The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-12
PERFECT CALM AT PRETORIA
re" Evidences of war Apparent In
the Boer CAPITAL

the Bocr Capital.
rhEioRiA, Jan 24.-The calm of the
boer capital and the seeming indifference
10 the war and all connected with II are
something incomprehensible to an ameri-
| can observer. 1t is doubtful II T.onson
''seu Is more lacking in all outward signs
Oh the war in which Great Britain is en-
| gagged than is this city, within two or
three hundred miles of the nearest friuy
lines This Indifference. although. OF
course, apparent rather than real, is not
confined to outward appearances and man.
ner of life; it extends even to everyday
intercourse.
The time. the Beers say. has gone by
for talk. the country has committed itself
to life and death struggle, i /. has conf
dence in its leaders. and the subject is
too painful for unnecessary discussion
while the crisis is pending.
There has been considerable change in
Boer sentiment. both official and popular
toward the foreign volunteers who come
in very small numbers TO enlist on the
side Of the Republics. Except the Irish
men. they are proving of very doubtful
advantage to the Beers. Their lack of
/ have frequently heard the Boer leaders
speak Of them as nuisances. and the au-
thorities openly express hope that no
more Will come. There are less than 5000.
according TO the best information, with
the Boer forces at the front The Boer
leaders have made regulation that for
eign volunteers. except the Irish, shall
not be formed into separate commandos,
and that no more than six shall be in
Guided in any one company.
The Boer authorities are striving to
maintain what it considers a strictly cor
rect attitude in its occasional communica-
tons with the British Government and its
representatives The first thing done
whenever British prisoners have arrived
at Pretoria has been to make careful lists
OF names, ranks, and condition to tele-
graph the same to Sir Alfred Miner at
Cape Town. The high commissioner las
scrupuiously reciprocated this service. In
recent Geographic correspondence with the
Government at London. however, an in
teresting complication arose. The Trans
Yaal authorities cabled TO Lord Salisbury
protesting against the embargo laid by the
British Government upon food stufs des-
tined to the South African. Republic
through neutral port. State Secretary
Reiz informs me that he recently re-
caiVed reply stating that the embargo
no longer existed. But the despatch eas
signed Chamberlain" Mr. Reitz tnere-
upon cabled TO Lord Salisbury that the
Transvaai could held no communication
with the Colonial Secretary of n Govern
mert with which 1T is at war and enquir4d
II he, as the head of the British Govern
ment confirmed the previous message Mr.
Heltz states that an affirmative reply was
received. It is said that difficulties are
still made by British naval vessels With
-egard to the landing Of food at Delagoa
Bay. for the Trsnsvaal. and it is said to
be the intention of the Boer authorities
in case of a shortage Of supplies. to expel
all foreigners from fhe country, and put
the British prisoners upon a diet Of
mealies
1t should be explained. By the way that
the Beers make sharp division of their
prisoners of war into two classes. They
nave no luminosity against British regl-
las o" against home volunteers and Aus
tralian ard Canadian troops. They have
been doing merely their duty and the
Beers treat them with kindness and con-
sheraton. Against the Natal and Cape ;
Co'onists. however they are very bitter,
and they do rot hesitate to show their feel |
iugS. Prisoners OF this class, whenever
identified. are eplrated from the others
and sent to the ordinary jail. where they
are treated like common criminals.
Waterfall the new military prison camp. |
some miles outside Pretoria on the re- |
;ersburg Railway. is occupied by about - |
200 soldiers. II is a beautiful spot The |
camp is in a perfectly sanitary condition. |
LANES of all sorts are going on and per- |
Test understanding seems to exist between !
The guards and the men. number of men /
who were walking about with the guards /
stated that they were being treated all |
right. One said:
why. they treat us here like gentle
men. There has not been a hard word /
spoken TO us since we were taken prison. |
srs''
The hospital arrangements were excel !
ent. The rations supplied to the prison.
FRS are of much the same quantity and |
iusiit' as those issued to the wives and |
antilles OF burghers throughout the State
n Johannesburg the Government issues
laily rations tc IL, coo persons.