Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-14
STILL STRUGGLING
Kitchener Reports Another Scrap
in South Af-
rica.
BoER LEADERS NOW AT PRETORIA
British Cabinet Members Busy Satur-
day Night and Sunday in Com
ference Over the Matter.

fighting in the Transvaal at the end
of last week has been sent by Kitch-
ener. who reports about 100 Beers
killed, wounded or captured. There
were 100 British casualties. including
Lieut.. Lincoln killed. Col. Murray
was wounded.
The British also captured three
guns and a considerable quantity of
supplies.
Commandant Potgieter was among
the Beers killed.
Pretoria, April 14.-Acting President
Schalk- Burger, Generals Louis Botha.
Lucas Meyer. Delarey and De Wet.
and President Steyn (of the Free
Statel. arrived here Saturday morning
from Klerksdorp. The Transvaal and
Orange Free State delegates journeyed
on separate trains. both of which We're
rushed through. the delegates travelling
all night The trains arrived close
together. The two parties are not
lodged together here. but are quartered
I'm separate houses.
London. April 1.-THE announce
ment of the presence ut Pretoria of the
Orange Free State and TranSvaal lead
ers and generals who have been ut
Klerksdorp considering terms of peace
has caused decided increase in the
hOpefulneSs of the public concerning
the possibilities of peace. The eXpecta-
tionS aroused by the conference mt Pre-
toria have been further heightened by
the movements of Chamberlain. the
colonial secretary. and other members
OF the cabinet in London. and evidences
that important dispatches are passing
between Lord Kitchener and the gov
ernment. y conference of members of
thu cabinet was held Saturday at mid
night i'm Chamberlain's house.
London People Now More Hopeful.
Chamberlain. Brodrick (the war sec
retaryl. Sir Michael Hicks Beach (the
chancellor Of the eXchequerl. and the
duke of Devonshire president of the
council. We're present. The conference
terminated at | Il. m. yesterday and
Secretary Chamberlain and several of
the colonial officials were I'm their Of
fees. Messengers passed between them
and Sir Michael Hicks Reach at his
residence. At 80 p. m. yesterday
Chamberlain drove to buckingham pal
ace and remained with King Edward
for two hours. During the afternoon
messengers carried dispatches from
the foreign office to Lord Salisbury.
who. with Balfour. the government
leader in the house of commons, was
at Hatfield House.
Lasted Until Past 1 O'Clock.
These outward signs of Sunday ac-
tivity have not been supplemented by
any authentic or official statement. The
question most discussed thus far has
been whether the peace negotiations
.aff hn
cial proposals. The fact that Sir Mich
ael Hicks Beach was engaged in his
office nearly all of yesterday is taken
in some quarters to Indicate q mOdifi-
cation of the budget statement
Nothing Authentic or OhiciaI.
There appears to he no doubt that
the Boer leaders have communicated
the results of their deliberations to
Lord kitchener. Attempts will he made
in parliament to draw out what infor-
nation the government has on the
South African situation and to learn
its intentions; but il is not expected
that the government can forecast the
probable outcome of the negotiations.
Whatever instructions have been sent
to Lord Kitchener are believed to be
only provisional in character.
London. April 14.-Replyif g in the
vi NOudN Itl the I'D
eraI leader, Campbell-Bannerm
who asked whether any terms of
peace had been suggested by the
Boer leaders in South Africa. the
government leader, Balfour, said ii
was impossible at present TO say more
than that Il message was received
Saturday from the Boer leaders.
through Kitchener, and that a reply
had been sent them. Further com
was expected.
London, April 14.-It is said the
of the Boer leaders
TO Kitchener amounted to little more
than a request for permission to use
the cable in consulting with Kruger
and Boer delegates in Europe regard
ing a basis for a peace settlement.
London, April 1.-THE chancellor
of the eXchequer presented a state
ment in the house of commons today
showing the estimated decrease in
of 19O2-O3 compared with
1901-O2 of thirteen million pounds.
There was grand total deficit of
forty-five millions, thirty-two mill
ions of which are To be borrowed.
Taxes on incomes. bank checks. etc.
and duties on -four and wheat will
be increased.
Appointed by Gov. Yates.