Evening star., 1901-02-12
OBSTINATE
UNWILLING TO MODIFY POLICY TO-
WARD DUTCH REPUBLICS.
Notice to the World That the BubOnic
Plague IL Prevalent at
Cape Town.

dispatch from Cape Town says: Mr.. Jo
seph Chamberlain, secretary of state fo
the colonies, has addressed a cOmmunica
ton to Sir Alfred Miner, approving the re
marks made by Sir Alfred in his reply L
the Afrikander deputation sent to him b!
the Afrikander congress at Worcester, witt
resolutions addressed to Queen Victoria.
1.-The government has no intention" say:
the colonial secretary, ''of changing the
policy it has repeatedly declared, and which
has been approved Overwhelmingly by the
empire"
The government has decided to give notice
to foreign nations of the fact that Cape
Town is infected with the bubonic plague
There Is no longer any doubt as to .he
nature of the disease. Another native has
died of the disorder, three additional cases
are announced, and fifty persons who have
been in contact with plague victims have
been isolated. A temporary military hos
pital is being erected
The military authorities here have been
authorized byi Mr.. Chamberlain to destroy
great quantities of hay lying near the docks
which has become infected with rats.
The mayors of the peninsula at a meeting
called to devise joint prevention schemes.
adopted resolution calling upon the gov
ernment to provide camps for the Kafiirs
so as to prevent oVercrowding in the towns
and the consequent danger.
J. j. Vandenberg, secretary of the postal
department of the South African republic
arrived in New York yesterday from Rotter-
dam. Two months ago he succeeded in elud-
ing the English and made his escape to Hol-
land.
Il have lost everything" he said, land
have come to this free country to start life
anew. But the war in the Transvaal IS not
yet over, nor will it be for a long time to
come We can keep on this guerrilla war
England becomes
cannot conquer. When 1 left there was no
danger of lack of food supplies or am
muntion. Kitchener may burn the homes
Of the people and drive the women and chill
dren before him like cattle, but the men re-
main.' Mr.. Vandenberg says that two
members Of the executive government are
still with De Wet in the field, acting for
President Kruger and the other members,
ard that the government of the South
African republic still exists as a fact Il
saw President Kruger before L left Hol-
land, and he is still hopeful he concluded.
A dispatch from London says: Sir Ed
ward Clarke, the former solicitor general,
following up his speech of February be-
fore the Holborn Conservative Association,
has written a letter to friend, citing Lord
Roberts rejection of the opportunity to
propose peace terms in June, 1900, when
Gen. Butler had prepared the way by con-
ferences with Christian Botha, who asked
what was offered. Lord Roberts replied:
be allowed to go to their farms and no
promises to the commanders or to any who
had taken an active part in bringing on the
war This says Sir Edward Clarke
put an end to all negotiations So the
war has gone on. The losses since have
been 124 officers and 1,454 men killed in
action and died Of wounds; 63 officers and
$500 men died Of disease, and $50 officers
and 22.637 men invalided home. We have
spent some sixty to seventy millions de-
vastating a country over which We desire
to rule We do not seem day nearer 'un-
conditional surrender than seven months
ago.
Sir Edward Clarke then says he earnestly
hopes terms acceptable without dishonor
will be offered to the Beers.