The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-17
ROBERTS, MOVE ON
KRUCER'S CAPITAL
British Advance on Pre-
toria Planned.
.MAFEKING'S RELIEF.
Regulars Leave Kimberley to Aid of
the BeIeagured City.
POWERS REFUSED ] INTERVENTION
With the Exception Of Russia, the Con-
tinent Declined to Intcrfere-Dr.
Lcyd's Efforts With Fins Leo
pold Proved Futile-Stam-
rede Occurred at Free
State Capital.
POWERS REFUSED INTERVENTION

the railway communication to the Cape
intact Lord Roberts will in "a very few
days be in a position to begin the ad-
vance on Pretoria. His deep political in
tuition, combined with his bold strategy,
is having the result desired in the south
ern sections Of the Orange Free State,
which are rapidly calming down.
NIafel1ing is now the only point for
anxiety, and it is known that J. force
has left Kimberley, and its relief may
be announced before many days pass.
The efficiency of the relieving column, is
heightened by the fact that it is partly
composed of regulars.
In the Hobbies Of parlia1nent last even
ing it was rumored that Lord Roberts is
about to issue a proclamation announc-
ing that the former system of govern
ment in the Orange Free State us abol-
ished, and promising Free Staters who
Immediately surrender due considera ton.
INTERVENTION REFUSED.
1t is understood that the continental
powers, with one exception, uncompromis-
ing refused to intervene. The exception is
Russia. whose reply was couched in less
firm language, although, like the others,
she declined to interfere. 1t is said ths:
the Pope was also appealed to- but that
he declined to do anything beyond writing
a letter to the Queen, appealing to Her
Majesty to stop the shedding of blood DR..
Leyds efforts with King Leopold were
quite futile.
The possibility Of the destruction Of
Johannesburg is still discussed here, but
it is believed that the French and German
shareholders would offer a, strong protest.
STAMPEDE AT BLOEMFONTEIN.
The latest advices respecting the sur
render of Bloenlfontein show that the
approach of the British caused a STAN
pede. Thirteen trains, each composed OF
forty cars and all crammed with Boers,
hurried northward just before the line
was cut Mr. Steyn would have been COM
PEELED to surrender, but he pretended that
he was going to visit one OF the outpoStS,
and at night took carriage which was
waiting for him outside the town. anu
thus escaped. The Beers got the bulk OF
their wagons and military stores away.
CLEMENTS CROSSES THE ORANGE.
Lord Roberts has sent the following
dispatch to the War Office:
.Bloemfontein Friday, March 16.-Gen-
eral Clements crossed the Orange River
yesterday. Repairs to the railway bridge
at Norval's Pont have commenced, and
it will shortly be ready for traffic. Cen
eral Pole-Carew telegraphs his arrival at
Springfontein, so that Bloemfontein no"
is practically in rail communication Will
Cape Town.
MY proclamation lis already having
an excellent effect Several hundred
burghers have expressed their Intention
to surrender their arms and return 10
their occupations.
..rhe resident commissioner of Bashu-
toland reports that 500 Beers lately ar
rived from Bloemfontein, and that a
further contingent from AliWal North
was only waiting to know tho terms OF
my proclamation to surrender. They had
refused to attend a council at kroonstadt
to which president steyn had summoned
them
CECIL RHODES VIEW.
The DAILY Mail publishes al interview
this mc1.ning with Mr. C:cil Rhodes, ;'e-
cured by Mr. Julian Ralph, in the course
Of which, complaining of th'a 5uns'- '-i'S
of the home authorities he said: Gene
raj Buffers extraordinary orders TO Lold
Methuen were to relieve Kimberley. 10
take all the people away and 10 fall PACK
to Orange River You people in England
have such wonderful ideas about General
Buffers generalship; but such retfeat
would have been monstrous
Mr. Rhodes declared that there had
only been 10000 Boers in the field aito-
scther. and that the forsign mercsnarses
were only about 1900. The numbers 0.
The Beers. he said. had beer exaggerated
in order to explain the British reverses.
BOER CAUSE HOPELESS
The Daily Mail has the following a.s-
patch from Lorenzo Marques, tateo fri-
day. March 18th: ~,
s"Entrencl:ns is procs eding ON the Vaal
River at Vereeyn:g Late arrivals IRON
Pretoria say that the Bo:-s themselves
now admit that their cause Is hooe. esS.
caneral J,ucas Never refuses TO llsht
again. and has returned to ms 5i iaI!.i.
/ General schalkbura:r has also retnrnea, /,
and the burgllers are going nome os
hundreds. az,-,,,c,,,,
GERNANY,s REPLY TO KRUGER. t71 !.
PRETCRIA, March Iva i1orehzo
Marques, Thursday. March Pms Euel-
man Consul has handed the s1oiloWlns 1os
atsr,, tch45to President Kruger:
..Tbe Government OF Germany and the
E,,,naror will be glad and ready to as
sist in friendly mediations as soon as
+,,a ornamental condition to such are
a,,,,.rant as soon as it is demonstrated
pte 4bat both opponents desire mediation,
whether the desire already exists on
the Rritisfl side can be found by the
renublics on direct inquiry ut London
~. through the good offices of third
government which has no important in
terests of its own to consider in South
Africa. The latter assupmtion is quali-
6ed by the number of nations in and
outside Europe but not with Germany.
ANY such step on the part&o the Ger
man Government would awake suspicious
and have other than a humanitarian
view The Increased mistrust thereby
cneendered would not promote a peace
able settlement. The request Of The