Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-04-06
DOM PAUL FIRM
STILL HOLDS OUT
President Kruger Says Beers Are
Able to Continue Fighting
Indefinitely.
HOPES YET TO WHIP ENGLAND
Declares Boer Republics StandTo-
gether..Scores British for
Savage Method.


Paul Kruger appears in The Matin
The former president of the Transyaal
was seen in Il modest little inn at
Utrecht, where he is stopping. His
eyes have been very much improved
by recent operations and he can now
dispense with spectacles. Sitting IN
front of a table with a Bible under
his left hand, Kruger said that on
Saturday next he proposed retiring
into the country for complete rest
The little village of Hilbersum, not far
from Utrecht. has been selected for
his abode. Nothing has vet been de-
Cided regarding his trip to America.
Kruger will undertake the journey if
his strength permits and if there Is
any hope of deriving an advantage for
the Boer cause. Pointing to Fischer.
the aged cx-president declared that the
two republics were indiSsolubly unit
cd. FISCHER" he said. lis fighting for
the same cause as my heroic friend,
President Steyn. The two presidents
and the two commanding generals,
BOtha and DeWet. will share the
same fate.
Insists on Independence.
GAS regards Botha's negotiations,
the public knows from the blue book
and by reading BOtha's latest dispatch
that it was Il British general who first
made the proposals. Never did 4
Boer- general refuse to listen. We do
not fight except for peace. We are
not conquerors, but, although Botha
listened TO the British proposals. he
never uttered word of eQuivocation
on the subject of independence. In
dependence is the only treasure we
cherish. 1t is for that reason our citi-
ZenS fOrSoOk their farms and sacri-
feed their lives and our women and
children now suffer temporary servi-
tude in the anemy's camp. And"
added the president. with still more
emphasis. If the English We're not
blind: if they considered their own in
terests well: if they We're not hopeless
ly enSlaved by error and injustice. they
would recognize the independence we
demand. because in the hope of safe
guarding it we shall be ready to make
many concessions and sacrifices. And,
moreover. It would assure peace for
ever in South Africa"
Stands Ready to Arbitrate.
The subject of arbitration being
next approached, Kruger expressed
an entire readiness to submit all QueS-
tons to the arbitrament of an impair
tial tribunal. Not even excepting
the question of Independence he
said. I'VE would sacrifice our liberty
if the verdict of arbitration decided
that one or the other of the chief of
the republics had done anything to for
felt it. Our enemies have violated
all laws of war between civilized na-
tions. They have outraged liberty
without regard to the lives of non
combatants. They have pillaged and
burned private property. They have
treated as rebels men who were known
TO be citizens of belligerent country.
They have not even spared the women
and children. those sacred beings who
are declared neutral and inviolate by
all International codes.
Can Fight on indefinitely.
''They have slaviShly initiated pro-
ceedingS which have excited universal
Indignation when practiced in Cuba
by Spanish general, and for which
Spain was punished. Everything that
has been said respecting the horrors
of war as waged by the English gen
erals is far below the truth" In con-
clusion Kruger declared that, far from
being exhausted. the Boer comman-
does We're able to go on fighting in
definitely. I'VE have cOmbatants.
arms and ammunition i'm sufficient
quantities. 1t is useless to hope to re-
duce us by lastitude or eXtermina
ton"
General French Presses Beers.
Cape Town. April 6.-General
French continues to press the Beers
at Vreyheid, Transvaal colony. The
Beers abandoned pompom. which
the British found smashed at the bot
tom of n precipice.
London April 6-Lord Kitchener