Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-03-09
SIGNS OF PEACE
President Kruger Once More Gives
Britain a Chance to Let Trans
vaal Alone.
ROBERTS COMPLETE ROUT
Dom Paul Is Said to Have Taken Rifle In
Order to Get Shot At the Foe-Free
staters Said to Be. Disposed to
Stand From Under.

London, March 9.-From variou
quarters come signs Of the possibilit
Of peace in South Africa being shortl
within the bounds of practical politics
All dispatches from Lord Roberts head
quarters indicate a lack Of guidin
spirit among the Beers, and individua
decentralization portending disintegra
t1on unless speedily stemmed. Th
flight of the burghers from Popla
Grove, according to all accounts. wal
wholly inglorious. A Times dispatch
from Poplar Grove under yesterday.
date asserts that the rout of the Boer.
was complete. that submission by the
Free State Is being demanded by the
burghers from the unwilling president
and 1t Is expected Its submission will be
made within week. The correspondent
adds: Probably the Beers wisest
course was flight. 1t was most undigni-
fled, and certain to cause CONSERVATION
at Bloemfontein. There is a growing
outcry against any further Identified
ton of the Free State with the Trans
walls interests"
KRUGER SEEKS PEACE.
London, March 9.-Late this after
noon 1t Is learned that the peace rumors
are founded on the fact that President
Kruger appealed to Lord Salisbury for
a cessation Of hostilities, offering at
length by cable the terms he is willing
to accept. These, however, are not ta-
ken seriously, as they include practical
ly nothing more than the Transvaal
government offered prior to issuing the
British ultimatum. Official circles here
regard the proposition merely as ruse
by the Beers to gain time, and do not
consider Kruger yet ready to consider
the sweeping demands Great Britain
will make as reimbursement for the loss
OF life and great expense. 1t was under
stood that Krugers advances met en-
phatic rejection at the hands of Sails
bury. who is believed to have said no
such attempt to retain independence of
the Transvaal can be considered mo-
ment by the British government.
KRUGER DESIRED A SHOT.
Dispatches from the Boer camp at
Glencoe depict President Kruger as
donning bandolier, seizing a rifle and
inviting the volunteers to accompany
him, as he wished to have shot at the
enemy himself. Kruger Is also quoted
az ha wing dao1o rad T., ~ od5ro.. =. A..
troops that he did not know whether
arbitration or Intervention would end
the struggle, but it would end quickly
within the next month, he strongly be-
lieved." rxi
PRESIDENTS SAW THE FIGHT.
London, March 9.-The war office has
received the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts:
Poplar Grove, March 9.-Presidents
Kruger and Steyn were both present at
the fight on March Z, and did all in their
power to rally their troops. The rout,
however, was complete, the men declar-
ing they could not stand against the
British artillery and such formidable
force of cavalry"
NAVAL BRIGADE REACHES DUR
BAN.
Durham, March 9.-The naval brigade
of 200 men from Ladysmith arrived to-
day in command of Captain Lambeton.
They were enthusiastically received.
BRITISH WAR REPORTS.
London, March 9.-Lord Roberts has
ten miles nearer to Bloemfon-
tein, evidently with view to seizing
and utilizing the railroad and possibly
to reach the Free State capital In three
or four days, whence he may begin re-
pairing the railroad southwark, meet
ing the British advance from Cape Col
ony, which may be expected to be has
tened as soon as General White takes
control. The British occupied James,
town unopposed March 8. The Beers
are reported retreating beyond Aliwal
north, so Cape Colony Is practically
clear Of armed Beers. Re- enforce
ments from Natal are going to Lord
Roberts. General Warren's division and
some artillery has already been ordered
to join the commander In chief, so the
latter is preparing for all eventualities,
including possible desperate opposition
at his crossing of the vaal river and
the siege of Pretoria, where thousands
Of natives are reported to be employed
in the construction Of defensive works,
concerning which secrecy is maintain
ed, no one being allowed to drive or
walk on the outskirts Of the town.
ENGLAND's NEW WAR LOAN.
London, March 9.-The amount of the |
new war loan will be $4,000, 900, with
interest at 2A per cent