The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-06-24
VIII They Have to Swear
Allegiance to Gain
Liberty?
STATE DEPARTMENT ACTIVE
Declared That Those Who Were Cap
tured During the Boer War Cannot Be
Compelled to Become English Cit
zens-0ver a Score Waiting Release.

1t has been intimated that under tha
general terms Of surrender American
citizens who served in the Boer army
and are now held as prisoners by the
British viii have to take the oath of
allegiance 20 Great Britain before being
liberated
More than score Of Americans are
among these prisoners eating amnes-
y and release. The Americans are
widely scattered among the detention
camps in Bermuda. CeyIon. ana South
Africa and viii not be set free Until al
the other prisoners are liberated
Ready to See Justice Done
The State Department has obtained
exact Information regarding the NUN
Der and their location. and IS prepared
TO see that justice is done should there
be any attempt 10 compel the Amerf-
cans TO sign allegiance papers similar
TO those required Of the Beers before
being given liberty. All Information
concerning the arrest Of Americans in
South Africa was today sent 10 Cor
ETeSs. IL response 10 a resolution ask
Ing Tor H. The fact that the Americans
nave noL sisnifej any intention Of
swearing allegiance TO Great Britain.
it IS declared. operates 10 prevent the
British from placing the same COndI-
Ions upon them as upon the Beers Re
lore allowing them 20 20 free Tho
Lnslish authorities. i IS said al the
State Department. cannot compel the
prisoners to become English citizens
uhIeT promise OF securing their release
ana II IS not doubted that when all Boz
r-rt- =
ated the Americans VIII be liberated
without being asked to surrender their
cltIzt lshiD, and viii be allowed to re
turn hHHe or remain IN South Africa.
as thev may elect
Exact Number Unknown
The number of adventurous Americans
who enlisted in the Boer army probably
never viii be known. but from the ap-
peals made to the State Department TO
secure the release Of those held prison
eTs, as well as the lands made 70
10 force Americans IN the Beer lines to
return home. the officials believe the
number is greater than originally sun
posed It is said that q large number
OF Americans have also seen service in /
the British army against the Beers.
Those enlisting have in large meas
IRE come from the Western States and
many found their way TO Cane Town {
and thence 20 the front on the mule
transports sailing from New Orleans.
II MS letter to the House secretary
hay says that the following named per
sons. claiming TO be citizens Of the
United States. are. or were. held BY the
british government as prisoners OF war.
II Ceylon-Henry NcGaw Wood. F
NJ Hearn. James McElroy, John Riley.
l-l-l-
McfIghe, J. Witt, Il FID,TesI. J. Hill /
Mendal Miller, and Patrick Lennon.
IN Bermuda--James L MaIIoy. Anro-
MO Rubino. Fritz Duqucsne and Michael
Haley
Working for Their Release.
Miller IS said to have been a resident
Of Petersburg. Va; Lennon. Of Butte.
Mont. MaIloy. of Boston; Rubfno. CT
New York; HALEY, Of Nevada, and Du-
quesne, Of the Indian Territory.
The Secretary says: :
The department is not Informed as &
TO the places OF residence Of the Others
he prisoners in general have asked 20
D. released as AZ act OF cler1encv
~ neneyeT q CONF LIANT OF iIIegaI deten-
ton ms been made the consular officers
It Cape Town and Pretoria have been in
sIuCleG 10 make IuFeStIga cation In anv ,
Ease the result OF this Investigation has
not justified the department in asking
The release OF the prisoners OIL the
ground Ct wrongful detention The an
1assador Of the United States al Lon
icn, under instruc tions from the depart 7
nCnJ, has made several efforts 10 Sc /
.uTe the release Of these prisoners On g.
)aTOle, on the understanding that they
would return 70 the United States. but =
without success. except in the case Of q
dendei Miller The rule OF the british 3
has been that the agplica-
ion for release would be considered n
Dnly in caacs where the prisoners we're &
eriously OF dangerously wounded. .
&c request has been presented so rar Y
Q Great Britain fer SPECIAL eousiIera- b
ion &c be extended the American Driz- :,
ners, as # IL believed thar under The .
avs Of nations they are equally subject .
o detention with the Beers. and must ?
wait release with them