ROBERTS' ENTRY INTO KROONSTAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11372, 15 May 1900, Page 5

ROBERTS' ENTRY INTO KROONSTAD.

MOST IMPRESSIVE SCENE.

FREE STATE OPPOSITION ENDED.

BOERS UTTERLY DEMORALISED.

STEYN IN A MAD RAGE.

BURGHERS REFUSE TO FOLLOW HIM,

THE ENEMY'S RIOTOUS IRISH BRIGADE.

ROBERTS' SWIFT MOVEMENTS ASTOUND THE

VAST QUANTITIES OP STOKES AND GRAIN CAPTURED,

PROGRESS OP TEE MAFEKING RELIEF COLUMN.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.-Copyright.

London, May 14. Lord Roberts found a field-cornet at Kroonstad and 300 Free Staters all eager to surrender.

A few British residents warmly cheered the troops as they entered the town.

Any malingers of the British who remained were arrested, but the others trekked home.

Reuter's correspondents state that the Free State opposition is ended.

Several meetings and laagers favoured submission.

Tho enemy complain of the tactics of the British in pretending so make frontal attacks, while the cavalry sweep round the flanks.

Such tactics, they say, are very unusual, and it is useless to continue fighting. Later. Kroonstad was a pandemonium on Friday.

The disheartened Transvaalers threatened to burn the town.

The commandos were reduced by half by desertions.

A photographer snapshotted Steyn in a mad rage whipping those intending to trek home, and kicking and cuffing the burghers refusing his leadership.

The enemy's drunken Irish Brigade burned a goods shed with much fodder. Steyn went to Heilbron. Two Boer guns were smashed during Thursday's action, and three afterwards.

Lord Roberts' entry into Kroonstad was the most impressive scene of the war, with the exception of General Bullet's entry into Ladysmith.

Mrs. Lochhead, the American wife of a Free Stater, hoisted the Union Jack on the Town Hall. Lord Roberts was stationed in the Market Square at the head of General Pole-Carew's division.

The whole of the infantry and artillery marching, and the Guards swinging past, to the accompaniment of fifes and drums, vastly impressed the recently-disarmed Dutch. The inhabitants who remained were overjoyed at the occupation of the town, and cheered vociferously.

General French on Friday seized a drift over the Valsch River, but was too late to cut the railway north-east of Kroonstad, as the Boers had already gone.

A large bridge southwards of Kroonstad was found to be destroyed, but another was intact.

The enemy are entrenching at Staat, to the westward of Ventersburg.

The commandos north-east of Thabanchu are irresolute, and have been demoralised for a week past.

They are astounded at the swiftness of Lord Roberts' movements.

Generals Rundle and Brabant at Thabanchu captured vast quantities of stores and grain, and 50 prisoners, including a brother of Steyn.

The British front extends for 30 miles, rounding off the enemy.

Some commandos are proceeding to Lindley, and others, consisting of fugitives, are driving herds towards Bethlehem.

London, May 13.

Lord Roberts' bodyguard of colonials were the first to enter Kroon--8 tad.

General Louis Botha, Boer Com-mander-in-Chief, and Commandant De Wet accompanied the Transvaalers to the Vaal River, 56 miles north of Kroonstad, declaring that they would fight no longer for the Free State.

The Free- Staters have accused Transvaalers of making use of them and then deserting them.

General Broadwood's column overtook part of a convoy south-east of Ventersburg on Thursday, capturing several waggons.

The Boers, firing from farmhouse windows, again abusing the white flag, shot several of the Inniskillings dead and captured 16.

Generals Bundle and Brabant drove the enemy from the Thabanchu district.

General Hutton's colonial brigade has taken 100 prisoners.