Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-03-13
PEACE TERMS REJECTED.
OVertures to Lord Salisbury for
Cessation of Hostilities. w
RUSE TO GAIN TIME.
Great Britain will Accept No Condi-
tions Which Include In
dependence.

this afternoon it is learned that the peace
rumors were founded on the fact that
President Kruger has appealed to Lord
Salisbury for cessation of hostilities of
fering at length, by cable, the terms
which he is willing to accept. These,
however, are not taken seriously, as they
include practically nothing more than
what the Transvaal government offered
prior to the issuing of the British ulti-
matum.
Official circles here regard the PROPOSE
tions as merely a ruse of the Beers to
gain time and do not consider that Presi-
dent Kruger is yet ready to accede to the
sweeping demands which Great Britain
will make as reimbursement for the loss
of life and great expenditure.
1t was understood that President kru-
gers advances had met with an emphatic
rejection al the hands of Lord Salisbury.
such attempt to retain the independence
Of the Transvaal can be considered for
a moment by the British government.
Beers Dsmoralized.
London, March 9.-From various quar-
tiers conc signs of the possibility OF peace
in South Africa being shortly within the
bounds of practical politics. All the dis
patches from Lord Roberts headquar-
tiers, including those of the commanders
in-chief himself indicate the lack of Il
guiding spirit among the Beers and indi-
Vidual decentralization, portendlng dlsln-
tegration unless speedily stemmed. The
flight of the burghers from Poplar Grove,
according to all accounts, was wholly III
glorious. \ Times dispatch from Poplar
Grove, under yesterdays date, goes SO
far as to assert that the rout of the Beers
lAtn hat no lhtnliS Of 40
Free State is being demanded by the
burghe}s from their unwilling President,
and 1t Is expected that its submission
will be made within Il week. The CORE
spondent adds: Probably the Beers
wisest course was flight. but il was most
undignitied and Is certain TO produce con
sternatioL at Bloemfontein. There is Il
growing cutlery against any further iden-
tihcation Of the Free State with the
TransvaaIs interests"
President kruger's Statement.
Dispatches from the BoGr camp at
GiencoC. via Lourenco Marques. depict
President Kruger as donning bandolier.
Selling i rifle and inviting volunteers TO
accompany him, rs he wished to have Il
shot 1T the enemy himself President
Kruger is also quoted as having declared
IN his address to the troops that he did
not know whether arbitration or inter
yentlon would end the struggle. but that
it would end quickly. within the next
month, he strongly believed
The var office has received the fol-
lowing dispatch from Lord Roberts. dat
cd Poplar Grove, Friday morning:
Presidents Kruger and Steyn were
both present at the fight on March and
did all IN their power TO rally their
troops. The rGut. however. was COM
plcte. the men declaring that they could
not stand against the British artillery
and such Il formidable force CT cavalry"
Near ng Bloemfnutein
In the meantime the British are not
staying their advance. Lord Roberts has
moved ten miles nearer Bloemfontein. ev-
identity with the view of Selling and util-
ling the railroad. possibly to reach the
Free State capital in three or four days
whence he may begin repairing the rail
road southwark, meeting the British ad-
vance from Cape Colony which may be
expected to be FASTENED as soon rs Gen
White takes control. The British occu-
pled jamestown unoppoSed on Thursday
March :. and the Beers are reported to
be retreatm@ beyOni Aliwal north SO
that Cape Colony is practically clear Of
armed Beers.
Reinforccments from Natal are going
to Lord Roberts. Gen. Warren's division
and some artillery have already been or
dered TO join the coGmander-in-chief 50
that the latter is preparing for all eventu-
ahtles including possible desperate oppo-
SltlGn to his crossing the NaaI river and
the necessity Of the siege of Pretoria
where thousands of natives are reported
to be employed in the construction Of the
defensive works concerning which so
much secrecy is maintained that no one
Is allowed to walk or drive on the out
skirts OF the town
Challenge to Redmond.
John Redmond's speech in the House
OF commons yesterday Goes not meet
with unqualified approval in Ireland
whence the Irish Transvaal committee
teiegraphed tc Mr.. Redmond: I'VE chal-
lenge you to come to Dublin and repeat
IN public the statement YOU made in the
House Of Commons in the maine of the
Irish people,
The Prince OF Wales this morning in
snected ''Paset's" Horse and Dunrayen
Sharpshooters attached to the Imperial
yeomanry prior To their departure for
South Africa.