Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-03
B0ER PRESIDENTS
IN CONFERENCE.
Supposed to be Discussing Pro-
posaIs for Peace,
MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE.
Burghers RaIlying with Aecustomea
Promptness Defensive Conditions
OF Warfare Yet 20 be Tested

London, March 3, 2:27 D. m.--Presldent
Kruger Is said TO have left Pretoria
with the intention Of meeting President
Steyn. The place where they will meet
is not mentioned but is believed to be
somewhere in the Orange Free State.
Those In South Africa who are convers-
ant with the effect the recent reyerses
have had on the Beers express the
opinion that the meeting Of the two
presidents is preliminary TO a sugges-
ton for negotiations for peace. But II
Il Is the case It must be due 10 the
pressure brought TO bear upon the
presidents by the burghers and Afri-
Handlers In the British colonies rather
than the personal inclInatlons OF the
presidents, as all the available lnforma-
tion depicts them as being as deter
mined as ever TO persist In the war I'M
III the resources Of the republics are
much more enfeebled than they seem
TO be a. present, although some signih-
canoe Is attached TO the consultation in
view OF the reported visit to England OF
Chief Justice Devllllers, Mr.. Hofmeyer
and DR., Tewater ostenslbly on private
business and for their health But the
closest observers DO not anticipate any
sudden cessation Of hostilltles, and GER
talnly the reports from the theater OF
war do not tend to encourage the advo-
Gates Of immediate peace.
The Beers are apparently rallying
with their accustomed ability 10 repair
a temporary reverse, and Great Britain
has yet 10 test their force as q defen-
siye power under the new conditions OF
warfare.
Outside the meeting OF the presidents
there Is no new indication Of any change
In the situation, Telegraphlng from
Osfontein today, thanking the lord
mayor OF Liverpool for his congratula-
tons In behalf Of that city, Lord Rob-
efts says
II trust her majesty's soldiers In this
country will gain such further successes
a Will speedily restore the freedom and
prosperity TO South Africa"
BoER RETIREMENT FROM LADY
SMITH.
New York, March IA dispatch to
the Tribune from London says
Gen. Butler, In a dispatch from Lady
smith, makes II clear that the Beers
decided TO raise the siege Of the town
Immediately after Gen. CronJe was at
the mercy OF Lord Roberts al Paarde-
berg. The advance In Natal was then
only opposed 70 allow time for the big
guns and ammunition and stores 20 be
safely removed north and west. That
the Beers were not completely success
ful in carrying out this intention was
owing to the fact that they were more
or less demoraized by Gen. Buffers VIC
torious attack on Tuesday
After the battle orders were evidently
given for hasty retreat TO the passes.
with the result that large quantities Of
ammunition and two guns were left be-
hind Virtually speaking Natal is now
clear OF the republican forces
Public interest In the war Is already
declining since the end is considered a
f0regone conclusion, tedious as may be
the process by which II will be reached.
The relief OF two garrisons and the
complete collapse OF the Dutch plan OF
campaign leave Gen. Roberts al liberty
TO concentrate his forces with the trans
port as the chief difficulty TO overcome.
BoER PRISONERS NUMBER 400.
Capetown, March s.-The railroad is
now repaired northward from Kimber-
ley to Riyerton. The engineers are
pushing the work rapidly,
The Beer prisoners CAPTURED al
Paardeberg total up 4.66O men. About
5000 Of them are on their way here.
The pressure on the rolling stock Is
enormous. Sir William Mccormack.
president OF the Royal College OF Sur
geons. who has been acting as volun-
teer surgeon with the volunteer army
In South Africa, sails for England to-
day.