The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-23
WOULD GET A SNUBBlNG
eNGLAEO'S DIPLOMATIC VICTORY OVER
CONTINENTAL POWERS.
FRUITS OF MKlNLEYS OFFER
OF Mediation Seen I'm the Boast that
Germany Would Now Not Dare to
Interpese-Sharp Correspondence Be-
tween LORD Roberts and President
Kruger secretary ChamberIafn's
warning - the Beers Against De-
struc IN c = Johannesburg Mines.

Lonfst. March 2e,-The following
disps6dr has been received at the wal
office II In Lord Roberts, dated Bloem-
fonteip, Jssday, March 18th: II have
receive he following reply to my tel
egran ef March 18th to the presidents
Of the Free State and South African
R~epubsic:
Your Hxcellency's telegram reach
ed me yesterday. 1 assure you moth
ing Heuie grieve me more than that
my burghers should make themselves
guilty Of q Iced such as that laid to
their charge by you. L am. however,
glad to gay that you must have been
mistaken / have made personal in
quirF OF General Delarri, who was in
command OF our burghers at the place
mentisnea by you. He denies entire
ly that our ~burghers acted as stated
by you, but he says that on Saturday,
(the date being elIegible), the British
troops when they were about fifty
yards from our position, put up their
hands as well as a white flag, whilst
at the same time your cannon bonn
barded the said troops, with n result
that Commandant De Beer was
wounded. Yesterday morning the dead
"AONC III Is ACCOUNT vi
the battle as follows: The soldiers
hOisted the white flag, but were then
fired at BY the British and
compelled to charge
Perhaps 1t is not known to You
Excelleacy that the same thing hap
peaes at Spion kop, where, when a
portion of the troops hoisted a white
flag and put up their hands n whilst
our hurgherS were busy diSarming
them another portion of the troops
fired on OR burghers; but some of the
British troops were killed. 1t has also
been reported that at the last battle
of the Tugela English cannon fired on
troops who had surrendered
With reference to the explosive
bullets found in Cronje's lager and
elsewhere. l a give your eXcellency
assurance that such bullets were not
purchased or allowed by the govern
ment. i, however, have no reason to
doubt your statement, as L know
many Of the burghers of this state and
OF the South African republic took a
large number of Lee-Metford rifles and
dumdum and other bullets from Brit
ish troops.
Nay / request your eXcellency, as
the able is closed to me, to make my
reply known to your government and
the ncUtraI powers by cable.
(Signeda STATE PRESIDENT "
The dispatch from Lord Roberts
Ga AOAAO w. $40 NN~ A-iN
into the matter proves his honor's al
legations to be unfounded and as 1
personally saw the holding up of hands
which he denies. L have not thought
it desirable to continue the CORE
SpOHdeace."
London, March 2O.-The war office
has received the following dispatch
from Lord Roberts, dated Bloemfon-
tein. Tuesday, March 20: Kitchener
occupied Prieska yesterday unopposed.
49, n~1,o Tho
T~ranSyaalerS escaped across the r1v-
er. HT. Steyn is circulating a notice
by means of dispatch riders in reply
TO nay proclamation, to the effect that
any DurgheT who signs d declaration
that he will not fight against us again
will &c treated as a traitor and shot.
The BioemfOntein people are afford
ing us ever assistance in the matter
of hospital accommodations. We have
consequently been able to arrange for
seds-"
BIoemfontein, Monday, March 19.-
The Beers blew up the railroad bridge
over the Modder river fourteen miles
north last night.
London, March 20.-General Roberts
and Butler are still inactive, pending
developments at the theature of war.
Considerable interest is attached to
the fate of johannesburg. Comment
ing upoR a consultation between Sec
rotary Hay and the German
dor at Washington, DIR. Von Holleben,
as to a proposition that both belliger-
entS be urged to leave Johannesburg
alone. The Pail Mall Gazette says
'ThiS time DR. Leyds has. as we may
without improperly assume, put about
the tale to the effect that the German
ambassador at Washington and the
American consul at Pretoria are con-
eoctinS a little scheme of German in
t~erveRtion. That is really a glorious
yarn and one which shows to what
desperate straits the enemies Of this
country are educed. Just imagine q
government which has formally de-
ciined all outside intervention per
hitting Germany to dictate the course
of Lord Roberts march to Pretoria.
The German foreign office knows bet.
ter than TO invite the Snub it would
infaaibIy receive if ii ventured tC
whisper % preposterous a proposal II
Downing street"
In the house of commons today the
parliamentary secretary of the wa
office, Mr.. Wyndham, said the secre
Chamberlain. was about to issue Z
proclamation on the subject of lie al
legged threats OF the Beers TO destroy
johannesburg and as to what tn
Beers may expect in the event of
ton destruction of British property.
II was asserted in the lobby thi:
evening that the proclamation would
be q brief document, of general appli
catien prohibiting the destruction o
farms, houses inc other property n