The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-15
GIVES THE BoERs' POSITION.
MontaGu White Says They May De-
strOy Johannesburg.

New York, March 14.-Montagu White,
representative of the South African Re-
public on the United States, in letter
to the World, says:
The appeal made by the Boer Presi-
dent speaks for itself. The war between
Great Britain and the Beers is a war of
defense on our part. The negotiations
Immediately preceding the outbreak of
hostilities show that the Beers commit
ted no act of aggression. AT the last mo-
ment they were forced to take the ag
gressive, but only after the British army
corps had been ordered to Africa and the
reserves called out
1T is apparent 10 everybody that Lord
Salisbury's reply to the propositions of the
two Presidents suppresses the truth and
suggests what is misleading and false.
Peace existed at the beginning of Oc-
tober. but in name only. The five years
franchise, which was the alleged bone of
contention had been conceded by the
Transvaal government on conditions
which We're fair and honorable. This offer
was contemptuously rejected by Mr..
Chamberlain.
"At least l may say. everybody con-
strued his reply as a refusal, although it
was stated at the October session Of Par
lament that he intended II as a nine
| tenths acceptance.
Impossible to Walt.
"An. army corps was ordered to South
Africa. 1t was impossible for the two re-
publics to wait patiently so as 20 be
crushed out of existence by the force thar
Great Britain was then sending out.
AN Australian paper has said the Beers
were fools 20 send in their ultimatum, but
they would have been ten times bigger
fools if they had not done it.
Lord Salisbury in reply to the propo-
sition of Presidents Kruger and Steyn en-
tirely ignores the Jameson raid 1t ig
nores the Parliamentary Commission Of
Inquiry which degenerated into fierce
administration attack upon the Trans
vaal. 1t ignores the action of the South
African League and the war propaganda
set in morton by the ministerial organs
in London during the last six months.
There had been no secrecy, despite
Lord Salisbury's statements, about the
armies of the South African republic. This
was done openly and certainly with the
knowledge of Mr.. Chamberlain and Lord
Landsdowne, who has admitted In Parlia-
ment that the war department knew per-
fectly well what was going on.
"The REPLY of Lord Salisbury to the two
Presidents is a bit of special pleading
which will deceive no one Its only merit
is it's honesty and declaring for once open
ly and before the world the object of all
this agitation and the bloodshed, namely
the destruction of the two republics in
South Africa.
VIII Sacrifice johannesburg.
with regard to the fate of Johannes
burg, personally I hope that il may be
| spared because / have considerable prop
erty at stake in that city, but l cannot
| see how, for strategic reasons, 1t can be
| left as a base from Which the English can
operate against Pretoria. Il certainly
seems that the Beers must raze and de-
| stroy that beautiful city.
THE cover which the buildings would
afford, the vast amount of supplies that
could be stored there, its proximity to
Pretoria thirty-fve miles, it's water sup
ply, hundred other things would make
it most invaluable TO an invading force
bent upon taking Pretoria. To leave the
| city unharmed would be like providing
drawing-room accommodations for Her
| Majestys soldiers.
For these reasons think the destruc-
tion of johannesburg would be necessary
| as a military measure for the Beers. The
| loss involved would be at least $15000O coo
and of course the setback and paralysis
| of johannesburg industry would be in
! finitely greater. / hope, therefore that
| something may he done to satisfy the le-
gitimate aspirations of both belligereuts
| before such a catastrophe to civilization
| happens
but the Beers will sacrifice Johannes
burg and its beautiful buildings and mod
ern adjuncts to civilization IL they are
! forced TO do it, Then it will be a fight to
the last drop of blood for the possession
| of Pretoria