Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-28
b0THA GIVES UP
AND OTHER BOER GENERALS ARR
HARD PRESSED,
TERRIBLE COST OF THE WAR
Seven Hundred Million Dollars--Bu,
It Looks As If the End Il"
Was in Sight.

NV York. Feb. 2S.--The London CORE
spondent of the Tribune cables that al
though no official information has been
issued with regard to the matter, he
learns. from good source that General
Louis Botha, the Boer commander, has
surrendered to the British. thus COM
memorating Majuba day in the same
manner as General Cronje did twelve
months ago. If the war office authDri-
ties can see their way to confirm the
news there will be great rejoicing
throughout the british empire. Com
mandant DeWet must still be reckoned
with. however. and until he can be per
suaded to lay down his arms. hostili-
ties must proceed. The London Chroni-
cle's report that Botha has surrendered
is considered significant. because it will
be remembered Botha declined to treat
through an intermediary and said he
would apply direct to Lord Kitchener
when he wished to surrender. The alb
sence Of news about DeWet would seem
to suggest that he has again got away,
and as the Orange river is falling, he
may be able to make good his escape
out of Cape Colony.
Lord Kitchener reports General
French's success with such GOODNESS that
only the British military experts fully
comprehend the significance of the bull
letins. The additional captures include
war material. horses and cattle. Wheth-
er these We're made from Botha or Mey-
erS, the Beers could not afford in their
extremity TO lose the ammunition OF
supplies. Military men in London now
assume that the collapse Of the Beer
army cannot be deferred many weeks
since it will be imoracticable for the
burghers to obtain fresh supply of
war material. Steyn. DeWet and Hert-
zog are still afield. but the remnants
Of their commanders are without re-
serves of ammunition and are heading
for districts which have been emptted
and rendered uninhab itable by Lord
kitchener's policy by corraling the far
mers and their families in strongly gar
risonedsposts. Military experts consider
the dispatch of further renforcements
unnecessary. except for the relief of
the worn out army of occupation,
The favorable news from the Trans
vaal causes belief among the support
ers of the government that the Khaki
election was held in good time. owing
to the adroitness of Mr.. Chamberlain
and that the party is strongly entrench-
/ ttt III power. bul IL Is an awkward thing
for Sir Michael Hicks Beach to admit
that the deficit Of at least so OOOAD0
pounds must be provided for by parlia-
ment with the war still unfinished This
is the estimate made on the liberal side
without official conformation, but the
figures are not likely to be reduced in
the budget speech. The total cost Of
the Boer war has been concealed by va
rious devices. but it will exceed $780,
100000. A prominent liberal has asserted
that the aggregate would be over G14O,-
| 100000 if the accounts could be closed at
| once. For this reason the supporters
| of the government are now awaiting the
| budget speech in spirit of optimism.
The effect of tfat speech will, how
ever. be less discouraging if they can
! assert that the bottom has been
! reached and that the war has ended
The "Kaffir circus shares are rising
| day by day in consequence of Lord
! Kitchener's success and there is ayi-
dence of a marked revival of speculative
activity. The operators are forecast
| ing a great boom in South African
stocks as a sequel to the war, but they
are assuming that the mine owners will
| not be heavily taxed for the benefit OF
the British taxpayers. But Sir Michael
| Hicks-Beach has sharp eye fixed or
the only available assets of South Afri.
ca. The Kaftr circus may be in Less
| festive mood after the budget speech
That speech may unmake the market