The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-03-21
OR DEATH,
CRY OF BOER PATRIOTS
Stimulated to a Thirst for Revenge by the AtrOci-
ties Perperated by The British.

New York, March 2O.-A dispatch
from London to the Herald gives an in
terview with D. Erasmus, son of Cen
eral Erasmus of Pretoria, on the prob
able consequences of General Botha's
refusal to accept the terms of peace.
re said
The English public. for some un-
known reason, has locked upon the war
all along as mere chiId's play, notwith-
standing the lessons which it received
IN the commencement of the war. -Four
hundred Beers are quite sufficient to
harass the entire army for an indefinite
period IN the district north of Pretoria
regular cavalry cannot operate there.
IL is deep sand, which gives the poorest
toothold. Owing to the fever. the Brit
Ism can operate but six months in the
year. The Beers, from childhood have
oCC'tStOIiled themselves to this climate,
anu can stop there without much harm
IN foreign countries people who are
Trying 10 make mischief out of the
EhSllSn reVeTses read in them a dis
grace to the British army. But I can
assure these pretended friends of nv
people that if they had to do wbaf inc
british are now trying to- accomplish.
they might have done very much worse
or succeeded less well in fighting"
The Beers, he said, can gee -pientv of
1000, horses and ammunition< As an
alternative for Sir Alfred Miner, as
neSOuatOr with the Beers, Mr. Era SINUS
suggests that England should send
some impartial Englishman, free from
all party feeling. Lord Kitchener's
name VIII not so, either. He has been
100 much associated with Cecil Rhodes.
The end" said Erasmus. will be
\" men the Beers remaining must be
either caught and extermlnated. or
given independence. There was a time
after Pretoria was taken when many
Beers deserted or surrendered in the
belief that they would find their houses
and families as they left them. if they
were allowed TO go free, promising not
to night again. The end of the war
was then more than possible. Ny peo-
pie were ready to give up.
For Revenge Now.
But when the Beers returned to
their homes and found their farms
burned and their families gone, they
knew not where, they were ruined men,
From that day out, il should be well
understood, the war became one of re-
venge, and no longer one of patriotism.
Picture TO yourself the situation. 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 not
continue to fight? They have lost
everything, and, therefore, have moth
ing to lose. and everything to gain.
Mr.. Kruger is still absolutely presi-
dent of the Transvaal republic. People
say he ran away. That is untrue. He
was forced to leave by the executive
1t took 5000 men 20 guard him. We
needed those men elsewhere. Moreover,
it was considered that he would be
more useful over here.
1t is perfect nonsense to say he is
worth millions. At most ne may be
worth a million, which he made from
the purchase and sale of lands, just as
any other man might. But much money
has been intrusted TO him for state pur-
poses That money he spends in the
manner which is indicated TO him. and
as intended by the BOer executive.
Mr. Kruger may have lost some
weight'with a certain number of people
of the extreme. section. But, remember
this-it is important-Mr. Kruger is the
one man today who could. if he liked.
bring the war 70 an end. He could
finish it tomorrow if he willed. When
peace comes it viii be made by the
people appointed to make it, Mr..
Kruger and the extraordinary commits
sion sent over by the Boers-Messrs.
Wolmarens, Vessels and Fischer. They
have full power to act?''
And the Boer forces today
Il estimate them to number from
IL, 600 to 12,000,'' concluded MI Erasmus.