Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-06-21
PROTEST BY ASQU|TH
Says British Liberals Cannot
Swallow the Views of the
Labouchere Meeting.
NO INDEPENDENCE FOR THE BOERs
At This Stage of the Game, He Says
Admiral Beresford Makes a
Startling Statement.

London, June 21.-Herbert II. AS
quith, the former Liberal home secre-
tary, speaking at a Liberal dinner last
evening protested against the pro-
Boer resolutions adopted at Queens
hail Wednesday Cby a meeting of pro-
Beers presided over by LabOuchere)
being accepted as Il pronouncement of
the Liberal party. He declared that
Boer independence was impossible. and
said the Liberals favored free, feder-
ated South Africa on the lines of Can
ada and Australia. ASquith further
said that Liberals holding his views
had been branded as schismatics. but
they had not changed their views.
They had always condemned the war
policy. and considered that it must
now be left for the Judgment of his
tory. Asquith said that at the begin
ming of the war he believed it was
possible to restore the status of the
two South African republics. but that
he was now a reluctant convert to the
necessity of annexation. He looked
forward hopefully to the time when
these distractions would be ended. and
said that they all worked unitedly for
Liberal reform and progress.
Beresford Finds a Weak Place.
London, June 21.-The Daily Mail
publishes Il letter from Rear Admiral
Lord Charles Beresford to a CORE
spondent. complaining of the want of
proper strength and efficiency in Great
Britain's Mediterranean fleet In this
letter Lord Charles says that his duty
as second in command of the fleet pre-
vents his giving his reasons publicly.
He further says that he has communi-
Gated his views on the subject to the
proper authorities in as strong aud
clear AnglO-SaXon language as he can
command.
The TransvaaI Women's Camps.
London, June 21.-In Il speech in
London y. ]. BalfOur, government
leader in the house of commons, re-
ferred to the charges of barbarity to
women and children in the British con-
centration camps in South Africa.
Balfour said that naturally it was the
desire of everybody that these people
should possess every comfort, but it
was an absolute military necessity TO
clear certain parts of the country. This
could only he done 10y removing pro-
visions and stock from farms and
leaving the women and children to
Starve or taking them to camps where
they could be provided with food and
shelter.
why the Death Rate Is High.
The correspondent of The Times Mt
BloemfOntein sends n long report in
regard TO the concentration camps,
covering the period up to the end of
May. The average mortality rate was
1876 per 1000. He adds: This
may seem high. but many reasons
have conduced to this rate, which is
now decreasing rapidly. The Beers
have never been used to living together
in large numbers, and they are abso-
lutely without appreciation of the ne
cessity of sanitary cleanliness. The
women also take small care of their
children"
What 1t Has Cost So Far.
The magnitude of the task of feed
ing these people is shown by the fact
that eighty-eight tons of foOdStuffs
were imported for the refugees week
ly. despite the heavy military require
ments on the railway. Schools have
been established in the camps and edu-
cation is conducted in English. At
tendance is voluntary. but all parents
have shown an alacrity in having their
children educated. Up to May 81
S291. 800 had been spent in maintain
ing the camps.