Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-03-03
THETWOPRESIDENTS
Kruger and Steyn Holding a Meet
ing to Decide Whether to
Ask for Peace.
ROBERTS FACING THE ENEMY
Story Of the Starvation of the Cavalry
Horses Of Ladysmith General Rob-
erts Tells Of the Scene At
Kimberly.

London, March 3.-President Kruger
is said to have left Pretoria to meet
President Steyn somewhere in the Or
ange Free State. Those In South Afri-
ca conversant with the effect Of the re-
cent reverses on the Beers express the
opinion the meeting Is preliminary to
a suggestion for negotiations for peace,
but If this is the case 1t must be due to
the pressure brought to bear upon the
presidents by the burghers and Afri-
kanders In the British colonies rather
than their personal inclinations, as
available information depicts them as
determined as ever to persist In war
until the resources Of the republics are
much more enfeebled than at present,
although some significance is attached
to the consultation in view Of the re-
ported visit to England of Chief JUS
tice de Villiers, Mr.. Hofmeyer and DR..
Tewater, ostensibly on private business
and for their health.
BOERS RALLYING.
The Beers are apparently rallying
with their accustomed ability to repair
temporary reverses. Great Britain has
yet to test their force as a defensive
power under the new conditions of war
fare,
ROBERTS EXPECTS OTHERS.
Telegraphing from Osfontein to-day,
thanking the lord mayor of Liverpool
for his congratulations in behalf of that
city, Lord Roberts says: IT trust her
majesty's soldiers In this country will
gain such further successes as to speed
lily restore freedom and prosperity in
South Africa"
OPENING RAILWAY FROM KIM
BERLEY.
Cape Town, March 3.-The railroad is
now repaired northward from Kimber-
ley to Riverton. Engineers are pushing
the work rapidly. The Boer prisoners
captured at Paardeberg total up 1850
men. About 5000 are on the way here.
EFFECT OF SMELLING LADY
SMITH.
London, March 1.-The Standard pub
fishes the following dispatch from La
dysmith, dated Thursday. March l.
THE once dashing cavalry brigade
has practically ceased to exist. At the
beginning Of the year we had 5000
horses and 4,500 mules. Before the end
Of January we could only feed 1,100
horses: the others had either been con-
verted into joints, soups and sausages,
or had been left to forage for them
selves. These poor. emaciated animals
mere phantom horses-were among
the most painful sights Of the siege.
Had we possessed an unlimited
amount Of heavy guns and ammunition
we might have made the position more
bearable, although not shot was fired
except in dire necessity. There were,
on February 1, only forty rounds left
for each naval gun, while the supply
for the field artillery would have been
exhausted In couple more minor en-
gagements. Fortunately, the Beers were
ignorant Of the true state of affairs
Had they known our real weakness
they might have displayed greater dar-
ing, with results which-now that we
are safe-we can venture to contem-
plate. We were victorious solely be-
cause Of mastery Inactivity.
THE bombardment was heavy, but
on the whole, ineffective. 1t is estimat-
ed that during the investment about
10000 shells were thrown into the town,
an average Of three tons of explosives
daily. Yet we had only thirty-five men
killed and 1873 wounded. Our largest
losses were from disease"
ENEMY FACING ROBERTS.
London, March 8, 4:15 a. m.-Lord
Roberts, at Osfontein, six or eight miles
east of Paardeberg, faces the reformed
Boer army, from 5000 to 5000 strong.
This may be merely corps Of observa-
tion, ready to retire on prepared posi-
tions. Doubtless it is receiving accre-
tions from the late besiegers Of Lady
smith and from other points. Whatev-
err the force may be, Lord Roberts has
ample troops to cope with 1t. As a
heavy rain has been falling on the veldt
and the grass Is improving, this will be
a good thing temporarily for the Beers.
No adequate explanation has yet been
made Of the e-enforcements that are
preparing for Lord Roberts.