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Show ,- ' 'Boers Will Tight, to the Death i f ' . ' ' ' ' ' V . London, March 22. A dispatch to the ' ' Daily Wail from Pretoria, dated Mon-, Mon-, " day, "March 10, says: "President Kru- pvr returned from Krconstadt yester-' yester-' day. He says the fight in the Free ; .State will be desperate. I am informed : that the Transvaal' jrovernment has I taken no rerolution to destroy mines . . or property as a last resort." The Cape Tov-n correspondent of the: '. Daily Mail. telegraphing- Tuesday, I March 20, says: "1 have just arrived from Bloemfontein. where 1 learned that no further movement is probabJe ; for three wetks, as negotiations are , prorwdins. I failed to ascertain the j I nature of the netoti-a lions, or whether Sir Alfred Milncr's departure from Cape Town is connected with them, but I Phould not be surprised if the war collapsed col-lapsed quickly." Several teJesrams have passed be-t be-t tween President Kruser and the Brit ish rovernment in audition to the Salis-burv-Krugor corre?ronflvnce already published. The foreign, office received it, dispatch from Pretoria yesterday, i. The contents of these communications j ', cannot yet be obtained. So far as the military situation is concerned, there is practically no j change. Jrd Kotwrts is quietly mak- j ins preparations for the next move. As rifcessary to a begmninfiv Onerals j Galacre "and Brabant are swiftly mov- j incr from jnjint to point in the fouthern districts of the Free State, disjperrtng: or accepting the surrender of any remain re-main in sr Boers, thu ensuring: the safety of Lord Roberts' communaea- i t ions' before startinpr toward Pretoria, i A correspondent of the Daily New a ; et Snrirtfvfontoin. describing- these movements, says: "General Gatacre is fjweepiits through the country- like a cyclone, with flying columns in all d.; recti cms. H is SAiftnes3 and strategy have proved of inestimable value to Lord Koberrs." The n-ybuildring of the railway bridge at Norvalspont will occupy twt months. The temporary bridpe will be completed com-pleted in about ten day?. Meanwhile t-uppliea are transported by an aerial tramway across the pap. These work necessarily delay the providing of supplies sup-plies for the advance. Lord Methuen's movements north of KimboTloy aTe believed to be a prelude to the fathering of a column of 20,000 men. with KimbeTly as a base, to strike eastward from Fourteen Streams into the Transvaal. The long and anxiously anx-iously awaited news of the relief of Mafekins has not yet been received. A dispatch to the Standard from p.loerrrtomein, dated Tuesday, says: "Four thousand Transvaalers from Colesberg: trekked on Saturday and Sun-dav Sun-dav to the northeast, going by way of the Basuioland bonier. They will probably prob-ably be caught at one of the passes. "A striking feature of the advance ott Bloemfontein was the abandonment of our coTmnunlcations with Poplar Grove. Lord Roberts, confident in the ability of his transport to meet all the immediate needs of the army, delib- erately left the enemy at Abraham's Kraal to do what they liked. The re- srult fully Justified him. The enemy to the south were para!yei by the bold- ners and rapidity of the. stroke, and Gonerals CleisMnAs and Ga.tar.re wens enaMod to crosra the Orange river almost al-most witlieut opposition." YTlnptnn Churohlll. in a dispatch from Pietcrmaritabvrs, says: "I think it may fcei oooiai oertain that the Trane--aal wovld imredSatery comply if Great Ikitam were to denrajd equally fair rrcaJnrrt for all prfsonfrs by a threat of reprisals on Transvaal pri-er.rr&rti." pri-er.rr&rti." Th Gar? Tn cerreppondent of the JTominsr Post sa?"st: "On tn best authority. au-thority. I leum that the real objective of the FiiX?her-"Wolmarens deptrtatiwi 5s Russia. I also hear that they have taken away all the secret incriminating documents from Pretoria, thus malting it dimctilt to implicate Steyn and the Bontfites." CAiraGT OFFEH MEDIATION". Hep!y of Swiss Government to Appeal of the Two Bepublics. F.erne, Switzerland, March 21. The federal council has. answered the Boer appeal for mediation as follows: "The Swiss federal council would have been j 'leased to co-operate in friendly mediation medi-ation in order to end further bloodshed, but as the presidents of both South African republics have directly ap- i pioached the British government in or-d'-r to ccncluae peace on a basis indicated, indi-cated, and the British government has hovn itself apainst the proposal; and as, furthermore, the British government govern-ment has declared to the cabinet at Washington that it did not propose to accept the intervention of any power, the Swiss federal council, to its regret, must also renounce the idea of taking: any ste;s on the lines of the request made by the presidents of