Evening star., 1902-04-04
Report Of British Camp in
Louisiana.
DISCUSSED BY CABINET
SECRETARIES ROOT AND HAY IN
CONFERENCE.
Resolution Asking for Reports Intro
duced by Mr.. Sulzer-Charges
by General Pearson.

The brief official announcement was
made at the close of the cabinet meeting
today that the administration had decided
upon an investigation of the facts and the
law in connection with the report made by
Gov. Heard of Louisiana that there is in
existence at Chalnette, just below New
orieans British camp for the supply OF
men, mules and material for the war in
South Africa against the Beers.
The statement contained no detail as to
how the investigation is to be made, but it
is understood that the work will be under
taken by the War Department, although
the report of Governor Heard was made
through the State Department and submit
ted to the President and cabinet by Secre-
tary Hay.
The entire time of the cabinet was taken
up in discussing the matter, and the deter
mination to make an investigation was
reached without disagreement. The cabi-
net has heard of the British camp at Chal-
mette through unofficial sources for year
or more, but had nothing official until the
communication of Governor Heard was re-
ceived. This communion was considered
sufnclent to warrant action.
secretary Root and Secretary Hay are
understood to be comforting as to the best
way to make the investigation. They will.
1t IS said. act promptly in compliance with
the PRESIDENTS orders and the desires of
the cabinet
Gen, Samuel Pearson, the Boer represen-
tative, who has been stationed at New Or
leans, watching the movements of the Eng
lish. is in Washington. 1t is stated that he
has followed every movement of the British
agents for years. and has supplied Gov
ernor Heard with large number of facts
and details. Governor Heard supplemented
these facts with information in his own
possession.
The investigation is regarded as of not so
much Importance as the possible outcome.
From so small a beginning serious COM
plications may result, and it is this feature
of the case that deserves watching most
carefully.
Gen. Pearson's Charges.
General Samuel Pearson formerly of the
Boer army. has returned to Washington
from New Orleans, where he went to gather
proof to substantiate his charge that the
British authorities In Louisiana had, in vio-
lation of the laws of neutrality, set up
regular military establishment, from which
their army in South Africa was being fur
nished with men, horses, mules and sup
plies. General Pearson made this charge in
a letter to President Roosevelt who he
says, sent it to Governor Heard of Louis
lana for Investigation and report. and the
latter in turn called upon him (Pearson) for
proofs.
TtdISOfl hectares that America
has contributed at, least 1900 men to aid
England in her fight against the Beers, and
has furnished the British government with
POI ,lOI horses and mules. The men, he
claims, consist of muleteers shipped from
New Orleans, Some of whom have been
compelled to enlist against the burghers,
and paid agents and men who are sent
throughout the country to buy up horses
and mules. He said there are one British
general two coloneIs and sixty captains and
lieutenants in this country now, with head
quarters at New Orleans The general says
that although men are engaged with the
understanding that when they reach Cape
Town they may return on the first ship
leaving for the United States their passage
Is refused or long delayed and every infiu-
ence brought on them to enlist in the
British army. With every ship load of
mules sent to South Africa the disguised
British officers in charge of the transport
and cargo, he claims employ a small army
of men to take care of these animals, Sc
curing enough men to assign one to every
two or three mules. The men who hire as
muleteers or stable hands, the general
states, are of the lowest classes and care
little what they do or where they 60 He
claims the British also have failed to keep
contracts with the men, leaving them pen
niless in a strange land.
The Report Asked For
Representative Sulzer of New York today
introduced in the House the following reso-
luton:
whereas the governor Of Louisiana has
reported to the State Department the ex-
istence and operation in the state Of Louis
lana of a British base Of supplies, conduct
ed and controlled by British military off,
GERS. whereby horses and mules and other
supplies, eontraband of war, are shipped
on British military and naval transports
to the seat of war in South Africa for the
augmentation Of the British military forces
in South Africa operating against the
South African republics of the Orange
Free State and the Transvaal, and
Whereas the governor of Louisiana fur
ther reports, and sustains his report by
affidavits of American citizens, that the
said British base of supplies has been and
is being used to procure by solicitation,
fraudulent representation and unlawful
means the enlistment of said American
citizens in the British army operating IL
South Africa: therefore be it
Resolved, That the Secretary of State
be, and he hereby is, respectfully request
ed. if not incompatible with public interest,
to transmit to the House of Representa-
tives the said report and communication OF