The evening times., 1900-03-16

LONDON. March 16-The chief war
news this morning. which refers TO the
crossing OF the Orange River by General
Gatacre at Bethulie; General Clement. at
Norval's Pont. and General Brabant at
Aliwal North. excites little interest The
relief OF Mafeking and the condition Of the
garrison is what occupies the public mind.
The latest despatch from Mafeking. which
was sent on March @ says: The garri-
son. despite short rauons, is in the best OF
spirits and the guns are kept busy We
have seized a trench TO the southeast and
we nilict losses on the eaemys main
force daily"
The Mayor Of Kimberley. in a speech on
Wednesday. appealed TO the patriotism of
the volunteers TO start force to the re-
lief Of Mafekng This expedition should
not be delayed. he said, since the honor
had been given Kimberley Of sending re-
lief expedition TO the besieged town. This
IS inconsistent with the report that a re-
lief expedition under Colonel Peakman left
Kimberley for Mafeking two weeks ago.
Burghers Ordered to Yield.
Major General Prettyman. the Military
Governor Of Bloemfontein. has issued
proclamation, calling upon the bGrghers
within fifteen miles to deliver mp their
arms under penalty OF confscation of their
property
General Lord Roberts in an address con-
graduating the Guards Brigade on their
march or thirty-eight miles in twenty
eight hours said he regretted that he was
accidentally prevented from leading them
M. Il ~
should be the first to enter Pretoria.
The Colonial scouts are working TO the
EorJhward OF Bloemfontcin. The nearest
Bocr scouts are reported TO be thirteen
miles away.
despatch from Dordrecht dated March
a. states that the Cape police have occu-
pied Bagkly East and that the Dutch rebels
are lockng I'm TO surrender
despatch from Simonstown. dated
March Is. states that the cruiser Powerful.
with the Lsdysmith naval brigade. sailed
for England Thursday. Before she sailed
the Mayor furnished the men with many
deucacies and also presented them with
an address.
The cape Town Journal discounts the
occupation OF Bloomfoutclu as something
that was expected and stfa,egicaIy Of no
Importance
The Cape Town Afrikan5cr organ. "Onz
Land" comments bitterly on the deporta-
tlon Of Cronje TO ST. Helena Ii saws that
the Imperial Government could have con
ceiyed nothing more calculated to hurt the
feelings Of he Dutch
Cecil Rhodes says. There could be no
peace in South Africa If the Boer republics
were allowed TO remain as raIiying points
for disloyalty and disaHection. II would
be impossible to carry out the couIedera-
tion OF South Africa unless the republics
had been Crown colonies for some years"
Warning to kruger.
Some Of the newspapers publish stories
10 the effect that President Kruger Will be
shot or hanged il he permits the destruc-
tion Of Johannesburg. Talk on this oues-
uon was started by Secretary Chamber
laiu's remark in the House OF Commons
in reply TO question in regard to the
Boer threat to destroy The mines ard blow
mp the Uitlauder's city 10 prevent them
falling into the hands Of the British
Chamberlain. IN his coldost. most sig
nincant tones. reminded the House that
az the outbreak Of the war Kruger was
warned that Great Britain would hold
him and his Government personally re-
fponsible for any act contrary 10 the
Usages Of civilized communities. Many
Englishmen contend that this can mean
nothing else than that Kruger will be
either hanged or shot II johannesburg is
blown up, and General Roberts can catch
the Boer President They say thar the de-
struction OF the city and its $50. .OO0 900 /
IN property would be an act Of pure bar
barism and in violation Of civilized war |
fare and Of the British warning.
Friends OF the Beers contend that the
destruction OF johannesburg and the mines
would be justified as a military measure
TO prevent the British from using the city
as base Of operations against Pretoria.
They point 10 the destruction Of Moscow
as case in point. and say that the civil
ized world would not tolerate the trial
and execution Of Kruger for such an act