Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-03-09
But His Terms are Too Favorable
to Suit EnfIand's Selfish
Plans.
FREE sTATERs WANT TO QUIT
British are Advancing Steadily
and Driving All Opposition
Before Them.
PEACE MAY SOON COME

London, March 9-From various
quarters come signs Of a possibility Of
peace in South Africa being shortly
within the bounds of practical politics
All dispatches from Lord Roberts
headquarters indicate a Lack of a
guiding spirit among the Beers and
individual decentralization portending
disintegration unless speedily stem
med The fight Of the Burghers from
Poplar Grove according to all accounts
was wholly inglorious. A Times" dis.
patch from Poplar Grove, under
yesterdays date asserts that
the rout of the Beers was
complete. that the submission Of the
Free State is being demanded by the
Burghers from the unwilling presi--
dent and it is expected its submission
will be made within week. The cor
respondent adds: Probably the
Beers wisest course was fight. It
was most undignihed and certain to
cause CONSERVATION at Bloemfontein.
There is a growing outcry against
any further indentification of the Free
State with the Transvaal's interests. !"
Dispatches from the Boer camp at
Glencoe depict President Kruger as
donning a bandolier, seizing a rife,
and inviting volunteers to accompany
him as he wished to have a shot at the
enemy himself Kruger is also quot,
ed as having declared in an address
to the troops that he did not know
whether arbitration or Intervention
would end the struggle but that it
would end quickly within the next
month, he strongly believed" i
London, March 9-Late this after
noon it is learned that the peace rum
ors are founded ON the fact that Pres
ident Kruger appealed to Lord Sails
bury for a cessation of hostilities, Of
fering at length by cable the terms
he was willing to accept. These
however, are not taken seriously as
they include practically nothing more
than the Transvaal government Of
fered prior to issuing the British ulti-
matum. Official circles here regard
the proposition as merely ruse of
the Beers to gain time and do not con-
slider Kruger yet ready to consider
the sweeping demands Great Britain
will make as a reimbursement for the
loss of life and great expenditures.
1t was understood Kruger's advances
met emphatic rejection at the hands
of Salisbury, who is believed to have
said that no such attempt to retain
the Independence Of the Transvaa
can be considered a moment by the
British government
London, March 9-Lord Roberts has
moved ten miles nearer Bloemfontein,
evidently with the view of seizing
and utilizing the railroad, possibly to
reach the Free State capital in three
or four days, whence he may begin
repairing the railroad southwark,
meeting the British advance from
Cape Colony which may be expected
to be hastened as soon as General
White takes control. The British oc-
cupied jamestown unopposed, March
eth. The Beers are reported retreat
ing beyond Aliwal North, so Cape
Colony is practically clear of armed
Beers. Reinforcements from Natal
are going to Lord Roberts. General
Warren's division and some artillery
have already been ordered to join the
commander-in-chief so the latter is
preparing for all eventualities, in--
cluding a possible desperate opposi-
tion to his crossing the Vaal river and
a siege of Pretoria where thousands
Of natives are reported to be employ
ed in the construction of defensive
works, concerning which secrecy is
maintained, no one being allowed to
walk or drive on the outskirts of the
town.
London, March s-The amount OF
the new war loan will be 6 G30,0O0,O0O,
with interest at 2% per cent.
London, March 9-The war office
received the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts: Poplar Grove, Friday
Presidents Kruger and Steyn were
both present at the fight of March
7th, and did all in their power to rally
their troops. The rout, however, was
complete, the men declaring they
could not stand against the British
artillery and such a formidable force
Of cavalry.
Durham, March 9-The naval bri-
gade Of 200 men from Ladysmith ar
rived today in command of Captain
Lamberton. They were enthusiastic
ally received.
Is Not the Plague.