the South African republics. "There remains for the federal council coun-cil in the circumstances nothing but to express its sincere wish that the belligerents will have succeeded, at no too distant date, in finding a basis for :j!1 nrdr rsta.ndir.g honorable to both i parties." i . riGHTTN'G KEAK KOEBEKLEY. ' JJoers Oppose the Advance of Ilafe- king Belief Expedition. London, March 21. The only news from South Africa showing activity on , either side come? from Warrentown, 'l rsorth of Kimberley, where desultory lighting occurred all Sunday, resulting in the retreat of the Boers toward Christiana, undr shell fire. The progress of this column towards Mafeking has cither almost ceased or i" forbidden to be mentioned ia dis-paUh"s. dis-paUh"s. Nothing comes from ColoneJ Plumer, and Mafeking apparently still awaits relief. The. Pretoria account of the skirmish Bt. Fourteen Streams, March 16, says that a Boer command was preparing to destroy a railroad bridge. The en-pa en-pa Foment lasted half an hour, with the result that one bugler was slightly wounded. The same dispatch announced an-nounced the arrival at the Transvaal capital of General Schaikhurger from Ktal. The prcond edition of the Times today to-day publishes a dispatch from Bloem-fonfein, Bloem-fonfein, dated Monday, March 19, which says: "The blowing up of bridges by the Boers is an evident sign that the TransvankTS intend to abandon the oe'cTtt-'e of the Free State." All is quiet in the south and west A corps of young Bo!rs from the farms surrounding Bioomfoiriein, under an imperial omcer. has been detailed for police work and to prevent the further locnin'g cf the abandoned farms by the Kaffirs. It is ald f h(rt when President Kramer left Blomonte3n after his recent re-cent v.'sit there. Steyn"s parting remark : was, "Mind the Britis-h do not catch you, or yon will pet better quarters at St. Helena than 1." Fudyard Kipling has gone to Bloem-fotrrein. Bloem-fotrrein. The Boers, at Aliwal North are reported to be still holding a position posi-tion in the big hills on the Free State ride. Colonel Cliallioe of the army corns sa:is for the island of St. Helena tomorrow, to-morrow, in order to make the necessary arrangements for the accommodation of General Cron.ie and the other ban ish-ed Boers. It is still doubtful whether wheth-er all the prisoners will be sent there, owing to the feuds between the Trans-valers Trans-valers and the chief Free Staters. f fill the Loers are snt to St. Helena a cor;derab!e increase in the strength of die garrison will be required. TWO REPUBLICS COJOENTl. Kruger to Be President and Steyn Commandant General. London, March 22.-The correspondent correspond-ent of the Times at Lourenzo Marquez te.egiaphing Tuesday, says: "It is re. L . ; ' . ported from Pretoria that a scheme had been arranged for the amalgamation of the Transvaal and the Free Statesi Kruger will become president of th federated states and Steyn commandi ant general of the Boer army. Tha i!ag will be the same as that'of the Tranbvaal, with an additional orange color. "Although this story is not confirmed it is not improbable. It is a notorious j fact that General Joubert has lost tha confidence of the burghers simply because be-cause of the fact that he refused to shut his eyes to the inevitable result of the war. With all the burghers in the field it might not be difficult to secure a formal endorsement of this rumored scheme." - ft CONTRACT FOR MACHINES. Indications That the Boers Intend to Blow Up the Kines. Houghton. Mich., March 21. Leading mine managers and engineers from the Transvaal, who have visited the copper district since the beginning of the Boer war. regard the destruction of mining plants in the Transvaal as highly probable. prob-able. Mine managers are here to place , orders for new equipment immediate- t ly after the destruction of the old ma-, i chinery. One Johannesburg mine man- ager new here has fulfrplans and speci- j fixations for a new plant, which will j cost about $1,000,000. Leading American machinery manu- I facturers have made conditional bids ' on probably ?20.0d0.000 worth of "ne" : , mining machinery for South African ' gold mines. I . DISFRANCHISE THEM ALL. How the British Propose the Pacification Pacifi-cation of South. Africa. New York, March 21. A dispatch to the World from London says: It is said in London that the plan likely to be adapted for the further pacification cf South Africa, will be to disfranchise all rebels (colonial Dutch), Free Staters and Tranavaal Boers found in arms, captured or accused cf rebellion, thus j throwing the two republics and all the colonies into the hands of the English and the Rhodes syndicate. This would break the power of the Afrikander bond in Cape Colony, and at all other paints. When the British army evacuates the conquered territory, terri-tory, the