The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-02-11
PRAYs FOR PEACE.
Christian De wet writes Letter To III.
Brother.

Pet de Wet chairman OF the peace oom-
mission, 20 his brother, Christian De Wet,
appeal q to the latter TO surrender, pub
Iishsd In ths Post today, Is rs follows;
"Dsar Brother--I hear you are 80
angry that ron have decided to kill me,
accusing me Of high treason. May God
not allow you opportunity to shed more
innocent blood. when / saw we were
beaten by the British, wrote to the
President requesting him to oonisder
terms OF peace, and rather to sure lder
than to ruin the country and starve the
people.
II was with you afterwards for
month, convincing me that It was better
to lay down our arms. 1 did my duty In
the battle at Sohietma with Prinsloo.
charged the guns when was shame
fully left In tina lurch by FRESHMAN. who
fed. Convinced that the struggle was
hopeless. L left with my staif and sur
rendered, and was sent to Durham.
lyon and Stein,in carrying ON guerilla
warfare, caused me to write to Kitchener
Nov. u, requesting an opportunity to
come to the Free State and persuade the
men to lay do&n their arms, no Free
State government existing against whom
1 could commit treason.
"what 10 better, for the republics to
continue to struggle at the risk OF total
ruinasion as n nation, or TO submitS
Could we think Of taking back the coun-
try II 1t were offered to US, with thou
sands of people to be supported by gov
ernment that has not farthing but
debt of tive or six millions, even II
helped by your DO you think any ma
tion 90 mad as TO have Thousands killed
and spend millions, and then give us the
republics and the necessary capital to
govern themS
put passionate feelings aside for a
moment and use common seuss and you
will then agree that the best thing for
the people and country is to give in, be
loyal TO the new government, try to get
responsible government and as soon as
the finances will allow doing so, govern
the country virtually ourselves, have our
children properly educated ana save the
people as a nation.
.Should the war continue few months
longer, the nation will become so poor
that it will become a working class and
disappear as a nation.
81 have heard that you and others &C.
cusa me of being paid BY the English
government for what am doing l can
only answer that there is God. and he
Will pass righteous sentence. have
also heard that kitchener's offers to me
and other attempts are considered by
you as signs of weakness on the part of
the British. When you oornered so sold
iers at Blaawn Bank, did the same to 400
at Nostershoek, and surrounded a small
body at Rhenoster river under q nag OF
truce and asked them TO surrender, was
1t weakness or magnanimous on your
partS The British are convinced that
they have conquered the land and the
people, and they consider the matter
ended, and are only trying to treat
those continuing the struggle magnani-
mously In order to prevent unnecessary
bloodshed. Believe me when 1 tell you
that no troops are ssnt from England. but
thousands are still coming TO South
Africa. II you do not consider the Free
State you viii be insensibIe, and act in
ssnsibly.
"Burghers, are you blindS Can you
not see that you are being deceived by
the Transvaal govsrnorsY What are they
doingp They do not fight ons-tenth part
as much as we 90. The Transvaal is not
| SO much ruined as IL the Free state.
They are inclined to submit and are only
waiting to see what you are going to do
/ all
captured. they will surrender. pray
you again to consider before you proceed
| further"
BOERS RETIRED.
Cape Town, February 9-Gsneral
French has occupied Ermelo. in the
TransvaaL Six thousand Beers retired.
The Beers violently attacked Smith
Berrien's outpost at Boutwell,, February
s, but were driven back with heavy loss.
DE VETS CRUELTY.
Cradook, Cape Colony, February b.
Boer raiders are nine miles from Graa-
frIsnet, and are also In the nsighborhood
of Rosmead. A deserter from Gen. de
Vets forces AYERS that he treats his men
crusily, and frequently siamboks them.
The dssertsr was arrested by the Beers
after he had surrendered TO the British.
and was given 20 lashes. Many Beers are
deserting. President Steyn and General
DE Wet personally shoulder rifles.
DE WEI FoILED.
London. February 10.-The Weekly
| nd NJ
saying that information Is being received
in an authoritative quarter in London
that Commandment DeWes, late on Friday
attempted to escape along the Smithfieid-
Bethune road, hut was foiied by strong
body OF scouts. subsequently knxo
intercepted another movement, whereup-
on De Wet retreated and was forced over
the Baautolnnd border.
MEETING OF ANARCHISTS