The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-11
MEETING OF AFRIKANDER CONGRESS
IN CAPE COLONY
SURROUNDED BY BRITISH TROOPS
Six Thousand Dutchmen Assemble
gress-Mflner Denounced Declare
With Him as Governor-To Petition
for Autonomy for the Republic-A
British Convoy Captured by e

Worcester, Cape Colony, December
6.-About 5000 Dutchmen assembled in
the open air at the Gum Tree planta-
ton, on the edge of the town, to take
part in the Afrikander congress. Horse
been riding in all night.
Mr.. S. c. Cronwright-Schreiner made
a speech in which he attacked Sir
Alfred Miner, h British high COM
missioner and governor of Cape Colony,
saying there would be no peace while
he was governor.
Mr.. J. w. Sauer, the former commits.
sioner of public works, is expected to
speak and guide the congress consclu-
sions, among which will be to select
a large deputation to visit Sir Alfred
Miner and urge him to advise a ces-
sation of hostilities and give
to the republics.
fifteen hundred Canadians and Austria
lians are camped around the town and
ten guns are in position.
The attendance at the Afrikander
congress tomorrow is expected to be
fully four thousand. The hotels are al
ready filled to their capacity.
The Afrikanders ridicule the idea OF
trouble They say they can surely air
their grievances without resorting to
violence. They are greatly incensed at
the posting of guns in positions COM
handing the meeting. The slopes sur
rounding the town are crowded with
artillery, and troops with cannon have
boon Docfo1 on o. 1IOuc hill and Pros.
pect hill.
The government is distributing broad
cast a leahet showing up the falsity of
many of the anti British stories n
pointing out the hopelesSness of the
Boer resistance, az the British hold
IA, 900 prisoners and all the principal
towns in the two republics.
Durham. December 6.-Lord Roberts
on board the Canada has started for
Cape Town. He was given an enthu-
siastic send off. All of the ships in the
harbor were decorated with flags.
Prior to his departure Lord Roberts
made a speech during h course of
which he adjured his hearers to hold
out the hand of fellowship to those who
had been their enemies.
when blessed peace is restored
said the field marshal, you will tell
them that we are all one in one coun-
try; that we have n interest and that
we honor them. They lave been fight
ing for a wrong cause, having been in
duced to do so by their misguided rules.
Nevertheless, we honor them for fight
ing for the liberty we ourselves so
thoroughly believe in.
And, now, in the spirit of liberty,
truth, justice and freedom, we are pre-
pared to extend these privileges, which
every E~nglishman values, to those who
have been fighting against u.s."
London, December 6.-The war office
has received a dispatch from Lord
Kitchener, dated Bloemfontein, Decem-
Der 9Th, announcing that General Del
arey, with 500 Beers, attacked a con-
voy, proceeding from Pretoria to Rus
tenburg, at B~uffelspoort, December 3rd,
burned half the convoy and killed fiji
teen men and wounded twenty-three,
including Lieutenant Baker. The Beers,
the dispatch adds, suffered considerable
loss, some of them being killed with
case shot at fifty yards. Cunts and as
sistance were sent from Rustenburg
and Commando Mex and the Beers were
driven off.
The advices also say General deWet
crossed the Caledon, December 5th at
Kareepont drift, making for Odendal.
General Knox was following him
The drift was held by a detachment or
the guards. and the river was flooded.