Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-09
After RepulSing General
French Twice.
OVERTURES FOR PEACE
Were Made By the Two Republics But
Roberts Could Not Accept the Con-
ditions--General Changes in British
Commanders to be Made.

London. March 9.4:15 a. m.-The
Beers appear to have made no stand
whatever, except that while in retreat
they twice repulsed General Frenchs
cavalry with rifle fire. AS no report has
been made of the capture of prisoners,
the enemy probably got away with their
entire force. General French is still fol-
lowing them and keeping between them
and Bloemfontein.
The evacuation of the northern dis
tricts Of Cape Colony is now nearly COM
plete. The British are in possession Of
the railroad crossings.
The military critics comment on the
discouraging news from Mafeking.
Colonel Baden-Powell seeSls to be in
grave need of outside help. Otherwise
he would NOT allow the correspondents
to SEND out information respecting the
distress of the garrison.
A REIMBURSEMENT of some of the higher
commands is taking place. General
White is to so to Stormberg to take SUI
preme command of General Gatacre's
division. and the Tenth division. now in
process of formation, which will be under
the immediate command of General Hun
ter, Sir George Whites chief Of staff.
h Daily News makes the following
editorial announcement:
"It was rumored in London yesterday
and We have some reason for believing
the rumor to be c~orrect-that the two re-
publics made informal and unofficial
overtures Of peace OF the preceding
day.
Unfortunately the conditions suggest
ed were OF such a character as to pre-
clude the possibility Of leading to any
result. Terms which might have been
gladly accepted before the w a in order
to avert it, are impossible after the war,
with all the sacrifices it has entailed."
Pretoria, Mondoy, March 5.-Secretary
OF State Reitz has issued war bulletins
in which, after saying the government
has no official tidings of the surrender OF
General Cronje, but must accept it as a
fact, however painful, he adds:
"The government remains assured that
the surrender will not discourage the
burghers in their defense of their indie
pendence and standing al a nation.
"The struggle thus far has shown that
the republics lave vindicated themselves
as an independent people. This reverse
will not stagger us. In the struggle for
our cherished rights our belief remains
that whatever happens the Lord still
reiglls.
Owing to the invasion Of the Free
State by q large force of the enemy and
other circumstances it became necessary
to take up other positions. hence the
burghers in Natal have retired to Big
g%ersberg. All the commanders ave
reached there safely except a few who
retired in the direction of Van Reenen's
pass. Thus Ladysmith ana Kimberley
are no more besieged. In retiring, the
enemy was time after time driven back
so that our laagers were not cut off. In
thncn Fl y11tc n fay- oan y-n1~A kj)Ia1 nv
wounded and the enemy lost heavily.
"In spite of all reports, the spirit of the
fighting men as to the outcome remains
unchanged. Among the commanders il
Natal the burghers are full of courage.
General Dewet now commands all thu
commanders at Modder river.
"The president started yesterday even
Ing for Rloemfontein. to visit the laagel
of the Free State. It is understood Pres
ident kruger's visit to BloemfOntein was
to try to arrange a compromise OF thu
differences between the Transvaal ank
Free Staters."