The Portland daily press., 1901-01-04

Der OF UfukMluH4t suuEMA&t& WAt AH@ $3.50
mittsd and were living In the Rresorfa
aissriot. formed peace oommittse. hr
Van Hsnsbsre, former member OF the
rirst volkrMad Of the Trsnsvaai, was
elected presidents OF the commission,
which included otnsr prominent former
members OF the volKsraad. The commit
tee resolved to sttempt negotiations and
accordingly In response TO q suggestion
Lord Kitohsner attended q meeting OF the
committee December n aud addressed the
meeting. He said ne was glad to meet .
committee desirous OF bringing the war
TO speedy conclusion. He proceeded TO
roint out the folly OF . continuance OF
the guerilla warfare, since the British
government would never psrmit the re-
establishments of the Boer government.
Mr.. Chamberlain's statements In Parli-
ament, Lord Kitchener oontsnded. clearly
showed that there was no wish 60 opprsss
the Burghers.
Lord Kitchener urged that 1t was use
less TO continue the present inhumnn
struggle pointing out that the powers had
refused MFR. Kruger's requests for inter
vsntion. The Burghsrs, he said, had
fought q good tight; but they had been
overrowsrsd and there was no dishonor
in the leaders recognizing that fact.
He reminded them that there were
hosts of Bosr prisoners waiting to be re-
stored to their families. Referring to his
proclamations to the country, Lord
Kitchener said that unfortunately these
h.s - n..x .lioxwad a.. raanh Aha Rrr.
ghsrs and he trusted that the committee
would make known the facts to the Boers
in the field as he desired to give them
every chance to surrender and wished to
finish the war by the most humane means
possible. He promised to give the com-
mittes notice II compelled TO abandon
conciiistory for harsher measures. =
Going on to explain his recent procla.
nations confirming the statement that
those who had broken oaths OF neutrality
would be treated in the same way as the
others, he told the committee that all
would be accommodated with their
families in protected laagers along the
line of the railway.
No one, he promised, would be sent out
OF the country; but all who had fought
fairly, incl uding the leaders, would re-
ceive the consideration due to their rank.
He adviFed The formation Of local sub
committees to send out agents 10 the Boer
commanders, explaining that they could
communicate through the central oom-
mittee and the military governor and
could also come to see him personally II
necessary. The committee, which In
cluded General Cronje's brother, cordial
ly thanked Lord Kitchener and promised
to print the speech in Dutch and to circu-
late It everywhere.
Since the meeting orders have been is
susd against burning farm houses unless
1t should be proved that the actual IN
habita Is had committed misdeeds. The
first districts olenrnd under Lord Kitchs-
ner,s plan were Iagsrsfontein and Faure-
smith, whose Inhabitants were laagered
at Faruesmith.
PRETTY WARM MILK.
Caps Town, January IA station
master of the Fraserburg road has seized
number OF cases marked "Condensed
contained 5000 split bullets, 500 detonstors
and 150 pounds of dynamite.
A DESP ATCH FROM KITCHENER.
Cape Town, January s-General Kitoh.
.nsr has sent despatch to Gen. Forester
Walker, In command OF the British forces
at Cape Town, saying:
"I am glad to hear OF the minister's ac
tiou. Give them all the assistance in
your rower. Use trains TO get these colo
nists Eouth of the enemy. Ask the
premier to inform me II can helI
in any way. Inform him that tht
enemy are few, but very mobile. Well
mounted men ara most required to sur.
round them or drive them north"
The action of the ministers OF Gaps
Colony. referred to by Gen. Kitchener. Ii
the calling on the localists in "a districts,
including the district of Cape Town, &c
assist the military by the formation ol
paid defence force.