The St. Louis Republic., 1900-07-31
Hero of Mafeking Penned Up
in Western Trans
vaal. "a.
KITCHENER TO THE RESCUE,
Five Thousand Beers Under Gen
eral PrinslOw Surrendered to
General Hunter-Free State
Army Scattered.

London. July 31.-The Morning Leader as-
serts that Lord Kitchener has been dis
patched from Pretoria to Krugersdorp 10
organize column 10 relieve General Baden
Powell. now besieged by General DE Larey
at Rustenburg. in Western Transvaal.
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.
London. July 3o.-The following official
dispatch has been received from Lord
Roberts:
Pretoria, July 2e-On July esth MacDon-
aid fought rear guard action with the
enemy from early morning until dark. nine
miles outside Of Naauwpoort. in the Beth
lehem Hills. resulting in his effectually
blocking Nasuwpoort Mex to the Boer
wagons. Hunter reports that the enemy
twice checked his advance by holding
strong positions on Two Neks. one of which
was taken before dark by the Scots. the
Royal Irish. the Wiltshire and the Leinster
regiments. Our casualties were only five
or six. The second Mex was taken during
the fight by the Scots and guards, without
opposition. the enemy retiring closely to
Naauwpoort.
Prisoners taken state that !. 80 burghers
would surrender If guaranteed that they
would be treated as prisoners of war and
not rebels. To this l had assented. As
a RESULT of these operations Prinslow. COM
manding the Beers. asked. under a flag OF
truce this morning. a four days armistice
FOR peace negotiations.
Hunter replied the only terms he could
accept were unconditional surrender, and
until these were complied with, hostilties
could not cease. | expressed my approval
and told Hunter on no account 10 enter into
negotiations.
Il have received telegram from Hun
ter, saying that Prnslow had written sec
IN hrlr
over himself with his men. rifles, ammuni-
ton and other firearms upon condition that
the horses saddles. brides and other pos
sessions of the burghers be guaranteed them
and they be tree to return 10 their homes.
Il have replied that the surrender must
be absolutely unconditional: that all rifles,
ammunition. horses and other possessions
must be given up. and that the burghers
will be considered prisoners Of war. l added
that Prinslow's overtures Will not he al
lowed in any way to interfere with Hunters
operations. which must be continued until
the enemy Is defeated or has surrendered"
A later dispatch from General Roberts.
Prinslow with 500 Beers.
HUNTER RECEIVED THE BOERs.
Bloemfontein. July 3.-General Hunter
having received a written unconditional sur
render of all the Beers in Caledon Valley
attended to accept the surrender. General
Prinslow. lately elected to the chief COM
mand arrived and tried to repudlate the
unconditional surrender. General Hunter.
however. refused any concessions, exec pit
TO allow the Beers to keep one riding horse.
About IL o'clock the troops were drawn
up in two long lines on the hills and over
the valley. and the Beers rode In between,
throwing down their rifles. together with
a motley collection of clothing. blankets
and gear, such was found in General
Cronjes laaeer.
The Ficksburg commando was first to lay
down arms. consisting of about $50 men.
Then came the Ladybrand commando. with
about f5t. Fifteen horses. two guns and
fifty wagons were given up. General
Prinslow and Commardant Crowther were
received by General Hunter at his tent.
where they Were well treated and accorded
every courtesy.
Many of the Beers have gone through
Naauwpoort, and will surrender to General
Macdonald. Others still arriving here.
The Harrismith and Nrede commanders are
yet at large az We'll as some Beers who got
out of the valley at night. but the prisoners
say that those outside will surrender. and
that this will practically end the Free State
army.
The Beers say they would not have sur
rendered had they not been surrounded. The
prisoners have been placed in laager under
guard and will be kept there until all ar
rive.