The Portland daily press., 1896-01-06
MAGNANIMOUS.
The Beers Are Generous lii Hour Of
Victory.
PRESIDENT KRUGER'S DRAMATIC
DISPATCH TO ENGLAND.

The Prisoners Are Being Treated Will
trast to Their Own Reported Acts
Kruger Trusts Not Rhodes and Plainl,
Says Sole Rubs 1t Into ChamberIin.
London, January 5.-Late news from
the Tran svaal is most anxiously awaited
here, but none WAS received today tina
causes any appreciate lessening of the feel
ing OF anxiety prevailing. The telegraph
lines are still controlled by the govern
nent for it's own business and if any pri
vate news filters through, there is NJ
way to positively confirm or deny it,
The government has made public the
following dispatches:
January 5id-Right Hon. JOSEPH
Chamberlain oabled President Kruger
OF the South African Republic as fol.
lows: cit is rumored here you have or
dered prisoners shot. do not believe
rumors. I rely on your generosity in
your hour of victory
Today Eon. Cecil Rhodes, prime min.
lister of Cape Colony and at the head in
Africa of the British South Africa com.
pany, sent a despatch reading: "The
rumor that FORCE is collecting at
Buluwayo is absolutely false -
/ President Kruger cabled: II have
not ordered the eebooters who are pris-
oners to be shot. Their case will be de-
cided strictly in accordance with the ira
ditions of the Republic, and in sharp
contrast to the unheard of acts of these
ee-booters So many lies and false re-.
ports are published in even the infiuen
tlal newspapers in England, I deem it
advisable to add that the free ooter
prisoners have been treated withheld,
greatest consideration by, our burgh ers
despite the fact that the latter more than
once have been compelled to take up
arms in defense of The dearly bought in
dependence of our republic. l hope you
will kindly pardon the liberty am tax
ing, when l say our confidence in
Rhodes has received such rude shock
that his reputation Of the proceedings at
Buluwayo. ought to he reeeiy ed with the
greatest caution. Even now We have
news an armed force is collecting on our
border, and if this is true, trust, not the
word of Rhodes, but the influence of gov
eminent, will suffice to prevent any fur
Their incursions. Will you, with a view to
checking further lying reports, publish
this?''
Mr.. Cham berlain replied ~ thank
you for your message, which I will pub
lish as you desire. The press has no t
given eredencs to the rumors about
cruelty to the prisoners. have always
been confident of your magnanimity.
sent an imperial officer to Buluwayo to
see my orders obeyed and prevent any
further raid. You may rest confident
will strictly uphold all the obligations
OF the London convention of 1884. y al
The People, which is the weekly edi-
tlon of the Globe, and in touch with the
government, says there is reason to be
lieve that Prime Minister Salisbury and
his colleagues, owing to the hostile atti
tude of Germany, will consider the expe-
diency of immediately Strengthening the
British forces in those parts of the en-
pire exposed to attack. Field marshal
Lord Wellesley, commander in chief of
the forces, has given his firm opinion
that III forces are sent abroad it will be
necessary to reinforce the troops at home.
1t is therefore likely, that the military
and army reserve will be called out to
such an extent as to place at least one
army corps at the disposal of the war
office for foreign service.
The Central News says the government
Is determined not TO permit Germany to
give military assistance in. the Transvaal.