The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-01
JOHANNESBURG FALLEN
THE BRITISH FORCES FASTENING ON
TO PRETORIA
NO WAR MUNITIONS CAPTURED
The Boer Army Somewhere Ont of
Roberts Reach with Their Trans i,
ports and ArtiIIery-Brftish Close to
Pretoria That City Abandoned by
the Military-BuIler still Confronted
by a Boer Force-PortugueseT Troops
Sent to the Frontier.

London, May 31.-3 a. m.-Yes-erday
at noon the British were only about
two hours march from Pretoria, and
the Boer military forces had abandon
ed the city. This intelligence comes
from the Reuter- agent at the Trans
vaal capital and from the earl of Ross
lyn, in a press dispatch. The two mes
sages left about the same time.
Most of the London morning papers
treat the war as ended. Some of the
more cautious critics think that guer-
rilla warfare is likely to be carried on
for some time in various parts of the
conquered territory.
Although the Boer forces are dis
solving, Lord Roberts. apparently. has
not yet taken any considerable guam
tity of artillery, arms or stores. Large
bodies Of Beers must still be some
where in the field.
Waterfall Bowen, or Waterfall Bowen
is a small mountain place 13O miles
due east of Pretoria, on the Delagoa
bay railway. The seat of the Boer gov
ernment-what is left of twill prob
ably be Lyddenburg, to the north.
JOHANNESBURG SURRENDERED.
a dispatch from Lourenzo MARQUES.
dated Wednesday, says:
"Commandant Kraus has surrender
ed Johannesburg to Lord Roberts"
BY tonight's train from Pretoria
arrived a few Greeks, who say they
were told to leave Pretoria Tuesday
They affirm that the train in which
they left was shelled by the British
and that half of the train was cut off.
the remainder steaming away. This
incident probably occurred at Glands
fontein junction.
Passengers from Pretoria assert
that the town is utterly demoralized.
There is a mad rush for the coast
Five trainloads of fugitives are ex-
pected here tonight"
BORDER TROUBLES WITH POR-
TUGAL.
The Lourenzo Marques correspond
ents think the border troubles between
the Transvaal and Portugal may come
to head at any moment Komati
bridge is strongly defended. Yesterday
the Portuguese authorities were pre-
pairing to resist a possible engage
ment. A mule battery was sent to the
frontier.
The Lourenzo Marques correspond
ent of The Times says:
1T would not be surprising if large
proportion of the rebel Dutch sought
temporary refuge on Portuguese ter
ritory.''
1t is reported that a special train
from Pretoria with fugitives was de-
rallied on the Transvaal side of Komati
poort, a number of passengers being
killed or injured.
The British authorities at Buluwayo
think the Beers will retire into south
ern Rhodesia.
By the release Of the British prison.
ers at Waterfall a full brigade will be
added to the army of Lord Roberts, as
there were III officers and 41S2 pri-
Yates among them.
General Hunter re-entered the Trans
vaal at Maribogopan Tuesday Gen
eral Hunter reached Geysdorp with
ten days supplies. MaribogOpan is
half way between Vryburg and Mafe-
king Geysdorp is from ten to fifteen
miles east. General Hunter meets with
no resistance.
General Baden-Powell is invading
further north, without opposition, Com
mandant Snyman harving gone toward
Pretoria
In northern Natal Utrecht has sur
rendered to General Hildyard and
General Lyttleton is moving to Vry-
held.
Three different correspondents esti-
mate the number of Beers at Laing's
mex at 10000.
London, May 30.-It is officially an
nounced that the Beers are leaving
Natal.
General Hildyard has occupied
Utrecht in the southeastern portion of
the Transvaa1.
The following dispatch has been re-
ceived at the war office from General
Butler:
New Castle, May 30.-The enemy
having formed a laager east of the
town at Dornberg, pressed my right
rear annoyingly. On May 9th 1 directed
force under Hildyard, by Woolsdrift
and Utrecht, and another under Lyt-
Teton, by Changadrift, on Dornberg
These movements have caused the en-
emy to retire north.
Hildyard is at Utrecht and the town
has surrendered. C1ery is bombar.iing
Lakings mex. The enemy are much dis
heartened and were they not in such
very strong positions, I doubt if they
would show fight. The railway was
opened to New Castle on May 2Sth"
Pretoria, May 29.-An official war
bulletin just issued is as ollows:
"On Sunday a fight occurred close
to Van Wyck's rust. in GatSrand. The
federais fought we'll and the British
troops seemed tired out. AT dark the
federa1s We're forced to retire in the
count Of the overwhelming force Of the
British.
1.-THE British attacked Witwater's s
rand yesterday and were in contact
with the federals at Gatsrand, but
they were beaten back with good re-
suits by the federals under Command
ant Louis Botha- The federAls were
heavily bombarded all day long. but
kept their positions. The British loss
is reported to be considerable.
The British are near Utrecht and
they are also marching on Laings
mex"
RUMoR OF BLOWING UP OF Jo-
HANNESBURG.
London. May 80, Ills D. m.-The war
office has Just announced that no news
has been received here tending to con-