Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-03-28
WILL CONQUER OR DIE
THIS DECLARATION is MADE BY
PRESIDENT KRUGER.
Beers, He Says, Expect No Aid from
Other Nations, but Are Determined
to Fight TO the Last -BurGhers Are
in Desperate Straits.

Notwithstanding recent reverses and
the general collapse, apparently, of the
Free State as a factor in the war, with
the rumored dishcartening of the Beers
in consequence, eminent war critics say
there is reason to believe that President
Kruger is correctly reported as saying
his people will conquer or die" From
the first there have been rumors of dis
satisfaction from the Free State, but
from the Transvaal there has not been
the slightest indication that its hurghers
have ever thought Of faltering or of peace
unless the latter should be upon lines
for which the determined citizens OF the
South African republic took up arms.
President Kruger is reported by way Of
Paris, as saying:
Having beer forced into the war, the
Beers will conquer or die. | expect no
aid frGW other nations. hat we are glad
Of sympata, and friendship. The Trans
yaa is willing to make peace at any time,
but we want no more cons. Only abso-
lutte independence is possible. We don't
want more territory but are content with
our present frontier. If we are permitted
to live peacefully. This is all we ask. .
These statements read strangely
enough in connection with the fact that
the Free State is overrun, an army is on
its way to the relief of Mafeking, and
Butler, Methuen and Lord Roberts are
each at the head of an army ready for
the final advance upon the Transvaai.
As to Intervention, DIR. Leyds is said
to lie still looking hopefully toward Amer
ica-no realizing, perhaps, that in offer
ing its friendly offices TO England the
American Government has done all it can
do short of intervention by force, which
would mean war. Possibly Russia s
forthcoming answer to President kru'
gers appeal for intervention may be more
effective as regards aid to the Beers,
but unless the continental powers are
prepared for forcible Intervention there
is no aid in sight for Dom" Paul and
his people outside their own strength
and valor. That the sturdy president OF
the Transvaal coItemplates this POSSIBLE
ity is probable. From present indiea
tons the world is likel' TO witness he
roic but pathetic and useless struggle
before the South African republic lik,
the Orange Free State, has new capita
aud Il new ruler.
The British inhabitants of the Trans
vaal, whose rights as non-comhatantl
have hitherto been respected, are now ex
perienciag the hardships of war. Presi
dent Kruger has Communicated all able
bodied men in the State. no matter o.
what nationality. The British citizens
who remained in Pretoria or elsewher'
in the Transvaal, perhaps with the ide'
OF being on the winning side, no matter
what might happen, are beginning t
discover the difficulty Of endeayoring Z
serve two masters Under penalty o
death. they have been ordered to proceed
to Kroonstao snd help to repel the in
vaders This is interpreted IN Londol
to mean that the Beers are in desperate
straits The British say that even tn,
unyielding president of the most nncom
promising party among the Beers o
South Africa is beginning to recognize
the hopelessness of the struggle