The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-21
D)ERS STILL HAVE HOPE
p. L. VESSELS AND III. ID. VILJOEN
ADDRESS A ST. PAUL AU-
DIENCE
SURRENDER NOT THOUGHT OF
Lecturers Declare BOtha's Reported
Desire to Capitulate Is Ridicu-
lOus-ExperiencesO on the
Battlefield.

L look to see in the near future even
In my own time, a United States of South
AFRICA, Just as YOU have here a United
States of America, when the Transvaal,
the orange Free States and Cape Colony
will be united under one stable and indie
pendent government" said P. Louter
Vessels, of Bloemfontein. last evening at
Mozart hall, and he was applauded to the
echo. For the threatening weather had
no terror for Boer sylnpathizers appar-
eEtiy. They filled the lower floor of the
theater, as well as several of the boxes
and most of the gallery. last night. and
Ilperally punctuated with applause the
speeches made by Mr.. Vessels and Mr..
Vilioen.
Hon, John d. OBrien. in a brief speech
that was full of praise for the struggling
patriots in South Africa introduced Mr..
Vessels as the first speaker. Mr.. Wes-
sells, who is a citizen of the Orange Free
State was formerly lieutenant in the
Boer army. He wore his sword and used
1t in pointing out and explaining the vari-
Gus stereopticon pictures which illustrat-
ed the lecture. The speaker referred only
briefly to the causes that led I'D to the
Beer war. The chief cause was a COM
mercial one, the cupidity of not only the
English but Influential men of other ma
tionalitieS. The Prince of Wales now
king Of England; Joseph Chamber.a n
and Cecil Rhodes had much to- do with
bringing on the war. Mr.. Vessels denie d
that the war was nearly over, or that it
was defeat for the Beers. They would
fight for years to come, if necessary, he
said The report that Gen. Botha had
surrendered or contemplated surrender
ing, was ridiculous. Gen. BOtha would
not surrender until Gen. Dewet hal sur
rendered, and Gen. DeWet wouldn't sur
render until Gen Botna had, said the
speaker, and the statement was greeted
with prolonged applause.
A number of pictures, showing views
liz and about Cape Colony the Orange
Free State and the Transvaal, were
shown. Excellent pictures were also given
of the diamond mines near Kimberley, OF
which mines Mr.. Wesse.s' father was
once a part owner. The lecturer told
how, in 1870 and 1871, when the mines were
first discovered England fastened to an
mex them to the territory she had already
acquired in South Africa paying to the
Beers as compensation the sum of $780,
GEO.
Following Mr.. Vessels, Hercules D.
Viljoen, of Cape Colony, field cornet in
the army of the Orange Free State, told
of some of his experiences in the war
He was a citizen of the Orange Free
State when the war broke out. While
the majority in the state were Boer
sympathizers. there We're many whom
English influence had affected and the
loyal Beers had not an easy time of it.
Mr. Viljoen described the first battle in
which he took part, which was a
skirmish between $50 Beers and 1900
Englishmen. The latter were put to
flight, but the Cape Colony papers
described the result as big English
victory. That was a specimen, the
lecturer said, of the faith to be placed in
English reports.
In regard to the reports that the Beers
had fired on Red Cross wagons when the
latter We're on the battle field under a
white flag the lecturer said the only af-
fair of the kind that ever he witnessed
was during a battle in which he took
part. A Red Cross wagon, crossing the
field, looked rather peculiar to the Boer
general and he ordered a shot fired at
it. Suddenly the covering was dropped
from the wagon and cannon was dis
covered. Mr. Niljoen stated that the
English used the canvas-covered wagon
i'll order to get the cannon nearer the
Boer ranks.
Following Mr.. Vnjoen's address pic
lures We're shown of the Boer generals
and views of army life.
Mrs. ]. E. <cnney played the Beer
national anthem
of the Roer war this evening and Mr.
Vessels will tell something of the
various native tribes of South Africa.