governing power would be with the English, and the only military mili-tary strength with the Rhodesian field force and the artillery promised by Cecil Rhodes for Kimberley, and the British garrison at Cape Town and Durban, and. perhaps, at Pretoria. FOUND DUMDUM BULLETS. Thousands of Them Unearthed in Graves Dug By the Boers. Ladysmith, March 21. It has been ascertained that the accidental removal re-moval of stones covering some Boer graves after the fight at Pietershill, WU OC V,.,, J i:. j t soft nosed bullets. Princess Christian's hospital train arrived ar-rived this morning. It was the first ( train over the new Colenso bridge. The railroad is now open to Elandslaagte, utoere a camp has been established. , Drakenberg and Biggarsdorp aie closely close-ly watched by the British cavalry. Free Staters Surrendering. Mazeru, Basutoland, Wednesday, March 21. Everybody in Basutoland rejoices in the restoration of telegraphic, telegraph-ic, communication with Aliwal North. The proclamation of Lord Roberts is apparently effective, as the Free Staters Stat-ers are surrendering to the Basutoland I , filcials. The occupation of Thaba Ne- I hu and Rouxville by the British has produced an excellent impression, convincing con-vincing the Basutos that the authority of the queen is paramount. Rhodes Sails For England. Cape Town, March 21. Cecil Rhodes sailed for England today. London, March 21. In the house of commons the parliamentry secretary of the war office. Sir George Wyndham, said the . secretary of state for the colonies, Joseph Chamberlain was about to Lseue a proclamation on the subject of the alleged threats of the Boers to destroy Johannesburg and as to what the Boens may expect in the I event of wanton destruction of British j property. I It was asiserted in the lobby last evening that the proclamation would be a brief document of general application applica-tion prohibiting the destruction of farms, houses, and other property as well as gold mines. While there is a lull in the military operations, the present surroundings of the war show interesting developments. The colonial office has telegraphed to Cane Town the text of the proclamation proclama-tion concerning the destruction of property. This will not be published in London until after its promulgation in South Africa, but It ifi known it will convey an intimidation that any wanton destruction of British property during the war will be regarded as warranting a claim for compensation, and as justifying a levy upon private property, should the resources of the Transvaal republic prove inadequate. The fact that the proclamation is issued is-sued by the colonial office is regarded as a significant indication that the republics re-publics will be administered as crown colonies. In this connection it is understood under-stood that the leaders of the opposition opposi-tion in parliament now admit that no other settlement is possible, since the republics insist upon their demand for absolute independence. In view of this the efforts of the Liberals will be confined con-fined to securing in the settlement the best treatment of the Dutch population, popula-tion, including security against their di Kfranohi semen t. It is becoming regarded as quite a settled matter that should the war be ended, as is now hoped, before June, the government will dissolve parliament parlia-ment and appeal to the country on the basis of a successful South African policy. Should the war drag on, dissolution dis-solution will be potioned until next spring. In any event, one of the fore-moat fore-moat planks of the government platform plat-form will be army reorganization. There ia tio further information as to the movements of Sir Alfred Milner. It is regarded as certain however, that he has gone to Bloemfonteini to arrange for the temporary administration of the Free State. Mr. Steyn' reply to Lord Roberts' charge of the misuse of flags of truce is commented upon as impertinent and ridiculous and Lord Roberts' course in I closing a uselesa discussion ifl com-! com-! mended as wise. I Indications from Natal seem to show that General Buller'e forward movement move-ment will not be long delaved. The I government has derided that Major General Sir Frederick Carrington shall command a colonial force of 5,000, including in-cluding the 2,500 men Mr. Chamberlain asked for from Australia, A difpatch to the Daily Mail from Donkerspoort, dated Monday, March 19, says: "A reconnaissance toward Phipipoppolis, twenty-five miles west ' of Springfontein, found the farms all flying white flags. The Britinh troops ! were cordially received. "It is reported that Mr. Steyn Is trying to rally the Boers, but the lat-, ter say they have had enough." Winston Churchill, in a. dispatch from Pietermaritzburg, warmly resists the contention that the relief of