The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-03-14
GEN. B0THA YIELDS
Prayers Of His Wife Leads Him
to Accept an Armistice.
DEWET AND STEYN OBSTINATE
Kitchener Reports to War Depart
ment Satisfactory Progress
Toward Pacification.

A London special says: General
Kitchener has granted General Botha
a seven days armistice to enable him
to confer with the other generals.
A special dispatch from Pretoria,
dated Friday, says General Kitchener
aud General Botha had lenthy con-
ference on Gun Hill Friday morning.
General Botha was alone and General
Kitchener was accompanied by his Sec
retary.
The Daily Chronicle, referring to
the armistice at Pretoria, says:
"The untiring agent in bringing
about the negotiations was Mrs. Botha,
who was deeply affected by the hope
less plight of the Beers.
"The meeting of February 9th was
limited to General Botha's request to
know Lord Kitchener's terms. Lord
Kitchener replied that a general am
nesty would be granted to all who
surrendered, as we'll as to all prison
ers, except those Cape Dutch, who,
being British subjects, had actively
fomented Boer resistance. General
Dewet ard Mr.. Steyn were, however;
expressly excluded from the amnesty.
"Lord Kitchener further promised
that if peace were concluded the gov
ernment would assist in rebuilding the
farmhouses and other buildings de.
stroyed under military exigencies,
would reinstate the lawful owners and
would help them stock their farms.
Those guilty of acts of treachery would
be excluded from the benefits.
"Genercl Botha appeared to be sat-
isfied with the conditions and the
armistice being arranged. he pro-
ceeded to consult his officers, q vast
majority of whom accepted the terms.
"Dewet and Steyn both remained
irreconcilable. They declined any
terms. Dewet adding that on his part
the war had become one Of revenge,
and he intended to do all the mischief
he could.
1T is possible that the original ar
mistice of a week has been extended.
It is believed that the remainder OF
General Botha's officers have now
been won around and that he is likely
to make formal submission to Lord
Kitchener March 18th, when his force
will surrender to General French.
"According to our information Lord
Kitchener's dispositions made the
speedy capture of General Botha's
forces quite certain. General Botha
frankly accepted the situation and was
treated by Lord Kitchener at both in
terviews with the greatest consider
ation."
"The negotiations between Lord
Kitchener and General Botha are in
abeysnce," says the Pretoria cores
pondent OF The Times, writing We'd
nesday, ''pending an answer from the
British government"
Dispatches from Amsterdam and
Brussels say that Mr.. Kruger's entour-
age continues to profess ignorance OF
the existence of negotiations declaring
that General Botha cannot act for the
Orange Free State and that, in any
case, no terms are possible unless
Lord Kitchener is prepared to discuss
independence.
Lord Kitchener reporting under
date of March 7th, says:
"The Beers failed in their deter
mined attack upon Lichtenburg. Our
losses, besides the two officers previ-
ously reported, were fourteen men
killed and twenty wounded. The Boer
General Celliors was killed.
"French reports further captures OF
fourteen FOUNDER Creusot, with car
riage and timber complete, and one
Hotchkiss, making total OF seven
guns. The total number of Beers
known to have been placed hors du
combat since the eastern operations
began is 979."
Adding to his last report, Lord
Kitchener states that 169 rifles, "a, $40
pounds of ammunition, 1873 horses,
1,24O trek oxen, 1920 cattle, 13, $50
sheep, 100 wagons and carts and large
quantities of forage have been cap
tured without casualties in Cape Col
ony.