The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-04
CECIL RHODES QUARREL
Ordered Col. Kekewich Out of
the House at Kimberley.

New York, April EThe following cor
respondence was received here today in
the Associated Press mails:
London, March 28-While the fifty odd
columns of correspondence from the
front appearing during the last two days
in the London dailies have been care
fully devoted to CronJe'S surrender, and
Ladysnlith's relief other subjects no less
interesting because less epoch making
have been dealt with in the letters of
those not fortunate enough to have
been present at the greater occasions.
The troubles between Cecil Rhodes
and Col. Kekewich are now being fully
told. Tt appears that the relations be-
tween "the empire maker" and the
colonel commanding at Kimberley
reached such a pass that Mr.. Rhodes
ordered the army officer out of the
house. The dispute is told in detail by
the Kimberley correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph who writes:
When Mr.. Rhodes saw the danger to
which the town and its inhabitants We're
exposed, he came to the conclusion that
the time had arrived for the facts in the
case to be placed on record. He accord
ingly called the mayor and a few lead
ing citizens together and in consultation
with them drew up the following repre-
sentation which was fully forwarded
to Col. Kekewich, accompanied by the
request that he would transmit it by
heliograph TO the higher military au-
thOrities:
Is Kimberley, Feb. 1O.-On behalf of
the inhabitants of this town, we respect
fully desire to be informed whether
there IS an intention on your part to
make an immediate effort for our relief.
Your troops have been for more than
two months within a distance Of little
over % miles from Kimberley and If
the Spytfontein Hills are too strong Tor
them, there is an easy approach over a
level fat This town, with q population
of over $4,000 people has been beSieged
for 120 Gays and large portion of the
Inhabitants has been enduring great
hardshIps. Scurvy is rampant among
the natives; children, owing to the lack
of proper food, are dying in great num-
bers and dysentery and typhoid are
very prevalent. The chief foods of the
whites have been bread and horse flesh
for long time past and Of the blacks,
/ meal and malt only
| These hardships we think you will
| agree, have been borne patiently and
/ without complaint by the people. Dur
/ ing the last few days the enemy have
4 brought into action from a position
4 within three miles of US a six inch gun
I throwing q 100 pound shell which is set
/ ting fire TO our buildings and is caus-
I ing death daily among the population
AS you are aware, the military guards
I here are totally Inadequate to cope with
4 this new gun. The only weapon which
/ gives any help is one of local manufac-
/ ture- Under these circumstances as
/ representing this community, we feel
I that we are justified IN asking whether
| YOU have any immediate intention of
| inStructing your troops to advance to
our relief We understand large rein
/ forcements have recently arrived in
/ Cape Town and we feel sure that your
| men at bOdder river, have at the out
! side 10 600 Beers opposed TO them You
| must be the judge as to what number
| of British troops would be required to
| deal with this body Of men, but it is
| absolutely necessary that relief should
| be afforded to this place.
| After taking time to consider his de-
! ciSiOn the officer commanding sent Mr.
Rhodes a letter informing him that the
/ substance OF his communication had
been forwarded to Lord Roberts per
Telegraph to Enslin- Lord Roberts re-
i ply, which was communicated in due
course possesses no less historical in
ton which originated the correspond
ence:
q 7 beg you to represent to the mayor
and Mr.. Rhodes as strongly as you pos
sibly can the disastrous and humiIiat-
ing effect of surrender after so prOlOng-
ed and glorious a defense. Many days
cannot possibly pass before Kimberley
will be relieved, as we commence active
operations tomorrow.
Fixture military operations depend in
a large measure on your maintaining
your position very short time longer
Mr.. Rhodes was much annoyed at
the suggestion that the thought of sur
render had ever occurred either to him =
self, or to those associated with him in
the representations which had been
made, and have reason to believe that
when Lords Roberts and Kitchener ar
rived in Kimberley he took an early OPP
pOrtunity of discussing their minds OF
so mischievOus an impression.