The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-21
Boer Delegates Are AL
ready There.
Effort to Prevent Anti English
Demonstration.

President Kruger will probably land here
Thursday instead of tomorrow. Bad
weather is reported in the Mediterranean
and the Dutch cruiser Gelderland, on
which he Is passenger may mug the coast
OF the Gulf Of Genoa In preference to
heading for MarseIiles SO as to avoid the
GROSS seas.
A surprise came today In the shape OF
the arrival here of Eloff, Mr.. Kruger's
private secretary, who left the Gelderiand
at Port Said and came ahead of French
steamer. Eioff left Mr.. Kruger In per-
feet health and spirits.
The police and military are held In
readiness and the Boer reception commit
tee has not made any change In the ar
rangements for the reception at the
dock. Workmen have been busy erecting
fiagstaffs along the waterside at La
toilette and at the other dock where the
steam launch with MIR. Kruger on board
Will land, Until the former president
of the South African republic is ashore,
not even his granddaughter, Mrs. Eloff,
who applied for permission to meet him
on board the Gelderland, will ba allowed
to set foot on that warship.
1t is certain that Mr.. Kruger's arrival
here VIII be the occasion for q great pop
ular demonstration along the route from
the dock to the hotel, which is situated
on the principal boulevard. 1t Is equally
certain that the formal proceedings, re-
ceptions, etc, will not be invested with
the Importance which the occasion war
rants, owing to the absten-
tion from the celebration of the
prefect, Mayor and other function.
aries in their official capacity. The Boer
delegates, Messfs. Fischer, Vessels and
Grobler, have arrived here ana express to
the representative OF the Associated Press
their continued anxiety to have the
American people with them In their
efforts to secure termination OF the
war. they said they knew Mr.. Kruger
appreciated Amsrican sympathy and still
hoped 1t would lead to practical results
favorable to the cause Of his country.
The delegates, however, were unable to
say exactly what Mr. Kruger will decide
to do after landing in France. He Will
probably look around before Issuing q
declaration.
There is much ia TX in Marseilles to the
effect that counter demonstration win
occur or that anti-EngIish outcries will
be raised, which might result in street
disorders, but neither the prefeot or the
mayor nor the English nor American
consulate officials attach the slightest i'm
portance to these rumors.
A pro-Boer committee has issued an
appeal, copies of which were posted on
the walls of the town this afternoon,
calling on the people to cheer for MIR.
Kruger and the Beers but refrain from
any Anglophobe demonstration.
"The crowd in the streets to witness
the arrival OF Mr.. Kruger" said the pre-
feet OF the department today, twill prob
ably exceed one hundred thousand, which
Is a fifth of the population of Marseiiles.
Nevertheless no disorder, In my opinion,
will occur. The sympathies OF the in
habitants are undoubtedly with the
Beers, and MIR. Kruger Will receive
rousing reception; but, except for few
isolated cries against England, which 1t
will be impossible to prevent, but which
will be promptly repressed If the peaceful
character of the demonstration seems
likely to be in any way ieopardized, we
expect nothing that would offend the
English, We live here on the best terms
with the English colony and wish to re-
main so.'
Mr.. Kruger will meet with such an
officlal reception as is always given to the
chief of a safe when travelling incog nj
to. NJ. Flaissiers, the mayor OF Mar
seilles, expressed himselt in 81 miiar
terms; but this optimism is not shared
entirely by some members Of the English
colony, who have dlscsrned paid agents
in the ADglophobs cause among some of
the recent arrivals. The project, however,
is known as an energetic man, and he
has taken strong military precautions
The garrison, numbering about 5000
men Will be held in readiness, but out of
sight, at the infantry barracks In close
proximity to the British consulate, where
no uneasiness is expressed.
Americans here now recall the Thought
fuIness of the prefect at the time Of the
Sranish-American war. when the atti-
tn ie Of certain section of ths MarseilIes
population was uncertain. Quite un-
solicited, the perfect SAINT a rev detectives
to the United States consulate which was
thus entirely unmolested. he Is doing
as much now for the British consulate
which Is the only noticeable briusn
building in MarseiIles,
1t usually happens that several British