The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-02
King Edward Makes Official An- nOuacement to People of
 Great Britain
CROWDS MARCH THROUGH
 STREETS SHOUTING FOR JOY
Kitchener Cables that Agreement was Signed by All the Boer Lead CTS, Lord MlIner and Him.
 self-Joy throughout
 the World

London, June 2.-Peace has been de- clared after nearly two years and eight months of war, which has tried the Brlt- ish empire to it's uttermost and wiped the Boers from the list of nations.
 The war has come to an end with Lord Kitcheners announcement from Pretoria that he Lord Milner and the Boer dele gates had signed 'terms of surrender
 This announcement had been anticipat- ed for several days and 1t was definitely forecasted in these dispatches; but it's re- ceipt Sunday afternoon took the nation by surprise, as everybody had confidently believed that the House of Commons would hear the first news today The edge of the anticipation with which Great Britain awaited the promised statement In the House of Commons from Mr. Bal four the government leader, was still further dulled by the following message from King Edward to his people, which was issued after midnight:
 "The King has received the welcome
 news of the cessation of hostilities in
 South Africa with Infinite satisfac- ton, and his majesty trusts that peace
 may speedily be followed by the re-
 storatIon. of property In his new do-
 minions and that the feelings engen- dered by war. will give place to ear
 nest cooperation on the part of his
 maIesty's South African subjects in promoting the welfare of their com mon country"
 How greatly King Edwards insistence
 that Peace in South Africa be secured
 prior to his coronation influenced the present agreement, will not probably be known until the private memoirs or the present regime are given to the public. Kruger Notified.
 According to a dispatch to the Daily
 Express from Utrecht, Holland MT.
 Kruger was informed shortly after
 o'clock last night that peace had been declared. He had been asleep.
 MY Goal" he said, "lt'a impossi-
 ble."
 MT. Kruger and his entourage, the
 dispatch continues, hope to be per
 mItted to return to the Transvaal.
 This, however, Is quite unlikely. The news which Great Britain was so anxiously awaiting came characteristic ally on an entirely pacific and uninter- esting Sunday afternoon, when London puts on a deserted appearance. Very
 late Saturday night despatch was re- ceiyed from Lord Kitchener in which he said the Boer delegates were coming
 to Pret oria; that they had accepted Great Britain's terms and that they were prepared to sign terms of surrender Mr. Bodrick, the war secretary, per sonally communicated this message to King Edward. who was at Bucklngnam palace. But the government declined to take any chances and nothing concern ing the receipt of this message was al- | lowed to leak out. At about l o'clock | yesterday afternoon the war office re- ceived the following dispatch from Lord Kitchener dated Pretoria, Saturday, May | a, :15 p. m.: "A document concerning terms of
 surrender was signed here this even- ina at 1o:3o o'clock by all the Boer
 representatives as well as Lord Milner | and myself"
 | The clerk on duty at the war oince l transmitted this message to Bucking- | ham palace. where King Edward was | lunching. At about 8 o'clock word was | received permitting the publication of this l message and the small notice which was 1 stuck up outside the war office consisted | of copy of Lord Kitchener's cablegram. | A similar notice was put outside of the l colonial office. Beyond these two skimpy
 bits of paper. London knew nothing of l the great event. In the cafes, hotels and | newspapers which were almost deserted 1 the momentous news was licked out on l the tape.
 l Spread Like Wild Fire. | Then, like wild fire, at about 6 o'clock,
 London awakened to the fact that the | South African war was over. The inhab- l itants of the east end fiocked to the Man | sion House, the Mecca of the boisterously l patriotic, just in time to see the lord | mayor of London, Sir Jos. c. Dimsdale, 1 come to balcony and announce that | terms of surrender had been signed in | South Africa, In which he expressed his | hope that London would show it's appreci- l ation of the good news by behaving itself | decently and in an orderly m manner.
 "Let us," said the Lord Mayor in
 conclusion, "noW pray for long and
 happy peace" Al this statement the assembled crowd | yelled rustily, and at the instance of the | Lord Mayor gave hearty cheers for King | Edward, followed by others for the men
 who had died in South Africa since the | war commenced.
 Bv & o'clock last night the news had | become generally known. A few belated
 extra editions of newspapers were peddled about the streets, but before their ap-
 nearance the enterprising hawkers who | for a long time past had kept union jacks.
 feathers and horns stored in anticipation | of the present event. were much In evil | dence. The efforts of the hawlSers re-
 ceived lucrative reward, with the result
 that until after midnight the national
 flag was waved indiscriminately by we'll
 meaning roysterers. There was scarcely
 an omnibus or cab which was not adorned | l (continued on Second Paqel