The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-05-23
ANGLO -BOER WAR SITUATION
CONFLICTING REPORTS ABOUT THE
BOERS' INTENTIONS.


BOERS' INTENTIONS.
Transvaal Government Declares 1t Does
Not Intend to Consider Unconditional u 1
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1t is Said
That Kruger Has Sued for Peace
Good Reason for Believing He is Try
ting to Secure Terms-Roberts Again
Advances some of His Troops Across
the Vaul.
London, May %, $3.50 a, m-The
Transvaal government has informed
the correspondents at Pretoria that 1t
has not considered and does not intend
to consider unconditional surrender, put
will fight to a finish. The foreign con-
suls have been informed that Johannes
burg will be defended, and the govern
ment announces that it will not hold
itself responsible for injury to persons
or property resulting from the defense
measure.
Pretoria dispatches affirm that Pres
ident Kruger, President Steyn and all
the most prominent leaders of both re-
publics, after a prolonged interchange
of views, are determined to continue the
resistance, but that a minority of the
leaders advocate surrender without
terms.
Mrs. Reitz, wife of the Transvaal
state secretary, and her family, with
the families of other officials, have gone
r tn
and Pretoria are being cleared of nom
combatants The Boer chiefs who now
recognize the possibility that they will
have to defend these cities, are prepar-
ing defenses with the utmost haste.
The Boar spirit has been rising from
low ebb and is now ready for a stead
fast resistance.
Nevertheless, according to the Daily
Chronicle, long messages in Dutch have
been received by the British government
by way of Amsterdam in which Presi-
dent Kruger seeks peace. According to
one account President Kruger surren-
ders Internationally; according TO
another he asks for terms There seems
to be good reason for believing that he
is earnestly endeavoring to secure terms
but cable inquiries fail to confirm the
assertion that correspondence has re-
Gently passed between Great Britain
and the Transvaal respecting terms.
Lord Roberts is again moving. The
British infantry left Kroodstad Monday
and headquarters We're expected to leave
yesterday. The railway has been re-
stored and the first train is due to ar
rive to-day. The Beers are busy blast
ing for gun emplacements along the
Rhonoster river. General De Wet COM
mands, as General Botha is i'll. The adj
vance Of Lord Roberts will probably be
swift 1t is the expectation of well in
formed observers here that the Vaal
river. eighty-fve miles beyond Kroon-
stad, will be crossed by about the entire
British army by the erd of the week.
Sir Redvers Butler in a general order
to his troops congratuiating them on
the result of their ten days operations,
says they were only checked at Laing's
Mex by a fresh commando sent from
the Transvaal. General Clery with a
cavalry brigade, engaged the rear guard
of the Beers at Laing's Mex Saturday,
captured a number of wagons and took
some prisoners. His artillery shelled
the Mex The Beers in their retreat laid
y,
and burned several houses, as many as
six in Newcastle. The machinery of
the Navigation collieries was ruined
General Butler, replying to residents
of Newcastle who presented to him a
trophy said he expected to return from
Pretoria soon.
Nothing new concerning the relief of
Mafeking has come through. All the
accounts of the engagement on May 16
extol the bravery of the Canadians.
Colonel Mahon's column arrived at the
the rendezvous one hour after Colonel
Plumer, showing with what accuracy
the movements were timed.
Sir Alfred Miner, speaking at Cape
Town Monday, before an enormous as
sembage celebrating the relief of Ma
feking referred to the remark of pre-
vious speaker who had condemned the
Beers as 'cowardly scoundrels" He
said: "There are many among our enc
mics who deserve to be honored for
their heroism. Although cases OF treach-
cry and barbarity have occurred they
have been exceptional. The conduct of
the enemy is that of brave men fighting
for bad cause. Yet they are entitled
to respect" One of the morning papers
suggests that the men Of England should
present sword to Lady Sarah Wilson, |
the Daily Mails correspondent at Ma |
feking during the siege.
The Durham correspondent of the |
Times telegraphing Tuesday says: 1.-THE |
Rev. Adrian Hofmeir tells me he was |
Informed by a high Boer official that |
when President Kruger notified the |
Raad of the governments ARA npements |
to blow up the mines and to destroy
Johannesburg, General Louis Botha |
hurried to Pretoria and had a stormy ,
interview with President Kruger, to
whom he said that if the plans were not
cancelled he would himself defend Jo- !
hannesburg, adding that the Beers were
not barbarians. At this according to
Mr. Hofn1ier, the plan was abandoned"
AMBCSHED BY BOERS.