The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-03-14
ItRUGER's STIRRING APPEAL.

Hc Declares That Past Victories
Show That the Lord is on Their
Sidc--rhe Beers are Ready for
Peace.
a special to the London Times from
LourenHo Marquee, dated Sunday,
March lth, says persistent reports con-
tinue to arrive that the Transvaal re
public has opened negotiations looking
TO the securing OF peace. On the other
hand, 1t Is asserted the Beers will
make stand at Glencoe and Lainp's
Mex and that in the meantime en-
trenChments at Pretoria are being ey-
tended in anticipation of siege. A
conference between the Boers' presi-
dent, 1t is added, and the general COM
manding the Beers in northern Natal
was hurricdly arranged on receipt Of
the news OF General Cronje's surrender.
Until Thursday night the confirmation
oil the surrender was withheld from the
public. President Kruger sent q fervid
religious appeal, with orders that IL
should be read by all the officers to the
burghers urging them to stand fast and
strive in the name OF the Lord, for
unless they had faith in Him cow
ardlce would set in and their posi-
tlOn would be hopeless the moment
they turned their backs on the enemy
Their past victories, he declared
showed that the Lord was on their
side. The president besecched the
burghcrs not to bring destruction on
their progeny. Continuing the special
says that high authority in Bloem.
lontein declares that in the event OF a
repulse Of the Free State forces. the
latter will retire towards the Transvaal
and unite with their brethren there.
N a 4 IN t.i i,oi, hn -, l., al l.
The New York World has received
from its correspondent in Brussels he
following signed statement from DR..
w. j. Leyds, the Transvaal's diplo-
matte agent in Europe, on the present
situation and the outlook in the Bocr
war:
never had any doubt as to Presi.
dent krugcr's desire to settle matters
OF difference in an amicable manner
His fervent wish for arbitration, often
expressed, shows clearly that he was
ready to accept an honorable, impair
tial solution Of all the difficulties.
ut Is perfectly sure that proposal
OF Intervention to stop the war on such
reconciliatory basis would, nOtwith-
standing the advantages gained by the
republics, find him ready. He never
wanted and does not now want war.
never will, sacrifice the independence
of the republic.
Much has been made in certain
quarters OF General Cropjes capitula-
tlon. Cronje is one OF our finest gen
erals and his loss will certainly be felt,
but there are others. Experience has
shown what generals like JouberL,
Meyer, Dewet, Delarcy and Botha can
40. Most OF them are men who only
during this war have taken command
of our forces. They came forward on
the spur Of the moment.
The moral effect OF Cropja's capitu
lation can not be very great, If it Is
borne In mind that our people are fight
log with undaunted determination foI
their rights and liberty, and that the
more they are pressed the more unan
imous front they will make.
have read what is said OF the Free
State troops. | cannot believe they
will take different view OF the situa
tion. They feel as they did before
that their existence rs free pcopl,
will be ended IL the South African re
publics should succumb The Obstacle
on the way to Bloemfontein are grad
ually more and moro numerous anC
serious If the Vaal river be eve
crossed our people have the formation
OF the country entirely in their favor
AS said before, arbitration has al
ways been our motto, and think tn
republics would not be averse to tha
principle still. Should England shoy
herself intransigent the effect on :h
two republics would be an increasing
determination to strain every nerve |
defending their independence. Then
too, the sympathies OF the Dutch pc
pulation In South Africa would b
gradually more and more aroused i
our favor"
- -Bs----
Over 5000 000 600 have been invest
ed n electric lighting in the Unite
/ States.
, Q "a 81 K @ R K IN.
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