The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-05
STRIFE N KIMBERLEY
Between Rhodes and keke-
witch During the Siege.
RHODES IN REAL COM MAND
His Hot Roast Sent to the
Relief Column.

| Correspondence of the Associated Press.)
London, April S-While the fifty odd
columns of correspondence from the front
appearing during the past two days in
London dailies has been devoted to
Cronjes surrender and Ladysmith's re-
lief, other subjects no less interesting be-
cause less epoch-making, have been dealt
with in the letters of those not fortunate
enough to have been present at the
greater occasions.
The troubles between Cecil Rhodes and
Colonel Kekewich are now being fully
told. 1t appears that the relations be-
tween 1.-THE Empire-Maker." and the col
onel commanding at Kimberley reached
such ap ass that Mr.. Rhodes ordered the
army officer out of the house. The dispute
is told in detail by the Kimberley cor
respondent of the Daily Telegraph. who
writes: when Mr.. Rhodes saw the
danger to which the town and its in
habitants were exposed, he came to the
conclusion that the time had arrived for
the facts in the case to be placed on rec
ord. He accordingly called the mayor
and a few leading citizens together. and
in consultation with them drew up the
following representation, which was duly
forwarded to Colonel Kekewich, accom-
panied by the request that he would
transmit 1t by heliograph to the high
military authorities:
BRITISH DELAY ROASTED
n. IN IF tba
inhabitants of this town we are respect
fully to be informed whether there is an
intention on your part to make an imme-
date effort for our relief. Your troops
have been for more than two months
distance OF a little over twenty miles
from kimberley and If the Spyfountein
hills are too strong for them, there is an
easy approach over a level flat. This
town, with a population of over $1,000
people, has been beseiged for 30 days
and a large portion of the inhabitants
have been enduring great hardships.
Scurvy is rampant among the natives;
children, owing to the lack of proper
food, are dying in great numbers, and
dysentery and typhid are verp prevalent.
The chief food of the whites have been
and of the blacks meal and malt only.
These hardships, we think you will agree,
have been borne patiently and without
complaint by the people. During the last
few days the enemy have brought into
action from a position within three miles
of us a six-inch gun throwing 100 pound
shells which is setting fire to our build
ings and is causing death daily among
the population. As you are aware, the
military guns here are totally inadequate
to cope with this new gun. The only
weapon which gives much help is one of
local manufacture. Under these circum-
stances, as representing this community,
we feel that we are justified in asking
whether you have any immediate inten-
ton of instructing your troops to adj
vance to our relief. We understand large
reinforcements have recently arrived in
Cape Town and we feeel sure that your
men at Modder River have at the outside
10000 Beers to face. You must be the
Judge as to what number of British
troops would be required to deal with the
body of men, but it is absolutely neces-
sary that relief should be afforded to
this place
After taking time to consider his de-
csion, the officer commanding sent Mr..
Rhodes a letter informing him that the
substance of his communication had
been forwardedr to Lord Roberts per
heliograph to Enslit.
SLIGHTLY HIISUNDERSTOOD
Lord Roberts reply, which was COM
municated in due course, possesses less
hysterical interest than the remarkable
communication which originated the cor
respondence:
I beg you represent to the mayor and
Mr.. Rhodes as strongly as you possibly
can, the disastrous and humiliating ef-
feet of surrender after so prolonged and
glorious a defense. Many days cannot
possibly pass before Kimberley viii be
relieved, as we commence active opera
tons tomorrow. Future operations de-
pend in a large measure upon your main
tanning your position a very short time
longer
Mr.. Rhodes was much annoyed at the
suggestion that the thought of surrender
had ever occurred to himself or those
associated with him in the rerNsenta-
tions which had been made. and l have
reason to believe that when Lords Rob