The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-03-29
TERMS BOEKS DEMAND,
Son of General Erasmus Discusses Isotta.s
refusal to Surrender.

AeIusAl TO surrender.
London, March 23.-D. Erasmus, son
ing on the probable consequence of
Gen. Bothas refusal to ACCEPT the
terms of peace, says:
The English public, for some un-
known reason has looked up the war
all along as mere child's play, notwith-
standing the lessons which ii received
IN the commencement of the war. Four
hundred Beers are quite sufficient to
harasS the entire army for an indefi-
mite period in the district north of Pre-
tor1a Regular cavalry cannot operate
there. 1t is deep sand which gives the
poorest foothold. Owing to the fever,
the British can operate only six months
IN the year. The Beers from childhood
have accustomed themselves to this
climate. In foreign countries people
who are trying to make mischief out of
the English reverses read in them a
disgrace to the British army. But I
can assure those pretended friends of
my people that If they had to do
what the British are now trying to ac-
complish they might have done very
much worse or have succeeded less well
in fighting"
The Beers, ne said, can get plenty of
goods, horses and ammunition. AS an
alternative for Sir Alfred Miner as a
negotiator with the Beers, Mr. Eras-
mus suggests that England should send
some impartial Englishmen, free from
all party feeling. Lord Kitchener's
name will not go, either. He has been
too much associated with Cecil Rhodes.
You remember how their names were
connected together when Lord Kitch-
ener was in London; how they were
coupled and how they took doctors de-
grees together?"
The end" said Erasmus, will be
that the Beers remaining must be
either caught and exterminated or Civ
en- independence. There was time.
after Pretoria was taken, when many
Beors desterted or, surrendered, in the
belief that they would have their
houses and families as they left them
IL they were allowed to go free, promis-
ing not to fight again. The end Of the
war was then more than possible. Ny
people were ready to give in. But when
the Beers returned to their homesteads
and found their farms burned and
their families gone. they knew not
where, they were ruined men. From
that day out, it should be we'll under
stood, the war became one of revenge,
and no longer one of patriotism. 1t Is
perfectly simple to understand the bit
terness Of the Beers. The only terms
satisfactory would be restocking the
farms and making good that which has
been destroyed. Otherwise why should
our men net continue to fght?. They
have lost everything, and therefore
have nothing to lose and everything to
gain.
'Mr Kruger is still absolutely presi-
dent of the Transvaal republic. Peo-
pie say he ran away. That is untrue.
He was forced to leave. 1t took 5000
men to guard him. We needed these
men elsewhere. Moreover, it was con-
sidered that he would be more useful
over here. 1t is perfect nonsense tc
saw he is worth millions. At most he
may be worth million dollars, which
he made from the purchase and sale OF
lands, Just as any other man might.
But much money has been intrusted tc
him for state purposes. That money.
he spends in the manner which is in
dicated to him and as intended by the
Boer executive.
..Mr. Kruger may have lost some
weight with certain number of peo-
ple of the extreme section. But re-
member this-it is important-Mr.
Kruger is the one man today who could
if he liked, bring the war to an end
He could finish it tomorrow If he willed.
When peace comes it will be made by
the people appointed to make it. Mr..
Kruger and the extraordinary commits
sion sent over here by the Beers, Mr..
Wolmerans, Mr.. Vessels and Mr.. Fish.
er. They have full power to act"