The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-08-31
REPLY TO K1rCHENER'S THREAT.

The Boer generals have replied to
Kitchener's proclamation demanding
an immediate surrender by announc-
ing their determination to fight to Il
finish. Threats of Punishment do not
intimidate them. Exile has no terrors
for men fighting for liberty in the land
of their birth, especially when they
believe that Kitchener is not able to
capture them. They cannot be bull
dozed or bribed to give up the battle
OF freedom. One of the generals is
said to have replied to Kitchener in
language not fit for ears polite. The
brave burgher knows the character of
the British butcher and evidently told
him in plain Anglo-Dutch to go to the
arch-enemy OF mankind and agitate his
person. That kind of language wound
ed the refined sensibilities OF the muir
derlng Kitchener, and he informed
Chamberlain that the Beers reply was
unprintable. The name of the often
sive Dutchman is Commandant Lotter.
If he is ever caught he will be made Il
terrible example of by the Anglo-lrisll
commander Of the British forces.
Kitchener reports that Botha, De
Wet and Steyn acknowledged the re.
ceipt of his proclamation calling OH
hem to surrender by Sept. Is to save
themselves from exile, but that they
declared they would fight to finish.
10 emphasize their declination and to
prove they have not lost their cunning
they captured a detachment of British
the next day after light sllirmlsh in
which one Tommy Atkins was killed.
Three officers and siXty-tive men sur
rendered, and after being deprived OF
their equipments they were told to
skedaudle to their camp. Kitchener
Is now Investigating why they did not
make II more gallant fight, but it is
said they do not want to run the risk
of getting killed when they know they
will not be held as prisoners. A Lon
don correspondent referring to the mat
ter says:
Military men try to explain the diff
ticulty Of Keeping jaded men to their
work when they know that surrender
to Il superior force Is followed by !,
speedy release after deprivation OF
arms, powder, and shot. Heavy work
and incessant marching have rendered
the army stale. The same feeling of
WEAKNESS is shown in England, where
the yeomanry force recruited for spe-
cial service Is still 1000 below the
full quota Notwithstanding the strenu-
GUS eXertions to strengthen it and the
high pay offered FOR rough riders"
The Beers are fully justified in con.
tlnuing the war for some time longer
They realize that the British soldiers
have lost courage and are fighting
against their grain. In fact, it is said
they are about ready to revolt. A pri
vate in the ranks sends a letter to Rey
nolds' Weekly from the Orange Free
State, in which he says there will sool
be mutiny. Among other things he
says:
'"They give the men no chance at al
now, and instead of the Beers dimin
fishing they seem to be increasing ant
snipe at us every day along the line Of
march, getting holder and holder. They
apparently have tons Of provisions. al
we come on caves literally packed will
flour and potatoes and forage. Tn
thinking more than the Beers will suf
fer before they return. The men ar,
getting completely disheartened, ant
no wonder, considering what they hav,
put up with from those snobs of Off
GERS who, after the days march i.
out, can have thar tents pitched fol
two. while from cwenty to twenty
four Tommies have to fit in one"
There is a change of sentiment abou
J the war among the English people, ant