The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-05-23
FIGHT
To Finish Rather than Tn
conditional Surrender.

LONDON, MAY $3.50 a. M.-The
Transvaal government has informed the
correspondents at Pretoria that It has
not considered and does not intend TO
consider unconditional surrender but
win fight TO a finish.
The foreign consuls have been Informed
tha. johannesburg Will be defended and
the government Announces that st will not
hold itself responsible for injury TO per-
sons or property resulting from the de-
fense measures
Pretoria dispatches affirm that Presi-
dent Kruger. President Steyn and all
the most prominent leaders Of both re-
publics. after prolonged interchange
Of views. are determined 20 continue the
resistance. but that a minority OF the
leaders advocate surrender without
terms
Mrs. Reitz. wife OF the Transvaal state
secretary. and her family, with the fami-
lies OF other officials. have gone 10 1.o-
renzo Marques. johannesburg and Pre-
toria are being cleared OF non-combat-
ants. The Boer chiefs. who now recog-
nize the possibility that they will have
to defend these cities are preparing with
the utmost haste The Boer spirit has
been rising from a low ebb and is now
ready for a steadfast resistance
Nevertheless. according to the Daily
Chronicle, long messages in Dutch have
been received by the British government
by way OF Amsterdam. in which Presi-
dent Kruger seeks peace. According to
one account. Pres. Kruger surrenders
49,.
asks for terms.
There seems TO be good reason for be-
liev3ng that he is earnestly endeavoring
10 secure terms. but cable inquiries fail
20 confirm the assertion that correspond
ence has recently passed between Great
Britain and the Transvaal respecting
terms.
Lord Roberts is again moving The
British infantry left Kroonstad Monday
and headquarters was expected to leave
yesterday. The railway has been re-
stored and the first train is due to ar
rive today.
The Beers are busy blasting for mu-
nicipal emplacement salong the Rhoonis-
ter river. Gen. Dewet commands, as
Gen. Botha IS H.
The advance Of Lord Roberts will prob
ably be swift. II IS the expectation Of
well informed observers here that the
Vaal river S miles below Kroonstad.
will be crossed by the end OF the week
Sir Redvers Butler. in a general order
TO his troops. congratulating them on the
result Of their ten days operations. SAYS
they We're Tnly checked at Laings Mex
by a fresh commando sent from the
TransvaaL Gen. Cleery. with a cavalry
brigade, engaged the rear guard of ne
Beers at Laings Mex Sunday. captured
number Of wagons and took some prs
oners. H.s artillery shelled the Mex
The Beers in their retreat laid waste
the territory. blew up bridges and burned
several houses, as many as six in New
castle. The machinery OF the navigation
collieries was ruined
Gen. Butler. replying 10 residents OF
Newcastle who presented 10 him a trophy
said he expected 10 return from Pre-
tOria soon.
Nothing new concerning the relief Of
Mafeking has come through. All the ac-
counts Of the engagement on May l6 ex-
tol the bravery Of the Canadians. Col.
Aahon's column arrived at the rendez-
Vous one hour after Col. Plumer. show
Ing with what accuracy the movements
were timed
Sir Alfred Miner, speaking at Cape
Town Monday. before an enormous as
semolage celebrating the reIef OF Alafe-
king referred to the remark OF u pre-
Nlous speaker who condemned the Beers
as "coWardly scoundrels." He says:
There are many among our enemies
who deserve 10 be honoret for their he
roism. Although cases Of treachery and
oarbarity have occurred. they have been
exceptional. The conduct Of the enemy
is that OF brave men fighting for a bad
cause. Yet they are entitled 10 respect %
one of the morning papers suggests
mat The men Of England should present
sword 10 Lady Sarah Wilson. the Daily
Mail correspondent az Mafekng during
the siege.