The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-05
Beers AND BRITISH
ARE NOW ON THE BEST OF TERMS
AT PRETORIA.
A GOOD SIGN FOR THE FUTURE.
kITCHENER'S ADDRESS MADE
GOOD IMPRESSION.

Would Have Been Proud to Have
Done as Well as They Did in the
FieId-Gen. Beyers Makes Hearty
RespOnse-Gen. BOtha ExhOrts
Burghers to Be Loyal to Their
New GOvernment-BOerW Women Are
Especially Anxious to Return to
Their HOmes-WOrl< of Restoration
Will BE Slow, However.
Pretoria, June 4.-The ballot of the
Beers at Vereeniging resulted in "a
votes in favor of surrender and six
against it. Preparations are being made
here for the surrender of the Boer
commanders, which will take place on
the race course. All the Beers are al
lowed perfect freedom
The women in the concentration
camps are anxious to return to their
homes Immediately, but this will be
impossible until a system of supply de-
pots for the outlying districts is estab-
lished.
Gen. Baden-Powell is arranging for
the distribution of mounted constabu-
larry in the various districts. The po-
Zee, railroads and telegraphs will be
handed over to the civil authorities as
soon as possible. and the restrictions of
martial law will gradually be relaxed.
The Boer delegates, who, during the
peace negotiations, were stiff, formal
and unfriendly. are now extremely cor
dial. All the commandments are return
ing to their commanders in order to
explain the situation.
Gen. Louis Botha, the Boer COM
mandant general, has written an open
letter to the burghers thanking them
for their obedience in the past and ex-
horting them to be equally loyal in
their obedience to the new govern
ment.
Lord Kitchener's address to the Boer
delegates at Vereeniging, in which the
British commander-in-chief said if he
had been one of them he would have
been proud to have done so we'll in the
field as they had done, made the best
possible impression and drew forth
hearty response from Gen. Beyers, the
chairman of the Boer conference, who
expressed the pleasure the Beers ex-
perienced at meeting Lord Kitchener as
friend, adding that they had fought
so long against him that they had ac-
quired full appreciation of his worth.
British and Beers Fraternize.
The departure of the Boer command
ers from Vereeniging for their va
rious districts was marked by remark
able scenes of fraternizat alton. The
trains conveying the Beers started
late, and, the night being extremely
cold: the sentries along the railroad
track lighted huge bonfires. around
which groups of Beers and Britons
gathering, forming a highly picturesque
scene.
The late opponents joined in such
songs as Hard Times Come Again No
More" and "Old Folks at Home" the
British soldiers and the bur
ghers outvieing one another
in their demonstrations of Joy
In brief, the scenes at the departure
of the trains resembled no thing so
much as the starting of huge picnic
parties.
Gen. Burger, who was acting
president of the Transvaal, Joined Gen.
Botha in addressing an open letter to
the burghers. After referring to the
courage which they had displayed and
to their brave deeds in the fields, he
called on them to work together for
the social and spiritual advancement
of the country.
Gen. Botha remarked, regarding the
termination of the war:
'"It is the happiest day of my life
since L left school,
Work of Restoration Difficult
The Beers do not anticipate the least
difficulty in the various commandos
The work of returning the men to
their wives, children and farms will,
however be heavy and difficult. 1t is
impossible to send them straight to the
veldt. 1t is absolutely necessary at
this time of the year to have warm
shelter. and wooden huts have already
been ordered from the coast towns to
be delivered, in sections, to each fam
lily. Those who are unable to return
to their former avocations will be
temporarily supported by the govern
ment.
The question of restocking the farms
is also under consideration. The main
difficulty is to find wheat and cattle
likely to thrive. No great difficulty is
experienced in regard to horses as the
government is able to dispose of great
YIIT11 harS IF ror1OilntS