The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-16
PRESIDENT KRUGER
Talks Of the Rhodes Raid and Said
he Had No Confidence That the
Same Thing Would Not Be Repeat
ed-Therefors he was Arming.

He Had No Confidence That the
Same Thing Would Not Be Repeat
ed-Therefors he Was Armiug.
LONDON, Jan. 1s, "a m,-Gen. Bull
lers latest authentic word as to what
he and his 10000 men are doing, was
wired from Springfield after his first
forward step. Striving to think out
the unknown, London is confused by
surmlse and rumor and dlsquleted by
suspense. Spencer Wilkinson, the lucid
military expert Of the Morning Post,
asserts thar the Boer force in Northern
Natal is larger than General Buffers
and Sir George Whites together, so
that the Beers are able to leave force
around Ladysmith larger than that
within the town and yet to oppose
General Butler with force superior to
his own.
Reports from the Boer camp affirm
that the circle of investment has been
drawn closer by the occupation of some
hills nearer the town, thus liberating
reinforcements to oppose General Bull
Ter.
j. B. Robinson, the South African
millionaire, in signed article in the
Daily News this morning relates con-
versations he has had with President
Kruger and describes interviews in
which the Jameston raid was talked
over. On one Of these occasions Presi-
dent Kruger said;
DO you mean to tell me you do not
know that the men who organized and
engineered the raid organized 1t for
their benefit? They had decided how
they would divide the Transvaal and
how each of the parties was to have
certain interests in this country.
Many reformers who were put In
Jail were perfectly innocent, They were
ignorant of the schemes OF the men in
the Inner circle. and they were to dI-
vide the Transvaal among themselves.
They, and their companies found the
money for the raid. Do you think we
are so innocent as not to know that
Rhodes. methaphorlcally speaking, held
pistol at the heads OF certain men In
England and said to them, II you do
not support me. shall denounce you
and your completely in the raid"
At this stage. according to Mr.. Rob
inson, President Kruger became more
excited and shouted SO loudly that peo-
pie in the street stopped to listen to the
conversation. Mr.. Kruger then said:
"And you are demonstrating with me
about armlng. 1t is true. am arm
ing, and it is because see clearly that
must defend my country"
To this Mr.. Robinson replied:
"The British public is aroused. II
any attempt were made again to enter
this country there would be great
outcry in England and the imperial
authorities would take steps to punish
the organizers and to prevent such
freebootIng expeditions"
President Kruger approached Mr..
Robinson, placed his hand on his shout
der, made violent effort to suppress
his excitement, and said:
you mean well, but have lost all
confidence. What has happened would
take place again and am determined
to guard against it."
Later Mr.. Kruge. said;
what is to prevent Rhodes and his
co-adjutors again engineering some
dIabollcal attempt against the indepen-
dence OF my country?"-
The Birmingham Mall, the organ of
Joheph Chamberlain, says:
1--WE understand, on the highest au-
thority. that If the government is de-
feated in parliament on the question Of
war the cabinet will Immediately appeal
to the country. all the ministers having
decided to stand together, and do not
permit any Individual member to be
made a scape goat"