the line held
by the enemy's outposts in the morn
Ing.
METHUEN'S MOVEMENTS.
~ hurried back to get news Of
Methucn's movement. on hearing tbot
Of our crossing the Naal to interrupt
our line OF communication | sent
Kitchener with supplies as could then
share TO Yer (NredefortD with orders
to push south ana communicate with
Methuen, who, I knew had n VERY
compact force in the vicinity OF Hell
bron. ] also dspatched a special mes
senger 10 Methuen .instructing him to
push OF at all speed to the main line
of railway. These two officers met Mt
Nredcfort road station in the evening
of June 10. They marched yesterday to
Rhenoster river. where Methuen gained
q compcte victory over Dewet and
took possession of his camp and scat
tered his toons in all directions. He
and Kitchener marched to-day towards
Kroonstod.
.''Her Naiestv's government need
have no apprehension as TO the secu-
rity Of the army In South Africa The
enemy gained Il slight success, which
was Unfortunate. but which will be
remrdied very shortly and 1T VIII not
take long to pair the damage done
70 the railway. AS these divisions arc
nil in existence 7 am now able to hold
the line between this and Rhenoster IN
strength Mnthuen will arrange to
guard il onward rs he advances.
"'IIunter should be n Potchefstroom
to-day. He will then move on Jo
hannesburC.
"'vve have communicated with Bull
Ter. who will no doubt. soon make the
rroeaooo of bfe forca in tho field felt