Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-05-23
TO A FINISH.
Kruger, Steyn and Most Lead
ers Oppose Surrender.
Other Reports Say that Kruger Is Pri-
vateIy Asking Peace Terms.
Hoberts' Army Leaves Kroor stad and Is Again
Marching Toward Pretoria.

London. May 23.-3.3O a. M.-The
Transvaal government has informed
the correspondents at Pretoria that it
has not considered and does not intend
to consider unconditional surrender.
bEt will fight to a finish. The foreign
c1nsuls have been informed that Jo-
hannesburg will be defended and the
government insist that it will not hold
itself responsible for injury to person
or property resulting from the defence
measures.
Pretoria dispatches affirm that Presi-
d Mt 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 n surrender with
out terms.
Mrs. Reitz, wife Of the Transvaal
state secretary. and her family, with
the families Of other officials. have
gone to LourenZO Marques. Johannes
burg and Pretoria are being cleared
of n-combatants. The Boer chiefs.
who now recognize the possibility that
they will have to defend these cities,
are preparing with the utmost haste.
The Bncr spirit has been rising from
low ebb and is now ready for a
steadfast resistance.
Nevertheless, according to the Daily
Chronicle long messages in Dutch
have been received by the British gov
crnment by way Of Amsterdam, in
which President Kruger seeks peace.
According to one account, President
Kruger surrenders Internationally:
according to another, he asks for
terms
There seems to be good reason for
believing that he is earnestly endeav-
oring to secure terms, but cable in
quiries To confirm the assertion that
CORE SpOndence has recently passed be
tween Great Britain and the Transvaal
respecting terms.
Lord Roberts is again moving. The
British infantry left KroOnstad, Mon
day, and headquarters was expected to
leave, yesterday. The railway has
been restored and the first train is due
to arrive, today. The Beers are busy
blasting for gun emplacements along
the 9honoster river. Gen. De Wet
commands, as Gen. Botha is i'll.
The advance of Lord Roberts will
probably be swift. 1t is the expecta-
tion of well-informed observers here
that the Vail river. s. miles beyond
Kroonstad, viii be crossed by the end
1f the week
Sir RcdVers Butler. in a general or
DIR t. his troops congratulating them
on the result of their 10 days opera
uons. says they We're only checked at
Laing's nek by fresh commando
sent from the Transvaal Gen Clery.
with cavalry brigade, engaged the
rear guard Of the Beers at Laing's mex,
Sunday. captured a number of wagons
and took some prisoners. His artillery
shelled the nek. The Beers in their re-
treat laid waste the territory, blew up
bridges and burned several houses, as
many as six in Newcastle. The ma
chinery Of the Navigation colleries was
ruined.
Gen. Butler, replying to residents of
Newcastle. who presented to him
trophy said he expected to soon to re-
turn from Pretoria
Nothing new concerning the relief Of
Mafeking has come through. All the
accounts Of the engagement, May 16
cXtol the bravery Of the Canadians.
Col. Mahon's column arrived at the
rendezvous one hour after Col. Plumer,
showing with what accuracy the move
mfntS We're timed.
One nf the morning papers suggests
that the men Of England should pre-
sent sword to Lady Sarah Wilson.
the Daily Nails correspondent at
Mafeking during the siege.
The Durham correspondent Of the
Times telegraphing. Tuesday. says:
THE Rev. Adrian Hofmeyer tells me
he was informed by a high Boer official
that when President Kruger notified
the Raad Of the governments ar
to blow up the mines and
to destroy Johannesburg. Gen. Louis
Botha hurried to Pretoria and had 4
stormy interview with President
Kruger, to whom he said that if the
plan We're not cancelled he would him
self defend johannesburg, adding that
the Beers We're not barbarans. At
this according to Mr.. Mofmeyer, the
plan was abandoned"
The LourenZO Marques correspondent
of the Times, telegraphing, Monday,
Continued on page p