Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-06-23
WAY TO PEACE Isl
BLOCKED BY STEYN
Dom Paul Said to Favor Surrender
but Free State President
Says No.
SON OF CRONIE COMMANDED
When He Heard Of P~rctoria's FAN
He Deemed IL Useless TO Re-
sist---Boer Activity In
Free State.

London, June 1S.-Lord Roberts dis
patches leave affairs east of pretoria
with the Beers withdrawn to new po-
| sitions Tuesday. News of fresh night
ing is expected at the war office, but
none came last night.
General Rundle's patrol had a skir-
mish with Boer videttes again
Wednesday. Some wonder is
pressed here as to what he is doing
| with three divisions. 1t is assumed by
some that General Butler will move
into Orange River colony and coop
crate with Lord Methuen and General
Rumble in bagging President Steyn
and his 1000 or 5000 followers.
Part of Christian Botha's forces
have halted at Pardekop, eighteen
miles northwest of No~lksrust. Boer
parties are still near Volksrust, and
fire occasionally upon the British
pickets.
The British government Is consid-
ering whether a substantial force
should not be sent to China from
South Africs. 1t is thought, unoficial-
ly, that Lord Roberts could spare a
brigade or two, and the necessary
tranports are now in South African
waters. The commander of the eNpedl-
ton, II is said would probably be
General Sir William Nicholson.
The Lourenzo Marquee correspond
ent Of the Times says:
ut appears that Stcyn, and not
Kruger, is now the stumbling block
in the way of the surrender Of the
burghers. Shortly after the British
entry into Pretoria, Mr.. Kruger pro-
posed to reopen the peace negotla-
tions. Mr.. Steyn, bearing in mind
that his former advice was secuted,
demurred to this, and pointed out
that, according TO the treaty between
the republic, neither could conclude
peace without the other.
"Mr. Kruger, equally unwilling to
incur the charge of a breach of faith,
had to continue the war. Nothing
further is known regarding the ru-
mored peace negotiations, but 1T is n
matter of notoriety that Mr.. Kruger
favors peace on almost any terms, but
dislikes personally to take an initia-
tive that would Involve unconditional
surrender.
"Ninety-seveu b%urghers out of 200,
in one commando, have returned TO
their homes"
Surrender of Klerksdorp.
London, June 18.-The war Office is
sues the following dispatch from Rob
cItsi
pretoria, Presidency, June H.
Klerksdorp surrendered June 8 to an
armed party sent on by Hunter.
kitchener reports that the Beers
attacked a reconstruction train early
this morning a few miles north of the
Rhenoster river. He sent out MOUNTED
troops and drove off the enemy before
they could do damage. One man was
killed, eleven wounded, including two
officers.
"a messenger from Klcrksdorp re,
ports that Cronie, who commando
there, determined TO surrender as soor
as he knew for certain that Pretoria
was in our possession. His example
has been copied by many in the neigh
borhood."
Is an Important Point.
London, June by the peaceful
occupation of K~lerksdorp, announced
by Roberts, the British have gained
strategic position of some Importance
as the town is not only the terminu:
of another railroad TO Johannesburg
but it is within easy reach of thu
Kroonstad Vierfontein railroad.
The Cronie who surrendered TIN
place Is q son of the famous Genera
Cronie, now a prisoner at st. Helena
The son was prominent during thu
siege of Mafeking. Apart from tn
fact that Roberts dispatch comes iii
rect from Pretoria, showing the tcle
graph line is r%e-opened, the only othe'
point of interest is that the Boer
whom Methuen was reported to hav'
so utterly routed have sufficiently re
cuperated to attack n reconstructio
train.
A dispatch from Kimberley report
the capture of the well known pugilis
Jim" Holloway, the adjutant in tn,
Boer army, who blew up the bridge a
Fourteen Streams.
The Afrikander bond congress
opened at Paari today with sevent.
delegates, including seven assembly
men, present. 1t Is feared at Cap,
Town that the parliamentary dead
lock will lead to n temporary suspen
sion of the constitution. There i
much anxiety in regard to the possible
outcome of such a grave step. ST
John Gordon Sprigg is eXperiencin!
much difficulty in forming a cabinet
Schreiner is pcrsisting in his refusa
to support II ministry dominated b.
Cecil Rhodes owing to personal antipa
thies. A coalition seems Impractical
hIa