Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-06-14
"B0BS", AND B0THA MEET
When British Commander Left Field,
Boer General Was Still Indicated,
METHUEN JOINED BY KITCHENER
They Capture "A Camp and
Rout DeWet,s. Force. I'LL
LINE OF COMMUNICATION RESTORED
AssoqIated press nlsrnlcl,L b n snooia, wires.


London, Eng, June 49, After n
week Is silence, Lord Roberts has been
heard from, his line OF communication
having been practically restored by
means Of complete victory gained by
Gems. Methuen and Kitchener over Gen.
DeWet at the Rhenoster River yester.
day. The Boer camp was captured, and
the burghers, tits added, were scattered
in all directions. Lord Roberts, on
being notified of the cutting of his line
of communication, sent Gen. Kitchener
10 all haste to join Gen. Methuen. On
June 18th, Lord Roberts attacked Gen.
Botha, who was in strong force 15 miles
southeast of Pretoria. After strenuous
opposition, the British forces gained
considerable ground, but Gen Botha,
when Lord Roberts left tho held, was
still nndefeated. A is quiet at Pro-
torja and Johannesburg, and Lord
Roberts says the government need have
no apprehension about the security of
the army in South Africa, rs il win not
take long to remedy the reyerses and
repair the railroad. WI, O ID %
A lengthy dispatch forwarded to the
War Office by Ma jor- General Knox from
Kroonstad, presumably sent there by
messenger, reads as follows:
Kroonstad, June -. We have boon
requested TO forward from Lord Roberts
the following dispatch, from the Pre-
toria Presidency at S0S a. m. today:
Pretoria, June -. Pretoria and
Johannesburg are perfectly quiet, and
several OF the inhabitants have ex-
pressed gratitude for the peace and
ing the city, Botha retired to Mace
phnIt nj mn fbe, Msll Lot,
road. He had small force at first,
but during the last few days his num-
bers increased, and his being so near
the town kept up the excitement in
the country, prevented the burghers
from laying down their AIMS, and in
terfeIed with the collection of supplies.
II, therefore, became necessary to at.
tack him. This did yesterday. He
held a very strong position, practically
unassailable in front, which enabled
him to place the main portion Of his
troops on his Hanks, which he knew
from former experience were his vulner-
able Elaces. / sent French, with
Porter's and DiSon's cavalry brigades
and Hutton's mounted infantry, round
by our left, and Ian Hamilton, with
Broadwood's' and Gordon's cavalry
brigades,g Ridley's mounted infantry
and Bruce Hamilton's infantry Erigade,
round by our right Both columns met
with great opposition. AT about 3
o'clock in the afternoon, | saw two of
Hamilton's infantry battalions adyanc.
ing to what appeared to be the key OF
the enemy g defence, on their left flank.
This was almost gained before dark,
and | ordered the force to bivouac on
the ground that they had won. Pole
Carew, with his division, occupied our
centre. As have explained, he could
not attack, but he gradually advanced
go as to support Ian Hamilton; and
when l left the field, he was on the
line held by the enemy's outposts in
the morning.
- hurried back to get news of
Methuen's movement. On hearing that
the Free Skaters had taken advantage
of our crossing the Vaal to interrupt
our line of communication l sent
Kitchener with such troops as | oould
then spare to Yer tVredefortf), with
orders to push south and communicate
with Methuen, who, l knew, had
of Heilbron. | also dispatched special
messenger to Methuen, instructing him
to push on at all speed to the main line
of railway. These two officers met ut
Vredefort read station in the evening
Of June 10th. They marched yesterday
10 the Rhenoster River, wheie Methuen
gained a complete victory over De Wet,
and took possession OF his camp. aud
scatter ed his troops In all directions.
He and Kitchener marched today
toward Kroonstad. go
"'Her Majestys government need
have no apprehension as to the security
Of the army in South Africa. The
enemy gained slight success, which
was unfortunate, bur which will he
remedied very shortly, and it will not
take long to repair the damage done to
the railway. As these diversions are
all in existence, l am able 10 hold
the line between this place and the
Rhenostsr in strength. Methuen will
arrange to guard it onward as he ad-
vances. Hunter should be at Potcbef-
stroom today. He will then move on
Johannesburg. We have communicated
with Butler, who will no doubt soon
make the presence of his fcroe in tho
field felt. g
"'Our losses yesterday were not, l
trust, serious, but deplore the death
Of that gallant soldier, the Earl of
Airlie. The only other casualties re-
ported as yet are Seventeenth Lancers.
Major the Hon. Lionel Fortescue and
Lieut.. the Hon. Cavendish, both
killed." asit g.sgs
Gen. Knox adds that Kroonstad is
quite safe. ,sa E
Lord Roberts, dispatch is regarded as
eminently satisfactory. Ii ends q
period of suspense caused by the cutting
Of his line of communication, and indi-
Gates what strong grip he has on the
situation. The. result of the battle
between Lord Roberts forces and those
Of Gen. Botha is eagerly awaited here,
but it is believed the Boer commander
will only complete his retirement,
which he seems to have already COM
menced, though there is some hope IN
London that Lord Roberts will be able
to surround him.
The decisive victory scored by Gems.
Methuen and Kitchener is regarded as
likely to have more ar,reaching
elect than any recent action in the
Orange River Colony. Gen. Kitchener y
progress south, it is believed, must
have almost equaled the records of all
forced marches. His detachment from
headquarters was a merely routine pro-
eedure, as the chief of staff is re-
sponsible for the line Of commuDica-
tion.
;, Gien. Butler is rapidly fulfilling Lord
kfoberts' hope that he will make his
forces felt. A dispatch from Joubert's
iarnl, under today's date. announces
q