The Portland daily press., 1900-05-17

A telegram from Csps Town says that
Mr.. Cscii Rhodes has decided 20 retire
altogether from Cape Colony politics.
SPIED ON DOER DELEGATES
English Newsp.per Man Reports AL
lesed Conversations Overheard.
londos, Nay lz.-The Daily Express
publishes this morning thres-column
New York spsoial signed BY Patrick
o'Copn nor, who crofssd the Atlantio with
the Bosr delegates on the Maasdam. un-
der prstenss Of peing an Irish-Amsricnn
and Bosr sympashizsr. Az matter Of
fact, Mr.. O'Connor understands the
Dutch language, and he claims to have
overheard private conversation In the
course OF which Mr.. wolmarans ID report.
| cd ss saying 70 Mr.. Bischers
"I think Ne should be careful Of what
We say to this man. o. be may b spy.
Are you sure he 10 aa Americana
Mr.. Fischer, "Thsre is NO doubt Of II.
! ean tell BY his accent"
Mr.. Wessslss at would never do OF
oourss, for the British 10 know that We
are really in chs last extremity. or for
MIN 10 know that We are thinking Of
staying In A msrica.''
Then rssuming the L nglish language.
Mr.. Fischer began By blaming MIR. Ceoii
Rhodes for bringing on the wsr.He said
"I haven't q shadow CT a doubt that
Sir Alfred Miner was sent TO South
| a o., hA of
the Bcer republics By forcs, II nece ssary.
The franchise ruse was all humbug.
President Kruger oeded 90 much ct the
Bloemfontein conference that Miner was
In mortal fear Lest all his requests
should be granted and lest he should
thereby lose the chance Of an nexing the
Iransvaal."
| Me. Wolmarans said. to Mr.. Fischer In
Dutoh: "Do you think We had better
tell him how Kruger broke on the con-
feranoer'
Mr.. Fischer: "No."
Mr.. WolmarAns Tin Dutch): "Our po-
sition Just now is precisely that OF jane
son ct the tims OF the raid. He expect
ed johannesburg to rise TO HE assistancs.
We expected tho same OF Cape Colony
and Natal. We are bitterly disappointed.
Tell him how Schreinsr deceived MS"
Mr.. Fisoher--"Hs knows well; ~ we'll
8 We do that Schrisuer IL loyal to Great
Britain"
Resuming English, Mr. Fischer said !:
"Ws are going 10 win the war II IL takes
years."
Addressing Mr.. Vessels and using
Dutch. Mr.. Fischer then said; eve had
better not say too much. We are getung
badly beaten now. We are going to Anne
riea In the hope Of obtaining the friend
ly help Of the United States In the cause
Of pence. That 10 what We will say to
the publis. As matter OF fact we have
no hope whatever. We have no out and
dried programme"
Mr.. Fischer went on to say that the
brother Of Mr.. Vessels, who happened
to be In the United States and who was
acting In connection with Mr.. Montagu
White. bslisved that some sort Of peace
preliminariss would be arranged; but II
the delegates faiisd In the United
Ststes, the Beers. Mr.. Fischer declared.
would still not give In.
Mr.. O'Connor sayss "The delegates
were much Astonished ct their reception
In New York. When land was sighted,
Mr.. wolmarans exclaimed: What shall
we do when we get thsrer
THE FIGHT Al MAFEKING.
Lorenso Marques. May i6.-A Portu-
guese official despatch says an encounter
has occurred at Matching and that the
Beers have b,sn repulssd with heavy loss.
BOERs ADVISED TO SURRENDER.
London. May l6.-1.45 .. m.-The most
Important development In today's war
news is ths statements cabled from Cape
Town announcing that ths Boer delegates
had advised the Transvaalers to sIrren-
lder II defeated ut the Vaal This remark
able announcement is vouched for on
good authority and evidently obtains
more oredsncs In Cape Town than would
Q mere rumor.
lie BOERS LEAVE BIGGARSBERG.
London, May 16.-l0.S5 .. m.-Ths war
ofiice has posted the following despatch
from Gen. Butler. dated Dundee. May 10;
"we occupied Glencoe yesterday. The
l
gassberg. The Free Staters on the Drak
ensburg are much reduced In numbers.
The Carolina, Lydenbsig and Pretorla
commandoes trekksd north from Hiatiku
lIu on the 18th and 10Th Of May. Eleven
guns were entrained at Glencoe. The
last train. with ambulance. left there al
dawn May 10. This result has beer
largely produced by the action OF the
Fifth division, which. during the las
few days, has done great deal Of very
lard work, marching, mountain climb
ling and road making. Trains are now
!. running to Vessels mex station"
WAR CLOUDS LIFTING.
/. London. May l6.-The chancellor oi
, the exchsqusr, Sir Michael Hick Beach
| speaking ct Bristol this evening, oon
aratu lated shs audience on the facs that
tue cloud OF war was fairly lifting and
, that there were streaks OF light pro
, tending slorieus dawa.
Il