St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-03-14
WAR IN THE TRANSVAAL.

London, March 1S.-Lord Robert
complains that the Beers are using eX
plosive bullets, and that they are agai
abusing the white flag His protes
is virtually a complaint to the power
that the Beers are violating the usage
of war. for he has sent to the war office
copy of his protest to Presidents Kruge
and Steyn. with request that it be sen
to the powers. Lord Roberts dispatcl
TO the war office on the subject is dated
March II, and says:
The following telegram has been ad-
dressed by me to their honors, state
presidents of the Orange Free State and
the South African republic:
Another instance having occurred of
gross abuse of the white flag and of the
signal of holding up hands in token Of
surrender, it is my duty to inform you
that, If such abuse occurs again, shall
most reluctantly be compelled to order
my troops to disregard the white flag
entirely. The instance occurred on a
kopje east of Driefontein farm yesterday
evening and was witnessed by several of
my own staff officers, as well as by my
self and resulted in the wounding of
several of my officers and men. A large
quantity of explosive bullets of three
different kinds was found in Command
ant Cronje's lager; and (this has been
the case) after every engagement with
your honors troops. Such breaches of
the recognized usages of war and of the
Geneva convention are a disgrace to any
civilized power. A copy Of this telegram |
has been sent to my government with the
request that 1t may be communicated
to all neutral powers"
A Dreifontein dispatch says that all
of Saturday was occupied in fighting.
The Beers maintained a stubborn rear
guard action along a running front of
IL miles on very difficult ground.
The British were advancing in three
columns. General Tucker to the south
ward occupied Petrusberg unopposed
General Kelly Kenny, after following
the river bank, moved in the direction of
Abraham's kraal.
At Dreifontein, about eight miles
south of Abraham's kraal, the Beers
were found posted in considerable
on the ridges connecting sew ,
eral kopjes where they had mounted ,
guns The action began at 8 in the
with an artillery duel. Cen I,
eral French's cavalry and General Por- J
ter's brigade supported our guns The r
Boer artillery was accurately handled, +
and the British cavalry found a task
harder than they had expected. r
General Broadwood. with logged per- r
severence, moved altogether six miles y
southwark, trying to find a means to p
get round, hut the Beers followed be- Z
hind rising ground. and even tried to ?
outfank him. Meanwhile the Sixth u
division of infantry, advancing on the /
8oer left, slowly forced the enemy to :
'etire. Had the infantry been able \
o move faster. the Beers would have h
been enveloped. The last shot was
lred at 1880 u. m. Sunday morning not a Z
Beer was to be seen. The prisoners be- q
onged to President Kruger's own COM q
1ando.
Such confidence Is now felt in the
Military operations that interest rather
enters in the political aspects of the X
var. The Daily News quotes WhiteIaw
'eid as saying In a private letter: Il
i've you hearty congratulations on the p
hanged aspect of the war. 1t is an i'm re
tense relief to us all, as we'll as to you" ~
his view, says The Daily News, is well W
ome as expressing with an unusual ~
easure Of authority enlightened public VI
ceiling In the United States. '"
Except in the case Of Germany the re-
les of the powers to the Boer appeals VI
+ intervention are not yet known pub y.
'ly here, but 1t is quite certain that -
and Italy will decline -
interfere, and there Is no apprehen- =.
on that anything will come of the over ~ y,
res of the two republics ca g.
All the morning papers take the line Az
lat the government will decline to omen
egotiations with the Boer republics ex- ei
,pt upon the basis of complete SIR re
ender, and will also make 1t perfectly A.
ear that nothing in the shape of foreign
ltervention will be tolerated. The ~
tandard says: There is an idea in some III
uarters that, on arriving at Bloemfon- 10
Elm. Lord Roberts will issue proclama-
on which will leave little doubt as to
ne future Of the republics. M