The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-10-29
THE "DEFl" IN ENGLISH.

the proclamation issued by j. H. De-
larey, assistant commandant general
of the Boer army, in reply to Lord
Kitchener's warming:
With the consent and advice Of all
chief officers and the acting state at
torney Of the western districts Of the
South African republic.
To All Burghers of the Western Dis
trict of the s. A. R.:
Whereas, A proclamation, dated
August z, 1901, has been issued by
Lord Kitchener, commandments
of the British troops in the South
African republic, and personally de-
livered to the several officers of the
western districts Of the South African
republic, and which proclamation is
not recognized by me, and in which
proclamation it is endeavored by
threats to make the people of this
republic disloyal to their country and
fellow burghers;
Now, therefore, /, Jacobus Hercules
Delarey, assistant commandant gen.
eral Of the western districts of the
South African republic, according to
the powers vested in me-, hereby warn
all the burghers against, the procla.
nation, as Lord Kitchener tries to
show that the greatest portion of
our burghers has already been cap
tured, under which are included aged
men and cripples and those who have
become traitors to their nation, by
which he ~endeavors to make the re-
mainder disloyal; and it is a clear
sign that God, who decides on the
existence or non-existence of a ma
ton, has no wish for our downfall,
because not only has He kept us
standing, enabling us to oppose an
overwhelming power, but has also
supplied food, Notwithstanding the I'M
necessary destruction and devasta-
ton Of SO many thousand home
steads.
Moreover, Lord Kitchener says we
are deprived of any military organiza-
ton, yet our commanders are well
organized and there are in some dis
tricts many thousands of fighting
men, and the civil administration is
also in competent hands.
In spite of the 0 fighting
force Of whites, as well as natives, of
the enemy in the South African re-
public, his majesty has never been in
a position to protect any person who
has joined him in the South African
republic or Orange Free State, and
he is not ever able to protect his
W subjects in the Cape Colony, who
have to herd together in the towns
to keep their cattle and chattels.
Contrary to the laws and customs
observed in Waging civilized war, his
majesty has removed our wives and
children like criminals, burned their
homes, and now keeps them as pris-
oners of war; and to recover the cost
of maintaining them there Lord
Kitchener now threatens to confiscate
our landed property.
One finds it nowhere stated in
Gods Word or in civil law that any
person is guilty and punishable be-
cause he in self-defense protects his
life and property. How shall we,
then, submit to a nation which knows
not how to respect a convention, a
holy compact? Not only the con-
ventions Of 1852 and 1854, but also
those Of 1868 and 1881, have they
broken, while the conventions have
been fulfilled in every respect by us.
Brethren, l see no possibility of doing
so.
Although Lord Kitchener, and Lord
Roberts before him, has made many
promises to us by proclamations if
we would lay down our arms-and I
regret that some of the brethrens
have listened to them-yet it is a
we'll known fact that those who al
lowed themselves to be persuaded
have nevertheless been placed in a
quasi-confnement, as they are shut
up in camps and not allowed to leave
the same and have no freedom.
All burghers are thus warned not
to allow themselves to be misled by
the proclamation, nor in any way, by
word or deed, to assist the enemy;
by doing sc they will be guilty of
high treason and be dealt with
stringently, according to law, not only
as regards their persons, but their
property as well.
Therefore we shall strictly conform
to the resolutions adopted by the gov.
erpments of the South African re-
public and Orange Free State al