The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-10
SUBJUCATION.
Nothing Less VIII Satisfy Brit
ish War Party
As a Conclusion Of the South
African War.
PEACE OVERTURES
Made by Kruger and Steyn HOOt-
ed At.
Republics Must Become Colonies
Of the Crown.
PEACE OVERTURES

New York, March "a Herald dis
patch from London says: Presidents
Kruger and Steyn have put forward
their first overtures looking to an end
ing of the war but their efforts are GER
tain to be futile inasmuch as they in
sist that the preservation of the inde-
pendence of the two republics be guar
anteed first of all.
Judging from the temper of the Brit
ish people, as displayed recently ana
from opinions of the press this morning
there is but one possible conclusion
namely, the complete subjugation of
the Beers, the taking away of the in
dependence of the two republics and the
Incorporation of their territory into d
crown colony.
Nothing less than this will satisfy the
war party of the empire which at pres
ent has full control.
According to the Dali Mail corre-
spondent at Pretoria the Boer represeu-
tations have been telegraphed to Lord
Salisbury.
WILL BLOW UP JOHANNESBURG.
London, March 1O.-A correspondent
OF the Daily Mail at Lorenzo Marques,
telegraphing Thursday, says:
4 am reliably informed that high
officials openly avow that the British
alag shall never fly at Johannesburg.
The place will be razed to the ground,
and the mines put in readiness to be
electrically exploded from the fort as
occasion requires.
Most of the gold mines, except those
which the government controls, are in
a shocking state. They are flooded
and machinery is rusting and being viii
fully smashed"
Sir Michael Hicks Beach, chancellor
of the exchequer, explaining to the
bankers the terms of the new loan, gave
them an intimation that the government
considered the end of the war near
Since the estimates were prepared.
he said, events have taken place that
have changed the situation, and prob
ably not all the money will be re-
Quired' Whatever the government may
know or intend, unofficial opinion seems
everywhere to think that the Boer
power is cOllapsing.
The Eighth division has been under
orders to embark for several weeks, but
these orders, as far as the artillery con-
tingent is concerned. have been re-
called, Lord Roberts having reported
that no more artillery fresn home is
necessary. This is the first pause in
reinfOrcements since the war began.
Sir Redvers Butler, second in command
in the field, and Lord Wolseley are I'M
derstoOd to also consider that no more
artillery is needed. Lord Roberts has
altogether 452 guns, including siege
pieces.
1t is quite clear that General Butler
will not try anything large in the fu-
ture, as he is to lose Sir Charles War
rem and the latters 10000 men, who
have been ordered to join Lord Rob
eltS. 1t is the expectation of the war
Office that Lord Roberts. nOtwithstand-
ing the necessity of garrisoning his
depots will be able to operate a con-
stantly increasing force until by the
time the TransVaal is reached he will
have 10000 troops.
His kilograms dealing with non
essentials are taken to mean that he is
up to some mischief, as his apparent in
activity usually spells uncommon ac-
tivity
Mafeking, as a beleagured town, at
tracts much sentiment and sympathy
Nothing has been heard from there
since February 19. There is a rumor
this morning that Colonel Baden-POweu
has been relieved, but this cannot be
traced to any substantial basis.
Spencer Wilkinson, dealing in the
Morning Post today with the disap-
pOintment expressed by the war CORE
spondents respecting the Poplar Grove
battle, says:
Doubtless it was not a. great vic
tory, since the enemy was not punished
and no great strategicaI advantage was
gained 1t cannot be denied that the
Beers have pursued a wise course. in
defiance of the very bad tactical and
strategical advice of President Kruger
and President Steyn. From the Brit
ish viewpoint it is pity this advice
was not followed, for in that case Lori
Roberts would probably have cOmplet-
ed the annihilation of the whole force.
We may be pretty sure that he did
not mean to allow them to retreat, but
every commander in the field has his
disappointments. It looks now as
though the Beers would so adopt guer-
rilla tactics that even when the Trans
Vaal is occupied there will be still
plenty of work for the British forces"
CLEAR OF BOERS.
Poplar Grove, Orange Free State.
Friday morning, March 9-GeneraI
French, who is ten miles ahead, re-
ports that his front is clear of the
Beers All other reports tend to con
firm the state of disorganization of the
Boer forces, Transvaal as we'll as Free
State. The general impression is that
the further progress of the British to
1aoemfontein will not be opposed.
CECIL RHODES WILL PAY.
London, March 10-Charles Williams,
the military expert of the Morning
Leader, says today:
General Sir Frederick Carirngton-s
staff has been selected and the names
turn out to be those of retired officers
Now there is no longer any need TO
conceal the fact that he is going 10
South Africa by arrangement between
the government and the Chartered COM
pany to take command of the force
which the company will pay for, though
he may be some time occupied in polio
ing the territory of the two republics
which may fall into our hands pending
a political settlement.
1T is hoped to begin re-emba rkingS
the bulk of the British forces in South
Africa by July 1.
1T is said that General Butler still
expects to see the Derby run but that
IS too good to be true Yet many things
may happen in eleven or twelve weeks.
rs things are going"