Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1900-06-01
WEARY OF THE WAR.
PANIC AND CONFUSION PREVAILS
IN THE rRANsvAAL
Lord Rob crts Within q Days March
OF Johannesburg-The People I'm
Full Fear OF the Coming OF the
British-President Kruger Crsea
by General Both to Arrange Peace
Terms.

London, May 29.s-LOrd Roberts is now
within days march of Johannesburg
and General French and General Ian
Hamilton fought the Beers from noon
until evening on Monday, with what
result is now known here.
H. H. J. Whigham. in a dispatch to
the Daily Mail, dated May 2Sth, says:
1.-THE decentralization Of the TransvaaI
Is remarkab BILE. Panic and confusion
prevails everywhere. Every one Is
weary of the war and full of fear as
to the coming of the British. Opera
tions were being carried on for encir-
cling Pretoria with telegraphic COM
munfcations. -Four points in the line OF
defences were connected with head
quarters and with the Stats artillery,
but this apparently was the only de-
fensive measure adopted. There were
no visible preparations.
mot much gold is likely to be found
in the treasury. The salaries of the
officials and judges have not been paid,
or have been paid only in national
bank notes. which will be worthless
when Lord Roberts arrives. The seat
Of government will be removed to
HdlSINdI bONdl, d Stldil SldllOH Oh
the Delagoa Bay railway Hle, and
then, If necessary, to Lydenburg.
Both President Steyn and President
Kruger complain bitterly of Lord Rob
.erts' unfair tactics, in refusing to meet
the Beers in positions chosen by them
and in eternalIy turning them by flank
movements.
Around johannesburg few trench
es have been dug, but no other steps
have been taken for defence. The rail-
way line is blocked with refugees from
the west and southwest, who are pack
ed like sardines in trucks.
"One form of internal machine
which meets with much approval Is to
be laid under the rails of various lines.
A pressure of some tons weight Of the
engine will cause this to explode with
most terrible effect. Many Of these ma
chimes are being made at the arsenal
and great caution will have to be en-
ployed in neutralizing them. There has
been decided change in public opinion
which has become quite English. All
are sick of warfare. The party eager for
surrender is now very influential and
includes the principal leaders at the
front.
THE government has arranged to
continue the agitation against the
British occupation of the two republics
on the Continent of Europe. in Great
Britain and in the United States. No
expense will be spared. 1 have excellent
reasons for believing that the Bewaar-
plaatZen rights have been sold to a
French syndicate, without the sanction
Of the VOlksraad, in order to bring
about French Intervention for the pro-
lection of French rights in the
Wiwatersrand and thus to cause Eng
land grave difficultieS'
Another dispatch from Lourenzo
Marques says: General Louis Botha is
at Pretoria, urging President Kruger
to arrange peace terms. President
Steyn occupies the house of the British
resident at Pretoria.
General Rumble was shelling the
suburbs of Senekaal Saturday.
In a skirmish Major Dalbiac and four
men were killed, and Lieutenant Ken
nard and three troopers were wounded.
Several of the British were captured.
The Beers disappeared to the northeast
Of Senekaal and the Grenadiers enter
ed the town at dusk.
Three thousand Beers are reported to
be at Jumming Kranz. One corre-
spondent AYERS that a British patrol on
entering Senakaal, was set upon by
Beers concealed in a house. General
Rundles prisoners tell the same story.
peace. The morning papers generally
regard the Boer organized resistance
as near an end.
Predictions are made that the Brit
ish flag will fly al johannesburg to-
day and at Pretoria Satr day.
London, May 28.-Midnight-Firin
has been heard since no, n. H. G.
Whigham has just returned to Lou
renzo Marques from Pretoria, where he
I1o
has all the arrangements made for
flight, presumably to Holland. A
special train, provisioned, is always
ready with steam up. The train waits
some distance from Pretoria"
THE M. E. GENERAL CONFERENCE.
Chicago, May 2S.-With three business
sessions to-day, the quadrennial confer
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church
practically came to close. Much i'm
portant business was transacted to-day,
including the settlement of two of the
most interesting questions brought before
the Conference.-The report of the Com
mittee on Temperance. and the Commit
tee on the State of Church in regard to
the ban on card playing, theatre-going.
dancing and other amusements. strong
political color was given the discussion on
the temperance question by the bitter ar
raignment of President Mckinley because
of his attitude on the anti-canteen law,
but after some decidedly warm debate,
the conference refused to criticise the at
titude of the Chief Magistrate, by strik-
ing out, by an overwhelming vote. all
reference to any action On his part or
that of Attorney-Genera .iggs- The mi
nority report on amusemell s. accepted
Saturday was to the surprise OF many
l., 81
paragraph in the book of discipline ex-
actly as it was before the question was