Lord Roberts's entry into Johannesburg was not quite un- opposed.
On Tuesday he reached Germiston, only six miles from the town, and took possession of the railway junction connecting Johannesburg with Natal, Pretoria, and Klerks- dorp, thus cutting of the retreat of the Boers by rail and securing a large amount of rolling stock. On that day he also sent forces operating on the east and west to surround the town. General Hamilton, who was on the west, was heavily engaged with Boers posted on some kopjes and ridges three miles south of the Rand. The Gordons, however, working on the right, cleared the ridges in front of them with great gallantry, while the City Imperial Volunteers "led on the other flank and would not be denied." By nightfall the whole position was in our hands. Meantime General Gordon's command had occupied the heights to the north of the town. On Wednesday the Boer Commandant came to Lord Roberts and begged him to defer his entry into the town for twenty- four hours, as there were many armed burghers still inside. To this Lord Roberts agreed, as he was anxious to avoid "a disturbance in the town." As we write the full details of the fighting and casualties have not come to hand, but it is to be hoped that the losses were not great.