Ladysmith arose out of Lord Roberts' operations. . "On the contrary." he says, "the op- j erations of Lord Roberts were assisted by the fact that General Buller kept j 16.0C!) Boers occupied. It would be a j cruel and unworthy thing to deprive the Natal army of their hard won laurels and none would more vigorously repudiate repu-diate such a suggestion than Lord Roberts Rob-erts himself." Spencer Wilkinson, writing in the Morning Post, justifies Winston Churchill's argument respecting the re- lief of Ladysmith. He thinks that Sir Alfred Milner has gone to Bloemfontein to arrange for the permanent administration adminis-tration of the province, and perhaps tu decide about the captured and surren-. dered rebels. A correspondent of the Daily News il liioemiontein, teiegrapning Monday, March 19, says: "I learn from Johannesburg Johan-nesburg that it is not true that the mines have been flooded or otherwise damaged beyond the fact that the machinery ma-chinery is suffering from disuse. My informant declares that the whole story was fabricated to court sympathy." The war office has received the following fol-lowing dispatch from Lord Roberts, dated Bloemfontein, Tuesday, March 20: "Kitchener occupied Prleska yesterday yes-terday unopposed. The rebels surrendered surren-dered their arms. The Transvaalers escaped es-caped across the river. "My Steyn is circulating a notice, by means of dispatch riders, in reoly to my proclamation to the erfeet that any burgher who signs a declaration that he will not fight acainst us again will be treated as a traitor and shot. . j "The Bloemfontein people are afford- " ing us every assistance in the matter of hospital accommodations. We have consequently been able to arrange for 500 beds. "Thirty-three prisoners were taken at Prieska, 200 stands of arms and some supplies and explosives. The Boers have begun to surrender on the Basutol and frontier." j A statement comes from Pretoria admitting ad-mitting that the Boer losss during the war exceed 7.000. No fresh news has been received from Mafeking, but a Pretoria disnatch, elated Thursday, March 15, asserts that ! Colonel Plumer has not been able to I advance south of Lobatsi. ! . I BRITISH ARE ACCUSED. Abused the "White Flag- and Acted Treacherously Toward Boers. London, March 20, 7:15 p. m. The following dispatch ' has been received at the war office from Lord Roberts, dated Bloemfontein, Monday, March 19: "I have received the following reply re-ply to my cablegram of March 11 to the residents of the Free State and South African republic: " "Your excellency's telegram reached me yesterday. I assure yon nothing would grieve me more than that my burghers should make themselves guilty of a deed such as that laid to their charge by you. I am. however, glad to say that you must have been mistaken. " 'I have made personal inquiry of General Delarey, who was in command t of our burghers at the place mentioned by you. He denies entirely that our 1 burghers acted as stated by you, but he says that on Saturday, the date being be-ing illegible, the British troops, wfcen they were about fifty yards from our position, put up their hands as well aa a white flag, while at the eame time your cannon Iximbarded the said troops with the result that Commandant de Beer was wounded. Yesterday morning morn-ing the head commandant wrote in his account of the battle as follows: " 'The soldiers hoisted the white flag, but we were then fired at by the British Brit-ish cannons and compelled to charge.' " 'Perhaps it is not known to your excellency that the same thing happened hap-pened at Spion Kop where, when a portion por-tion of the troops hoisted a white flag and put up their hands, and while. our burghers were busy disarming them, another portion of the troops fired on I our burghers; but some of the British J troops were killed. It has also been I reported that at the last battle o. le I Tugela. English cannon fired on troops who had surrendered. " 'With reference to the explosive bullets found in Cronje's laager and elsewhere, I can give your excellency assurance that such bullets were not ijuuutfi ui auuncu oy me government. govern-ment. I, however, have no reason tc doubt your statement, as I know matij of the burghers of this state and of the South African republic, took a large number of Lee-Metford rifles and dum-dum dum-dum and other bullets from British troops. " 'May I request your excellency, as the cable is closed to me, to make my reply known to your government and the neutral powers by cable? " 'STATE PRESIDENT.' " The dispatch from Lord Roberts concludes con-cludes as follows: "As the inquiry into the matter proves his honor's allegations al-legations to be unfounded, and as I personally saw the holding up of hands, which he denies, I have not thought it desirable to continue the correspondence." |