The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-15
HEAVY FIGHTING IN AFRICA

HEAVY FIGHTING IN AFRICA
THE HAGUE, April 14-From those
:lose in touch with the Boet leaders here
it appears that the latest secret dis
patches from South Africa outline the
peace proposals now under discussion at
Pretoria. They closely follow the sum-
mary given on Saturday last by the Even
ing News, of Edinburgh, with the follow
ing additional details:
The Beers accept a British lord COM
missioner with Boer executive, both to
be resident at Pretoria
The country to be divided into districts
with British district officers and a Boer
committee, chosen by polling by the bur
ghers. The veto right to be reserved to
the British government. The majority cf
the British officers must be conversant
with the Dutch language.
johannesburg to be retroceded to the
British, with complete British civil organ
ization.
war indemnity of at least 10000 900
to be distributed by mixed committees
Disarmament to occur when the first
batch Of Boer prisoners is sent back to
South Africa
NO war tax to be levied.
Both languages to be recognized in the
schools and courts and in official docu-
mcnts.
The expense of the garrisons in South
Africa to be borne by Great Britain
The present BOer leaders to be retained
in office so far as possible
Important Dispatch to Chamberlain
LONDON, April 15.-In a dispatch from
aclo lot
respondent of the Daily Mail says the
leading Boer delegates conferred todav
with Lord Miner, the British high com.
missioner in South Africa, at Pretoria.
and that Lord Kitchener was present a,
this conference
4 understand says the correspond
ent, That Lords Miner and Kitchener
will jointly conduct the negotiations
and that Lord Miner will forward the
Beer proposals to Mr. Chamberlain
The Daily Mail asserts tha. Mr.. Cham
berlain, the colonial secretary, received
an important dispatch from Lord Miner
last MOnday) night. 1t is understood
this dispatch outlines the negotiations
favored by the Beers The Daily Mail
says it will be submitted at the cabinet
meeting to be held today.
Reticence ia London.
LONDON, April 14-It is said here that
the communication of the Boer leaders
to Lord Kitchener amounted to little
more than request for permission to
use the cable in consulting Mr. Kruger
and the Boer delegates in Europe regard
ing basis for a peace settlement There
is distinctly hopeful feeling in official
quarters.
Replying in the house of commons to-
day to the Liberal leader, Sir Henry
Campbell Bannerman, who asked whether
any terms of peace had been suggested
by the Boer leaders in South Africa, the
government leader, A. j. Balfour, said it
was impossible at present to say more
than that a message had been received
Saturday from the Boer leaders, through
Kitchener, and that reply had been
sent to them. Further communication was
expected.
Severe Fighting in TransVauI.
News of severe fighting in the Trans
vaal at the end Of last week has been
sent by Lord Kitchener, who reports that
about 200 Beers were killed, wounded or
captured. There were about 100 British
casualties.
The British also captured three guns
and a quantity of supplies. Commandant
Potgieter was among the Beers killed.
Lord Kitchener, in a dispatch dated
Pretoria, Sunday, April 13, recoUnts how
Col. Colenbrander, after locating Com
mandant Beyer's laager at PzeIkop, NOV
ed his force by different routes from
Petersburg, Transvaal colony, blocking
the principal lines Of retreat. The fight
ing commenced April g. when the Innis-
killing fusileers attacked Molip spoort,
covering the Boer position, and by dusk
had seized a hill eastward of the Poort
after considerable opposition, resulting in
Col. Murray being wounded and Lieut.
Lincoln being killed. Another officer and
five men were wounded Since then the
operations continued daily. CoIenbran-
der's latest report, April r. gave the
Beer losses in killed, wounded and pris-
oners at JOG men. The colonel hopal to
be able to report further captures.
Hamilton RepuIses Beers.
The most severe fighting occurred April
II, in Western Transvaal, where Gen.
Ian Hamilton has replaced Gen. Methuen
in command Of the British troops The
Beers attacked Col. Kekewich's force at
Rooiwald, and fighting at close quarters
ensued. The Beers were repulsed, leaving
on the field forty-four men killed, in
cluding Commandant Potgieter, and thir-
ty-four wounded. The British captured
twenty unwounded prisoners.
According to last accounts, Gen. Ian
Hamilton was pursuing the remainder of
the BOef command. Inc BRUSH loSSeS III
this fight were six men killed and fifty
two wounded.
At the beginning of the pursuit Col
KekeWich captured two guns, a pompom,
a quantity Of ammunition and a number
Of wagons
A force of Beers recently overwhelmed
a strong British patrol sent out from
Bultfontein, Orange River Colony, to clear
distant farms. An officer and two men
were killed, fourteen men wounded and
the remaining members of the patrol
were surrounded and captured. Lord
Kitchener mentions holding an inquiry
into this reverse.
The casualty list shows that the Eighth
New Zealand regiment lost thirteen men
killed and fifteen men injured April u
in a railroad accident near Machive
BOer Representative at Capital.
WASHINGTON. D. c., April 14-Gen
Pearson, one of the Boer representatives
in this country, was at the White house
today and had a few minutes talk with
the president He was received on the re-
quest Of Representative Crozier, of Louisi-
ana IL regard to the alleged British camp
at Chalmette, where it is said a base OF
supplies has been maintained for the
shipping Of horses and mules to South
Africa. Gen. Pearson will leave for Chal-
nnette this evening.