Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-04
MEDIATION IS
ASKED BY Beers
President Mckinley viii Not Act
Unless England Requests 1T
TALE OF RUNAWAY TRAIN.
How II Got from British 10 n Boer
Camp -Boer Retreat Cut OH
News from kimberley.

New York, Jan. A special to the
Herald from Washington says;
There Is reason to believe that the
Transvaal government has only recent
~ requested this government to use its
good offices to bring an end to its war
with Great Britain, The proposition
came through the American consul at
Pretoria. No answer has been given by
the state department. and unless Great
Britain intimates that she Is DESTROYS
Of the President exercising his good
offices. there is no reason to believe that
he will comply with the Boer request. 1t
Is to be expected that a reply Will be
made acknowledging the receipt of the
oonsul's presentation, which he will
transmit to State Secretary Reltz, but
this probably is as far as the govern
ment will care TO go at this time.
II can be stated on authority that
there is no intention on the part of the
administration TO depart from its policy
Of Interference unless requests for
mediation are received simultaneously
from Great Britain and the Transvaal.
Just before the outbreak Of hostilities
the Boer government appealed to the
President TO use his influence with
Great Britain to avert the war, but the
President declined TO interfere, and
nothing has occurred TO change his de-
termination.
In certain quarters there is a dlsposi-
ton TO urge American mediation, on the
ground that under the treaty OF The
Hague conference the United States
could extend It's mediation to Great
Britain without offending that power.
In answer TO this suggestion 1t Is said.
first, that the United States has not yet
become party 10 the convention. be-
cause II has not yet been ratified by
the Senate and, second, the American
delegates representing the United
states at the conference guarded the
historic position of the United States
by the declaration that nothing con-
talned In the convention should be so
construed as to require this government
10 depart from its policy of not
interfering with foreign questions.
IL Is stated that the movements Until
ated by Europeans to obtain the media
ton OF this government will be fruit
less or results, unless, as stated. they
first induce Great Britain TO intimate
TO this government her willingness TO
accept the exercise OF the Presidents
good Offices.
A dispatch to the Herald from
Naauwpoort says;
An extraordinary occurrence took
place last night. A number of trucks,
loaded with food stuffs, got loose and
ran away from our lines down the
Colesberg declivlty toward the Beers at
great speed. Further down there was
a broken culyert commanded by Boer
guns. Three trucks crossed the culvert
and remained on the line. marvellous to
say, Others fell over, while some re-
NAMED on this side. The engine driver
OF the train attempted TO rescue II, but
was shelled by the Beers and obliged to
retreat.
A train was sent TO rescue the goods
In the wrecked train, escorted by
cavalry company OF the Suffolks, but
when It reached Plewnans Siding il
was subjected TO terrific shell fire
from a Hotchkiss and big gun and
also rifle fire. The train and It's es-
cort had TO hurry OFF. An attempt will
probably be made 10 destroy the goods.
We command Norvalspont bridge
with two guns and also the Colesberg
road bridge. The Beers have no way
OF retreat except by way Of StOrmberg.
Big developments are expected.
A Kimberley dispatch 10 the Herald
says:
The De Beers company has decided
not TO pay a dividend, but to hus-
band their resources, owing to the COM
plete stoppage Of work
Native rumors are current 10 the eff
feet that the Bechuanas have risen
against the Beers and have captured
two guns.
The enemy remain quiescent.
Pains are being taken by the enemy
TO conceal their losses In the recent bat
ties. Boshof is said 10 be full Of wound
ed men and at Jacobdal there are at
least two hundred and fifty.
There Is a field hospital containing
another hundred attached TO tine camp
at Olifantszam.
In view Of the probable prolongation
OF the Siege, steps are being taken by
the military authorities TO ration In all
the inhabitants.
The medical officers say that apart
from waste by war, the death rate Is
not exceptionally high for the time Of
the year.