Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-02-15
PURPOSES OF ENGLAND
Speech by Chamberlain With South
Africa War as Text.
UNITY OF EMPIRE INVOLVED
Colonial Secretary Declares That
Beers Must Be Crushed So That
They VIII Be Unable to
Renew the Struggle.

| London. Feb. IA. - This metropolis
seph Chamberlain. the colonial secre-
tary, when at the Guildhall it confer
red on him the freedom of the city in
gold casket The address in cOnnec-
ton with the presentation congratu-
lated Mr.. Chamberlain on the services
he had rendered to the empire during
the last twenty-five years. dwelling
specially OIL the way in which he had
welded the colonies together.
In replying Mr.. Chamberlain dis,
claimed any intention of making polit-
ical capital out of the occasion: but, he
said, he thought he might, in behalf of
the government, make an appeal for
national support. The government had
two great national objects in view-to
establish beyond question British au-
thorty in South Africa and to main
tain the unity of the empire. Both OBJ
iects We're involved in the South Afr
can war. The war would always be
memorable because it had called out
greater military effort than ever be
fore asked from Great Britaip and be-
cause it had shown To friend and foe
the potential strength and almost in
eXhaustible resources of the empire.
He had not thought it necessary to
stoop to meet the imputatiOns of ma
tional greed, lust of territory or per
sonal ambition and criminal motives
suggested by the insignificant minor
ity, since the war had the approval of
sister nations across the seas.
The Causes of the War.
In regard to the immediate causes Of
the war, continued Mr.. Chamberlain.
lit was not only impossible for a great
nation to allow it's subjects to be hui
inflated or oppressed, its engagements
broken and black races oppressed, but
the very existence of the empire was
involved, and the government was
pledged to continue it until the danger
from which they had escaped was for
ever averted.
After a reference to shallow observ
ers abroad who fOretOld Great Brit
aims downfall Mr.. Chamberlain con
cluded with paying a glowing tribute
to the colonies.
He said he did not envy the states
man who would be willing to compro
mise the issue for which the empire
fought. The nation was not vindictive
to it's enemies If they surrendered to-
day, they would be welcomed as
friends tomorrow. The expulsion of
hn
measure of self preservation. Similar
ly, immunity for treason was not hui
mainly, but was cruelty to the loyalists
and to the Beers who now in thou
sands, recognizing the futility of the
struggle. were aiding Great Britain to
had died and as security for the sur
vivors they must make the Beers rec
ognize that they are defeated and take
from them the barest possibility of re-
peating the attempt. To do otherwise
would be to invite the contempt of for
eign countries, whose affection it SEEM
ed impossible for them to gain, but
whose respect, at any rate, they We're
able to secure.
A luncheon followed the reply of Mr..
Chamberlain to the presentation ad-
dress.
German Relief Party Barred.
A Berlin dispatch says that in the
lower house of the Prussian diet Baron
Won Richthofen, the foreign secretary
announced that Great Britain had de-
clined to allow the dispatch of a Ger
man relief and medical expedition to
the concentration camps in South AT
RIGA. but she had no objection to the
sending of food clothing, etc. from
Germany to the concentration camps.
The detailed accounts which have
just reached here of Lord Kitchener's
combined movement to drive out the
Beers from the Enclosure of blockhouse
lines show that the conflict was very
picturesque and that it was the most
exciting incident of the whole cam
paign. Although apparently surround
ed by an impenetrable ring of fire and
steel, the Beers dauntless bravery and
dashing charges ultimately resulted in
the majority's escape from the meshes
of Lord Kitchener's close drawn net
The British commanders scheme was
the most extensive ever carried out
during the present war. 1t consisted
of continuous line over fifty miles |
in length. Lord Kitchener who per |
sonaliy directed the operations, was in |
close touch day and night with every |
detail of the movements.
The battle at Hebron, Orange River |
Colony, ragged from 8 o'clock Friday |
night until 2 O'Clock Saturday morning.
Throughout the five hours fearful
ring of fire from rifles. cannon and |
swept along the British lines,
from Louwspruit to Hebron, south,
west. away to Lindley and Kroonstad |
holding De Vets Beers, who made re-
peated attempts to break out of the
circle of troops. From various posi-
tons. behind rocks and dOngas, the
Beers kept up a vigorous fusillade.
hoping to find weak spot in the line,
simultaneously others charged, but
again and again were the Beers re- +