Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-09
KRUGER ASKS PEACE
Overtures to Lord Salisbury to Put
Stop to War.
His ADVANCES NOT WELL RECEIVED
Belief is That He is Playing to Gain
Time.
BRITISH STILL ADVANCING

LONDON, March 9.-F'rom various quar-
tiers come signs of the possibility of peace
in South Africa being shortly within the
bounds cf practical politics. All the tiis-
patches from Lord Roberts headquarters
including those of the commander-in-chief
himself. indicate the lack of a guiding spirit
among the Beers and individual demorali-
Zation, portendng disintegration unless
speedily stemmed.
The fight of the burghers from Poplar
Grove, according to all accounts. was who'll
ly inglorious. \ Times dispatch from Pop
lar Grove, under yesterdays date. goes so
far as to assert that the rout of the Beers
was so complete that the submission or the
Free State is being demanded by the
bGrghers from their unwilling president
and it is expected that its submission will
be made within a week The correspondent
adds:
Probably the Beers wisest course was
flight, but it was most undignifed, and is
certain to produce Consideration at Bloenl-
fontein. There is growing outcry against
any further identification of the Free State
with the TransvaaIs interests"
Dispatches from the Beer camp Mt Glen
coe, via Lorenzo Marques, depict President
Kruger as donning bardolier, seizing
rifle and inviting volunteers to accompany
him, as he wished to have a shot at the
enemy himself.
President Kruger is also quoted as hav-
ing declared, in his address to the troops,
that he did not know whether arbitration
or Intervention would end the struggle, but
that it would end quickly, within the next
month, he strongly believed
kruger Appeals for Peace.
Late this afternoon it is learned that the
peace rumors were founded on the fact
that President Kruger has appealed TO
Lord Salisbury for a cessation of hostili-
ties offering at length by cable the terms
which he is willing to accept. These how
ever. are not taken seriously. they in
clude practically nothing more than what
the Transvaal government offered prior TO
the issuing of the British ultimatum.
Official circles here regard the PROPOSE
ti0ns as merely ruse of the Beers to gain
time and do not consider that President
Kruger is yet ready to consider the sweep
ing demands which Great Britain will make
as reimbursement for the loss of life and
great expenditure.
1t was understood that President Kruger's
advances had met with an emphatic rejec-
ton at the hands of Lord Salisbury who il
believed to have said that such attempt
to retain the independence of the Trans
vaal can be considered TO. a moment by
the British government.
british Continue TO Advance.
In the meanwhile the British are not
staying their advance. Lord Roberts has
moved ten miles neareE BlOemfOntein, evil
IDENTIFY with the view of seizing ard utiliz-
ing 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 hasteHed as soon as General
White takes control. The British occu-
pied jamestown unopposed Thursday
March :. and the Beers are reported to bt.
rtreating beyond Aliwal North, so that
Cape Co-ony is practically clear of armed
Beers
Reinforcements from Natal are going to
Lord Roberts General Warren's division
and some artillery have already been or
dered to join the commander-in-chief, 50
that the, latter is preparing for all eventu-
ahties, including possible desperate opposi-
tIon 10 his crossing the Naal river and the
necessity of the siege of Pretoria, where
thousands of natives are reported to be
employed in the construction of defensive
works. concerning which such secrecy is
maintained that one is allowed to wa k
or drive on the outskirts Of the town.
John ReGmoud's speech in the House of
unqualified approval! In Ireland. whence tine
Irish Transvaal committee telegraphed to
Redmond:
We challenge you to come to Dublin and
repeat in public the statement you made
in the House Of Commons in the name of
the Irish people"
The Prince of Wales this morning in
spectej Pagets Horse AMI Dunraverl's
SEarpshOOters attached to the Imperial Ye9-
manry- prior to their departure for South
Africa.