Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-08
PRES. KRUGER
Now Has His Capital in Speci-
ally Equipped Car.
Declares the War is Not Ended but
Fighting Will Go On.
Says He Lett Pretoria Simply TO Avoid Cap.
tire by British.

London, June So A. M.-The exec1I-
tive offices of the Transvaal govern
ment are in a railway car which IS
shunted on switch at Machadorp sta
ton. President Kruger caused the in
terror Of the coach to be reconstruct
ed, some time ago. with a view to con-
tngencies that have now arrived.
a correspondent Of the Daily Express
who went from LourenZo Marques to
soc President Kruger, was received.
yesterday. The President sat smoking
long pipe. He looked worried. but
his bearing was quiet and dignified.
lie did not make the least objection to-
being interviewed. The correspondent
was equipped for the interview by ca
blcs from London.
Yes" said President Kruger. lit is
quite true that the British have occu-
pied Pretoria. This, however, does not
mean the end Of the war. The burgh-
ers are fully determined to fight to the
last. They will never surrender so long
as 500 armed men remain in the coun-
try. | feel deeply encouraged by the
fine work Steyn and Dewet are doing
in the Free State
The correspondent suggested that the
war was over, inaTmuch as the capital
had been taken.
The capital. exclaimed Kruger, with
energy. what is a capital? 1t does
not consist Of any particular collection
Of bricks and mortar. The capital Of
the republic, the seat of government.
is here in this car. There is no magic
about any special site. Our country is
invaded il is true; but it is not con-
Quered The government is still eff
fcctive."
Referring to the reasons why he left
Pretoria. MI. Kruger said:
II mot 50 foolish as to be taken
prisoner ! provided this means of 10
c,motion precisely for the same reason
as our burghcrs supply themselves
with horses when they take the field
Il is necessary that I should be able to
move quickly from place to place
That is all. Bye and bye, this car will
take me back to Pretoria. For the
present il enables me to keep away from
Pretoria. where | could be of no GER
vice and where | could only play into
the hands Of the enemy"
They say Mr.. Kruger" remarked
the correspondent. that you have
brought with you gold to the value of
c. 900 900"
1T is not true" replied the Presi-
dent. Whatever monetary resources
may have with me are simply those
which We require for state purposes
At the same time am not going 70 tell
YOU where our treasure Is. Let Lord
Roberts find ii if he can
They also say in England, Mr.
Kruger. that you contemplate taking
refuge on a Dutch man-of-War at Lou
reno Marques"
That again is a lie" retorted the
President with emphasis. Il know of
no Dutch war vessel. l am not con-
templatlng taking refuge anywhere. |
shall not leave my country. There will
be no need for me to do anything Of
the kind
The rresrondent-"Then. sir, there
il much surprise at your having left
Mrs Kruger behind
President kruger-"But why? Mrs.
Kruger is quite safe in Pretoria. She
would only be put to personal lncon-
vcnence here. All communication be
tween us is stopped, Of course: but she
will wait my return with calmness and
courage. she is a brave woman ! am
here awaiting further information We
are quite safe.
states Secretary Reitz remarked:
You may depend upon it that the war
is not yet over. Guerilla warfare Will
continue over an enormous area. We
intend to fight to the bitter end and
shall probably retire upon Lydenhurg.
where we can hold out for many
months"
YES" observed Mr. Kruger. 1T is
only now that the real struggle has be
gun | fear that there will he stu
much blondshed; hut the fault IS that
of the British government.
Then raising his voice to an almost
passionate height. Mr.. Kruger eX-
claimed: THE time has passed for US
t. talk We have done plenty of that
but il has done us no good There il
nothing left for us to do but to keep
IN fighting. to keep on fighting"
The correspondent who secured the
interview tclegra phed it direct from
station. yesterday. when the
Continued on page 50