The age-herald., 1900-05-23
His Advance Will be at Rapid
 Gait.
NOTHING NEW FROM MAFIKlNG
London Papers Discussing McKinley's Answer to the Boer Delegates Say His Action Was Eminently Prop
 CT Under Circumstances

London, May 23-(3:30 a. m.)-The Trans vaal government has informed the corre- spondents at Pretoria that it has not con- sidered and does not intend to consider unconditional surrender but will fight 10 a fintsh
 The foreign consuls have been informed that Johannesburg will be defended and the government announces that it will not hold itself responsible for injury to person or property resulting from the defense measures
 Pretoria dispatches affirm that President Kruger, President Steyn and all the most prominent leaders of both republics, after a prolonged interchange of views are will ing to prolong the struggle, but a minority of the leaders advocate surrender without terms.
 Mrs Reitz, wife of the Transvaal state secretary, and her family, with the fami- lies of other officials, have gone to Lou renzo Marquez. Johannesburg and Pretoria are being cleared of non-combatants. The Boer chiefs who now recognize the possi- bility that they will have to defend these cities, are preparing with the utmost haste. The Boer spirit has been rising from a low ebb and is now ready for steadfast resistance.
 Nevertheless, according to the Daily Chronicle long messages in Dutch have been received by the British government by way of Amsterdam in which President Kruger seeks peace. According to one &C., count President Kruger is willing to sur rended unconditonaly; according to an- other he asks for terms
 There seems to be good reason for be- lieving that he is earnestly endeavoring to secure terms, but cable inquiries fail to confirm the assertion that correspondence has recently passed between Great Britain and the Transyaal respecting terms.
 Lord Roberts Again Moving
 Lord Roberts is again moving. The Brit lsn infantry left Kroonstaad on Monday and headquarters was expected leave yes- terday. The railroad has been restored and the first train was due to arrive today The Boers are busy blasting for gun emplace- ments along the Rhoonister river. General Dewet commands, as General Botha is i'll. The advance of Lord Roberts will prob- ably be swift. It is the expectation of well informed observers here that the Vaal river, S5 miles below Kroonstaad, will be crossed by the end of the week.
 Sir Redvers Butler, in general order to his troops, congratulating them on the re- suit of their ten days operations, says they were only checked at Langs Nek by a fresh commando sent from the Transvaal Gen eral Clery, w,,h cavalry brigade, engaged the rear guard of the Boers at Langs Nek on Sunday, capturing a number of wagons and took some prisoners. His artillery shelled the Nek. The Boers, in their re- IaiJ cfo tp ha. ter IT n bridges and burned several houses, as many as six in Newcastle. The machinery of the navigation collieries was ruined.
 General Butler, replying to residents of New Castle, who presented to him trophy, said he expected to return from Pretoria soon
 Nothing New from Mafeking
 Nothing new concerning the relief of Mafeking has come through All the ac- counts of the engagement on May 10 extol the bravery of the Canadians. Colonel Ma hons column arrived at the rendezvous one hour after Colonel Plumer, showing with what accuracy the movements were timed. Sir Alfred Milner, speaking at Cape Town Monday before an enormous assemblage, celebrating the relief of Mafeking, referred to the remark of previous speaker who condemned the Boers as "cowardly scuun- drels" He said:
 'There are many among our enemies who deserve 10 De nOuOTeu LOT tucii ACioiSiii. Although cases of treachery and barbarity have occurred, they have been exceptional. The conduct of the enemy is that of brave men fighting for bad cause. Yet they are entitled to respect"
 One of the morning papers suggests that the men of England should present sword to Lady Sarah Wilson, the Daily Mails correspondent at Mafeking during the siege.
 The British who are in the hands of the Boers at Pretoria by some extraordinary means learn of the British victories as soon as the Transvaal authorities, and they build bonfires and sing God Save the Queen" The Pretoria people are appre- hensive of rising of the prisoners and agitate for transference of the whole num- Der to point inside the British lines, say ing that 4,000, more or less, make no diff ference.
 Presidents Refusal Discussed
 The morning papers continue to discuss at length President McKinleys refusal to intervene pointing out the collapse of the Boer hopes.
 The Times says:
 ''The Boer delegates in the United States have had an interview with President Mo Kinley, and the answer is exactly what we had right to expect from the chief magistrate of a great friendly nation
 'It is just as well, as things have turned out, that MT. Mckinley made tender of offices to Lord Salisbury, which we did not appreciate when we first heard 1t, for the answer was the presidents suggestion nec- essarily called forth. and served double