The evening times., 1900-03-14

LONDON. March IA despatch from
Pre- oria. dated today via '.Ourenco Mar
qu.s OF even date. says:
..Tbe reply OF Lord Salisbury refusing
10 recognize the independence OF the Boer
Republics as a basis for peace negotiations,
was received here today. The publication
Of the despatch from the two Presidents to
the British Premier caused a great sensa-
lion here. The general opinion is that the
Presidents selected the right moment 20
make suggestions for the conclusion oI
peace.
Lord Sslisburys telegram is the gen
craI topic OF discussion in all sections OF
The community. His declaration Of the
British determination not to acknowledge
the independence Of the Boer Republics
during any future negotiations has caused
a fierce outburst OF resentment on the part
Of The Federal and Afrikander people, who
are now determined &c fight to the bitter
end and 10 employ resources that have
hitherto been uutapped. The people nov
believe implicitly that Great Britain has
embarked upon war OF conquest In
tense excitement prevails.
The federal forces are contesting every
inch Of the British advance toward Bioem-
foatein with excellent results. The Brit
tsh have suffered tremendous losses. The
British forces in Natal are again active.
Commandant General Joubert is here in
consultation with the authorities"
4 despatch from the Boer headquarters
at Bloemfouteiu. dated March u. sass:
preparations for a sturdy defence con-
tiuue Fierce fghJing is still going on.
The burghers we're victorious at Abra-
hams Kraal on Saturday, when the
Johannesburg and Pretoria police made
an heroic stand against overwhelming
numbers Of the enemy. The scene Of The
lighting is only thirty-hve miles from the
Free State capital The cannonsding was
distinctly audible here"
satisfaction at Durham.
A despatch from Durham, Natal. states
that there is the greatest satisfaction
there over the firm tone Of Lord Sails
bury's reply to the telegram from Presi-
dents Kruger and Steyu regarding she in
dependence Of the two republics. Tie Ma
tai Presbytery met ard unanimously
adopted a resolution setting forth the
righteousness OF Great Britain's cause
and declaring that no settlement Of the
war will be satisfactory unless it provides
for the inclusion Of The two republics TN
der the British flag.
Few comments Of the Continental pa
pers on the kilograms have yet been re-
celved The Paris Matin" says that Lord
salisbury's reply postpones for a long
time the hopes OF peace. The paper adds
that President Kruger has achieved his OBJ
3ect He has now proved TO the people Of
the two republics and the Cape Dutch that
the only alternatives open to them are
servitude or death.
The English provincial journals and the
London evening papers. with two excep-
tions. commend the frmness Of the rejec-
tion by Lord Salisbury Of the Boer propO-
sails. The Manchester Guardian" says
that all the cobwebs about the grie 5ances
OF the Uitlanders and the equality OF the
whites in South Africa have been swept
away by the correspondence. 1T is lol.. %
says the Guardian. a plain fight of the
two republics for the maintenance of their
freedom. which our country is trying to
destroy
MafeLinE'S Desperate straits.
Anxiety over Mafeking deepens. Colonel
FIumer was at LoDatsi, ffty-seven miles
away. on Friday last. and unconfrmed
rumors OF TIE relief OF the suffering town
are flying about. It is realized that the
situation in the place is desperate. indeed
a Kimberley despatch says that General
Mothuen occupied Boshof on March Il
without opposition He left a garrison
there and returned to Kimberley on Tues
day. The railway northward has been re-
paired to Slyp Kip. This disposes Of tn,
suggestion that General Methuen was lead
ing an expedition TO Mafeking.
Details Of the siege up 10 March hav,
been received. One day the besiegers gair
an advantage sspping nearer the defend
ers. while the next day the defenders driv,
them out. Among the incidents it is re-
ported that the Beers were filling the jan
cans with dynamite and bombarding N,
town with them.
Colonel Baden Powell lately notified
Commandant Snyman that unless the ma
tives occupying the forward Boer trenches
were disbanded and dissrmed he would hold
himself no longer responsible for restrain
ing Chief Linch-W We.
The questions of food and sanitation are
far graveT now than the danger from mis-
EiIes. A correspondent says that the white
males are reduced 10 half pound of meat
day women 10 quarter OF a pound. and
children TO two ounces. II is added that
vegetables are growing scarce. but that
blue hsh are the mainstay. Many OF the
natives are represented as preferring tC
Etarve rather than eat horse flesh.
DISPOSITION OF CRoNJE.