The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-16
JOUBERT WAS INTERCEPTED.
HE WAS GOING SOUTH TO DEFEND
BLOEMFONTEIN.

No Boer Sick Left in the Free State
Capital-NOt Believed the Beers
would Dare Destroy Johannes
berg-They Have Been Warned
Against Such Acts-SOme Talk of
Making the Free state "A seIf-Gov-
erning Colony.
London, March 16, a. m.-Events are
moving in the South African campaign
In a speedy and satisfactory manner, from
both the military and political points of
view 1t could hardly have been expected
by the most sanguine Englishmen that
they would take a turn so favorable.
Ii appears that when Mai Weston cut
the railway north of Bloemfontein he
thereby intercepted Gen. Joubert, who, far
from having retired from the campaign,
was then coming southwark with 5000 men,
presumably to superntend the defense.
Elaborate defense works, three miles long,
had been prepared outside the town.
No Beer wounded were left in Bloem-
fontein. When asked the reason by Lord
Roberts, Mr.. Fraser replied:
THE burghers do not like fish, and
NOu4u iAOL NdlC " 81 " NdIV IOWu.
The evidence goes to show that so far
as the southern part of the Free State is
concerned. there will be no further resist
ance. 1t is understood that Mr.. Fraser
Mr.. Vessels and other leaders are quite
prepared to accept the, position of a self
governing British colony
Good Feeling in England.
IL
Parliament yesterday of the correspond
ence were re-echoed throughout the coun-
try. The speech of M Delcasse has in
creased this satisfaction, and taken with
the general belief that Emperor Nicholas
is personally averse TO any Intervention,
these incidents spread the idea that there
will be no further serious attempt TO in
terfere from any quarter.
Mr. Montagu Whites threat in an Ameri-
can newspaper that the Beers will sacri-
fee Johannesburg and raze it to the
ground if necessary is not taken very Sc
rously.
Mr. Chamberlain's statement that Pres
ident Kruger has already been warned as
to the consequence of such conduct, is re-
garded a S showing that sufficient precau-
ton has been taken. The Times suggests
that burghers should be warned that their
farms will be taxed as guarantee
against any damage to British property
but no serious apprehensions are enter
tanned of such conduct as Mr.. White Is
said to have foreshadowed. j B. Robin
son, the millionaire mine owner, says he
does not believe the Beers would be so
foolish.
By the time Lord Roberts reaches the
Naal river he will command some $1,000
men. while Gen. Butler will have 10000
From a military point of view the critics
now think there is nothing to fear.
Could Not Persuade Steyn.
The Standard has this dispatch from
Bloemfontein, March Is:
THE civil authorities here definitely
made up their minds to surrender on
Monday. A stormy meeting was held. pre-
sided over by Mr.. Steyn, whom Mr.. Fras-
er denounced as a coward, charging him
with want of enough moral courage to
accept the situation.
The late President was, however, not
to be persuaded and when the meeting
broke up he left for the north.
The occupation was extremely orderly
and well managed. The spectacle was
most impressive when the Sixth Division
marched through in grand style, not
withstanding that like the rest OF the
army, it had covered forty miles in twen-
ty-seven hours.
Large numbers of the burghers are sur
rendering their arms. Many have fed to
their homes. Others are trekking to the
east or to the north with their cattle and
goods During the last few days the in
habitants of Bloemfontein had gone in
deadly fear of the violence of the Trans
vaalers and consequently the city resem-
bles rather a relieved than captured
town.
Mr.. Vessels, president of the Raad
has gone to England to solicit public sym
pathy and to plead for the independence
of the Free State"