The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-03-24
CONSULT WITH KITCHENER
PROMINENT BOER OFFICIALS PASS
 THROUGH BRL1ISH LINES,

Acting President schaIk-Burger, F. w.
 R. Keitz, Ex-sscretary of State of the
 TransvaaI, and Comma ndants Meyer
 and Krogh Reach Pretoria Under
 Flag of Truce Later Proceed to
 Orange River Colony-Beiief That
 They Are on a Peace Mission.
 Pretoria March 23-Acting President
 Schalk Burger, F. w, R. Reitz, ex-sec-
 retary of state of the Transvaal, and
 Commandants Lucas Meyer and KroEh,
 with their secretaries and attendants,
 arrived here yesterday, March p, at 2:O4 p. m., on a special train from Bal moral, about fifty miles east of here. They came into Balmoral under a flag Schalk" Burger and his party drove lm- mediately to Lord Kitchener's head- quarters, where he had an interview with the British general. The Boers afterwards proceeded to the railroad stationd and started at o'clock for Kroonstad, whence they will go out un- der a safe conduct.
 For a week past MT. Schalk-B and his colleagues have been stationed at Rhenoster Kop, north of Balmore., where they have been closely pressed by British columns. Dispatch riders entered Balmoral Friday night and mo- tified the British of the approach of MT. Schalk- Burger and his party. It is re- ported that the Boer position at Rhen- oster Kop had become almost hopeless and that MT. Schalk- Burger once mar rowly escaped capture.
 London, March 24-The news that the wandering Boer government had en- tered the British lines is regarded as having but one meaning, namely, that another attempt is being made to nego- tiate peace The fact that the censor passed the news of the movement is ac- cepted as confirmation of this opinion.
 Nothing is actually known here of the intentions of Messrs. Schalk- Burger, Reitz, Meyer and Krogh. It is possible they have only sought permission to traverse the British lines in order to consult with MT Steyn and the Boer generals, Det Wet and Delarey, but, whatever their object. the news has been welcomed in London as pointing to the possibility of peace.
 Some correspondence which was seiz- ed short time ago, when MT. Steyn 1,at he and MT Schalk-B Burger were anxious to conclude peace. No extravagant hopes, however, are being built on the outcome of the movements of MT. Schalk- Burger and his companions, chiefly because it is feared that Della rey, in the flush of his recent success, will refuse to be party to any negoti- ations.
 The war office has informed a repre- sentative of the Associated Press that 1t has received no official information either to confirm or contradict the news
 Commandant Krogh is one of the sec retaries of the Boer government. He was formerly the administrator of Swa- ziland and has not been prominent dur ing the war.
 Few of the papers here comment on the news from Pretoria. These take it for granted that MT. Schalk- Burger and his companions are on a mission of | peace and again engaged in a discus sion of possible peace terms express ing the hope that the overtures will l have a successful outcome. The pres | ence of Lucas Meyer is regarded as sig l as he Is an intimate friend of 1 Louis Batha.
 The Daily Chronicle, commenting on | the absence of Botha from the deputa- ton, suggests he is standing aside ow- Ing to the failure of his overtures of | year ago and considers that, although | he conditions, Lord Kitchener then of tered to Botha had been annulled, it is 1ighly probable that peace may still be arranged on similar lines but that the Boers cannot expect more lenient erms.
 The Daily News remarks that a set lement would be possible if the Boers were treated like civilized combatants But men do not surrender uncondition- ,lly just after taking one os the en- ,my's generals and four of his guns"
 Brussels. March 24.-The Petit Bleu, 'eferring to the arrival at Pretoria of Iessrs. Schalk- Burger, Reitz and Com Meyer and Krogh, says 1t be- ieves that MT. Schalk- Burgers move is II response to fresh British overtures or peace, made out of gratitude for the elease of General Methuen and pre- licts that these overtures will lead to 10 result unless Boer independence is conceded.