The Irish standard., 1900-03-24
CAPTURES PRIESKA.
Kitchener's Occupation of the Town
Was Easily Made.
Beers Surrender without Offering
OppOsitiOn-Many Prisoners and
Arms Capturcd-FarIners Fly
ing White Flags.

, London, March 21.-The war office
has received the following dispatch
from Lord Roberts, dated Bloemfon-
tein, Tuesday. March 20:
Kitchener occupied Prieska yesterday
unonposed. The rebels surrendered their
arms. The Transvaalers escaped across
me river. MIR. Stcyu is circulating a no.
tice, by means of dispatch riders, in reply
10 my proclamation, TO the effect that any
purSher who signs a declaration that he
VIII not fight against us again will be
treated as a traitor and shot The Bloem-
1onteln people are atfording us every as
slstancc III the matter Of hospital accom-
inouatlons. We have consequently been
able to arrange for 800 beds. Thirty-thrce
prisoners We're taken at Prieska, 200 stands
"i arms and some supplies and explosives.
The Bocrs have begun TO surrender on the
| Basutoand frontier"
Farmers Ely White Flags.
London. March 2l.--A dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Donkerspoort, dated
Monday. March 10. says:
reconnaissance toward Philippolis
% miles west OF Springiontcin, found the
farms all flying white lags. The British
troops We're cordially received. 1t is re-
ported that MIR. Stoyn is trying to rally
The Beers, but the latter say they have had
cnouSh.'
! To lie Treated ns Crown Colonies.
London. March 2l.--While there is a
lull III the military operations, the pres
cn1 surroundings of the War show in
1crcSling developments. The colonial
Office has telcgraphed to Cape Town
the text Of the proclamation concern
ing the destruction of property. This
will not be published in London until
after it's PRONUNCIATION in South Africa,
but it is known it will convey an init
nation that amy wan1on destruction
OF British property during the war will
be regarded as warranting Il claim for
compensation, and rs justifying Il
levy upon private property, should the
resources of the Transvaal republic
prove inadequate.
The fact that the proclamation is is
sued by the colonial Office is regarded
us Il significant indication that the re-
publics will be administered as crown
colonies. In this connection it is I'M
derstood that the leaders of the oppo-
sition in parliament now admit that no
other settlement is possible, since the
republics insist upon their demand for
upsoi'ile Independence.
Will Appeal to the Country.
1T is becoming regarded as quite a
settled matter that should the war be
ended. us is now hoped, before June,
the government will dissolve parlia-
ment and appeal to the country on the
basis of Il successful South African pol
icy. Should the war drag on, dissolu-
ton will be postponed until next spring,
In amy event, one of the foremost
plnnks of the government platform will
be army reorganiZation.
A statement comes from Pretoria adj
hitting that the Rocr loss during the
war exceeds 1000.
No fresh news has been received from
Mafcking, but a Pretoria; dispatch
dated Thursday. March Is, asserts that
Col. Plumcr has not been able to adj
vance south of Lobntsi.
Beers Blow Up Bridges.
Cape Town. March 81. - The Beers
have blown up the bridges north of
l'locmfontrin. including those at VIM
burg and kroonstndt. and are now re-
treating to the north
Chamberlain to Threaten,
London, March 81. = In the house of
commons Tuesday the parliamentary
secretary of the war Office. George
WTmdhnm. said the secretary of.statc
for the colonies. Joseph Chamberlain.
WAS about to issue a proclamation on
Che subject of the alleged threats of
the Beers to destroy Johannesburg and
as to what the Beers may expect in the
event of wnnton destruction of British
property