The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06
Will Be Given a Trial Accord
ing to the Traditions of
the Republic.
sCATHING WORDS OF KRUGER
British Freebooters and the English
Press Excoriated by the
Transvaal Ruler.

LONDON, ENG, Jan. 5.-Late news
from the Transvaal is most anxiously
awaited here, but none has been received
to-day that causes any appreciable lessen
ing of the feeling OF anxiety prevailing. 1t
may be that some information will be re-
ceived later but the outlook Is not very
bright. as the telegraph lines are still con-
trolled by the Government for its own use,
and if any news filters through there is no
way to positively confirm or deny it. A
dispatch received to-day from President
Kruger, while stating that he had not
ordered the captured invaders to be shot,
still leaves their future fate in doubt. His
statement that they would be treated in
sharp contrast to their own acts, affords
the hope that eventually most, if not all of
them, will be set free, after undergoing the
punishment that dispassionate observers
here believe they richly merit.
1t IS believed in some quarters, however,
that the anger of the Beers against the
leaders OF the invading force will have
more or less influence on the tribunal be-
fore which the Englishmen will be tried,
and that nothing will suffice to aIlay the
excitement except sentence of death. In
this event, all the influence of the British
Government will undoubtedly be exerted
to secure Communication, and President
kruger's pacific message leads to the hope
that in the event of DR.. Jameson and the
other leaders being condemned to be shot
or hanged, under military law, the inter
cession of the British Government will
lead President Kruger to commute the
death penalty to imprisonment.
ho l,
following cable dispatches relative TO the
invasion of the Transvaal and the capture
by the Beers of the invaders: On Janu-
airy the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain
cabled President Kruger of the South
African Republic as follows:
at is rumored here that you have or
dered the prisoners to be shot. I do not
believe the rumors. I rely on your gener-
osity in your hour of victory"
To-day the Hon. Cecil Rhodes, Prime
Minister of Cape Colony and the head in
Africa of the British South Africa Com
pany, sent dispatch reading:
1.-THE rumor that force is collecting in
Buiuwayo is absolutely false''
President Kruger, replying to Mr..
Chamberlain dispatch, cabled:
Il have not ordered the freebooters who
are prisoners to be shot. Their case will
be considered strictly in accordance with
the traditions of the republic, and in sharp
contrast to the unheard-of acts of these
freebooters. So many lies and false rep
reservations are published in the infiuen-
tial newspapers in England that [ deem it
advisable to add that the freebooter
prisoners have been treated with the
greatest consideration by our burghers
despite the fact that the latter have been
more than once compelled to take up arms
in defense of the dearly bought indie
pendence of our republic.
II hope you will kindly pardon the lib
erty am taking when [ say that our con-
fdence in Rhodes has received such rude
shock that his Reputation of the proceed
ings at Buluwayo ought to be received
with the greatest caution. Even now we
have news that an armed force is collect
ing on our borders. If this is true, [ trust
that no word of Rhodes, but the influence
of the government, will suffice to prevent
further incursions. Will you, with view
to checking further lying reports, publish
this ?'
Mr.. Chamberlain replied:
II thank you for your message, which I
will publish as you desire. The press has
not given credence to the rumors about
cruelty to prisoners. l have always been
confident of your magnanimity. / have
sent an imperial officer to Buluwayo to see
that my orders are obeyed and to prevent
a further raid You may rest confident
that 1 will strictly uphold all the obiiga-
tons OF the London convention of 1884"