The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-10
TransVaalers as Well as Free Staters Are i'm a
State of Complete Disorganization.
President Krugers Peace Proposals Insist Up
on independence, and Are Declined

POPLAR GROVE, Orange Free State,
March 9.-Gen French, who is ten miles
ahead reports that his front is clear of
the Beers. All other reports tend to con-
firm the s.ate of disorganizstion of the
Boer forces, Transvaal as we'll as Free
State. The general impression is that the
further progress of the British to Bloem-
Sontein will not be opposed.
A great amount of ammunition was de-
stroyed today. This includes several cases
Of explosive bullets on the outside of
which the Beers had marked "Manufac-
tured for the British government"
PANIC OF THE BOERS.
LONDON March 9-AIl the special dis
patches from Poplar Grove confirm the
reports of the panic of the Beers. The
Morning Posts correspondent says:
President Kruger shed tears at his In
effectual attempt to rally the Beers, who
were completely paralyzed by Roberts
mastery tactics. They were too demoral-
ized to heed his eXpostulations and de-
clared the British cannon were every
where"
The correspondent of the Daily News
says:
THE Beers were seized with a panic,
thus spelling the whole plan which had
been beautifully calculated to destroy
them utterly AS the Sixth division
emerged from a hidden position and ap-
peared on the crest, with the mounted in
fantry in skirmishing order, the Beers
thought the whole earth was covered with
soldiers in their front and rear and on
their hanks. They did not wait to verify
their suspicious, but fed, seized apparent
ly with a dread that they might share the
fate of Cronje"
BOER PEACE PROPOSALS.
From various quarters come signs of
the possibility of peace in South Africa
being shortly within the bounds Of prac-
tical politics. All the dispatches from
Lord Roberts headquarters, including
those of the commander-in-chief himself,
indicate the lack of a guiding spirit
among the Beers and individual demor-
alization, portending disintegration un-
less speedily stemmed. The fight of the
burghers from Poplar Grove according
to all accounts, was wholly inglorious.
Late this afternoon 1t was learned that
the peace rumOrs were founded on the
fact that President Kruger has appealed
to Lord Salisbury for a cessation of hos
tilities, offering at length by cable tho
terms which he is willing to accept
These, however, are not taken seriously
as they include practically nothing more
than what the Transvaal government Of
fered prior to the Issuing of the British
ultimatum.
Official circles here regard the PROPOSE
tiOns as merely a ruse for the Beers TO
gain time, and do not consider that Presi-
dent Kruger is yet ready to consider the
sweeping demands which Great Britain
will make as reimbursement for the loss
life and great eXDenditure
1t was understood that President Kru-
gers advances had been met with an en-
phatic rejection at the hands of Lord Sal
isbury, who is believed to have said that
no such attempt to retain the independ-
ence of the Transvaal can be considered
for a moment by the British government
INSIST UPON INDEPENDENCE
The Daily Mail publishes the following
from Pretoria, dated Thursday, via Lou
Ienzo Marques, which has been confirmed
by the Boer government:
Conversations I have had with state
officials show the Beers want some ar
langements. They say if England is wag-
ing a war of conquest they will fight to
the finish. Otherwise they believe that
& plain statement of the Boer intentions
will reveal a basis of negotiation now
that England's prestige is repaired
president Kruger and President Steyn
conferred Monday at Bloemfontein on
the incorporation of the above represen-
tations in cablegram to Lord Salisbury
The reservation of the independence of
the two republics is a sine qua non.''
REPRISALS THREATENED.
A correspondent Of the Daily Mail at
Lourenzo Marques, telegraphing Thurs
day, says:
81 am reliably informed that high Of
ficials openly aVoW that the British flag
a ashr
place will be razed to the ground and the
mines put in readiness to be electrically
exploded from the front, as occasion re-
Quires. Most of the mines, except those
the government operates, are In a shock
ing condition. They are flooded and the
machinery is being willfully smashed"
BOTH PRESIDENTS THERE.
The war office has received the follow
ing dispatch from Lord Roberts:
Poplar Grove, Friday morning-Pres-
tdents Kruger and Steyn were both pres
ent at the fight of March z and did All
in their power to rally their troops. The
rout however, was complete the mon
declaring that they could not stand
against the British artillery and such a
formidable force of cavalry"
KRUGER WITH A RIFLE.
Dispatches from the Boer camp At
Glencoe, via Lourenzo Marques. depict
President Kruger as donning a bandolier,
seizing rife and inviting volunteers to
accompany him, as he wished a shot at
the enemy himself. President Kruger Is
also quoted as having declared in his ad-
dress that he did not know whether ar
bitration or Intervention would end the
struggle, but that 1t would end quickly,
within the next month, he strongly be-
lieved."
BRITISH ADVANCING.
The war office has issued the following
dispatch from Lord Roberts:
elements has occupied Norvalspopt
and the adjacent drift. AS soon as the
engineers, .pontoon and troops arrive, he
will cross the river, when the necessary