Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-14
MESSAGE FROM BOERS
But Mr.. Balfour Declined to
Divulge It.
MORE HARD FIGHTING
LORD KITCHENER REPORTS BoER
AND BRITISH REvERsEs.
British Budget Proposed Increase Of
Inheritance Tax Shows
Heavy Deficit.

LONDON April 14-Replying in the
house OF commons to the liberal leader,
Sir Henry Campbell -Bannerman, who ask
ed whether any terms OF peace had been
suggested by the Boer leaders in South
Africa, the government leader, A. ]. Bal
four, said It was impossible at present 90
say more than that message had been
received Saturday from the Boer leaders,
through Lord Kitchener, and that a reply
had been sent to them. Further communi-
cation was expected.
Ii is said that the communication Of the
Boer leaders to Lord Kitchener amounted
to little more than a request for permission
to use the cable in consulting Mr.. kruger
and the others Boer delegates In Europe
regarding basis for peace settlement.
There is distinctly hopeful feeling in OF.
fetal quarters.
Conference With the King.
A conference OF members OF the cahi-
net was held last night at midnight IN
Mr. Chamberlain's house. Mr.. Chamber
lain. Mr.. Brodrick. the war secretaryt
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach. the chancellor
OF the exchequer, and the Duke OF Devon
shire, president OF the council, were pres
ent. The conference terminated at !
o'clock this morning, and today Mr.. Cham
berlain and several OF the colonial Office
O1clai were IN their Orlces. mtSSfllEtfs
passed between Sir Hicks-Beach at his
Office and MIR. Chamberlain.
At 1 pm. Mr.. Chamberlain drove 70
buckingham palace and remained with
King Edward for two hours. During the
afternoon messengers carried dispatches
from the foreign office to Lord Salisbury.
who. with Mr.. Balfour, the government
leader in the house of commons, was at
Hatfield House.
The comparatively brief duration of the
conferences at Klerksdorp is regarded as
an indication that the Boer leaders found
little difficulty in agreeing upon some basis
Of negotiation. The transfer of the ne
gotiations to Pretoria, where both Iord
Kitchener and Lord Miner. the British
high commissioner in South Africa, are at
present, is interpreted by the morning
papers as meaning that the Beers are pre-
pared to make formal peace proposals,
The latest reports received here from
the Boer headquarters at Brussels ana
The Hague declare that the delegates VIII
raise no opposltion if honorable terms are
granted and the Boer leaders in South
Africa have agreed to accept the MAXI
mum obtainable.
Fighting in the Transvaal
News of severe fighting in the Transvaai
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 considerable quantity of supplies. Com
mandant Potgieter was among the Beers
killed.
Lord Kitchener, in a dispatch dated from
Pretoria, Sunday, April 13, recounts how
Colonel Colenbrander, after locating Com
mandant Beyer's laaSer at Peel Kop, moved
his force by different routes. from Piters-
burg Transvaal colony, blocking the prin-
cipal lines Of retreat. The hghung COM
menced April S, when the lnniskllling Fl-
sileers attacked Molispoort, covering the
Boer position, and by dusk had seized hlli
eastward of the poort, after considerable
opposition resulting in Colonel Murray be-
ing wounded and Lieutenant Lincoln pelns &
killed Another officer and FIVE men were
wounded. Since then the operations con-
tinued daily. Colenbrander's latest report
April u, gave the Boer losses In killed:
wounded and prisoners at lo6. The colonel
hoped to be able to report further captures
Severe Boer Reverse.
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 Colonel Kekewich's force near
Rooiwal, and fighting at close quarters en-
sued The Beers were repulsed, leaving on
the field forty-four men killed, including
Commandant Potgieter. and thirty-four
wounded. The British captured twenty un-
wounded prisoners.
According to last accounts. Gen. Ian
Hamilton was pursuing the remainder or
the Boer command. The British losses IN
this fit were six men --illed and hfty-two
wounded.
At the beginning Of the pursuit Colonel
Kekewich captured two guns a pompom q
quantity of ammunition and a number OF
wagons.
A force of Beers recently overwhelmed a
strong British patrol sent out from Built
fontein Orange River colony, to clear dis
tant farms. An officer and two men were
killed fourteen men were wounded and the
remaining members OF the patrol were sur
rounded and captured Lord Kitchener
mentions holding inquiry into this re-
verse.
BRITISH BUDGET ESTIMATES.