The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-22
WILL FIGHT 70 THE last
BOERS WILL NOT QUET SHORT OF
INDEPENDENCE OR ARBI-
TRATION
PRESIDENT KRUeER's PLANS
Wants Governments That Subscribed
to The Hague AGREEMENT to Make
Goodwin Make No POpu-
lar Appeal at Present.

LONDON, Dec. N.-William T. Stead
has just returned from The Hague, where
he has had a long conference with Mr..
Kruger and has ascertained at first hand
the views of Mr.. Kruger and his counsel
lors as to the present situation and future
prospects.
Mr.. Stead has written the following for
the Associated Press:
First of all nothing is decided about
his visit to America at present Presi-
dent Kruger has not abandoned all hope
of securing the support. of the goverfl-
ments of the civilized world in his de-
rnand for arbitration. Until the last gov
ernment refuses absolutely TO say a word
IN support of the principles which they
solemnly laid down at The Hague con-
terence. Mr.. Kruger will not participate
IN popular dempnstca tons.
ne English, Mr.. Kruger said, 'are
Waglng this war in South Africa like saw
ages; They are burning homes, destroy
and creating famine. They are unable to
capture De Wet, but they are making
prisoners of women and children, who
are not treated with ordinary decency.
f1undfedS OF women have been confined
in prison kraal, near Port Elizabeth,
with only one chair, and several of them
are expecting to become mothers.
MI Kruger AYERS that the provisions
or the Hague convention and the laws
and usages of war are trampled under
1oot and he wants to know whether the
slgnatories of this convention have any,
-tflng to say on the subject.
PRESENT BOER LEADERS.
The man on horseback at this mo-
ment Is not Mr.. Kruger, but Steyn,
Delarry and De Wet are masters of the
situation, having a better disciplined and
more effective force than that which fol-
lowed the vierkler (fag1 at the outset
OF me war. They have plenty of am
munition and replenish their stores con-
tlnually from the British conveys They
nave taken enough Lee Metford rifles
TO arm all the burgers now in the field.
- found Mr.. Kruger hale. His bear
ing is not so good as 1t was His mind
moves. more slowly, but the old fire flashes
from MS eyes and your hear the ceep.
resonant voice, that has so often rallied
the burghers in battle.
WILHELMINA'S SYMPATHY.
Queen Wilhelmina is kindness itself.
She has displayed pluck In remarka BILE
contrast to The timidity of her official
Il found the old mans spirits mistaken
by his reverses. He disclamed any
desire desire to humiliate England, and said
tn .y only wanted their rights.
1t may interest Americans to know
that Mr.. kruger's appeal to the civil
Lied world would be received every
Hhere with enthusiasm were it not for
9eep-rooted distrust and jealousy of the
oyn2Stles OF Hapsburg and HohenzoIlern
against the president of a republic. If
ne were king the courts would have
Eeen open everywhere But the central
EuI opean monarchs dread the popular
enthusiasm excited by the heroic figure
OF the republican president pleading for
justice.
This feeling, it is well to, note. is not
shared by Russia
THE Beers will NOT listen tn anv nro
posals for a compromise. They. are unan-
imous. Failing Independence or arbitra-
tloh' taey VIII prefer to die fghting.'