The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-17
INTRIGUES IN EUROPE
BROUGHT ABOUT WAR

there Of the Boer government; and on
the understanding that ne was TO Sc
cure the Intervention of the Continen-
tai governments in the Transvaafs be-
half against England. he was in-rusted
with large sums of money. which he
intlmated would be necessary to in
iuence the press. He established the
headquarters Of his legation at Brus-
sells. and as long as postal and tele-
graphic communications with the Boer
republic remained open continued TO
draw upon its treasury for funds.
When Pretoria fell DR. Leyds van
ished from sight. and IL is a peculiar
circumstance that neither Kruger.
when he fed to Europe, nor any of the
other Boer leaders were able TO obtain
satisfactory accounts from Lcyds of
his expenditures nor even of his activi-
ties I'm their behalf. Indeed, he avoid
ed them and laid low. Certain II is
that he never raised a finger after the
war was over in behalf Of those of his
former associates who had sacrificed
everything in the defense Of their ma
tive land and who. completely ruined
and exilcd. sought refuge in Europe.
II was alleged by the Beers that he
had salted away for his own use most
OF the large sums OF money which he
EdA ItCFlNeu NutIl w ~ tHt A4tN~
OF the fall of Pretoria for secret SER
vice purposes and that he likewise had
obtained nefariously very considerable
amounts In connection with the Meth
erlands Railroad and the Solati Rail-
road scandals in which the graft as
sumed proportions altogether phenom-
email
In spite OF all this. he was able 10
obtain. on the plea OF poverty, a pen
sion from Lord Selborne when high
commissioner and aforementioned OF
South Africa In 1898. Lord SelbOrne's
action in the matter. and likewise the
permission which he granted TO him
20 return to South Africa permfs-
sion Of which the doctor abstained
from availing himself-went far 10
confirm the impression prevailing
among many OF the Beers that Leyds
betrayed their cause when he realized
that the game was up. Indeed. the
leniency. not to say good will. mani
tested towards him by the British gov
eminent would seem TO indicate that
he had rendered the latter some ser
vice
That this most active intrigant
against Great Britain in the last de-
cade of the nineteenth century. when
he so nearly succeeded in HninS up
some of the principal powers Of the
Continent against England and was the
main cause Of their unfriendly attitude
towards John Ball IN connection with
the south African imbrOgliO. should
have wound up AT The Hague az pen
sioner OF the British treasury IL re-
markable instance OF the queer re-
venges brought in by the whirllSig OF
time and speaks volumes for the mans
xvoudc>rul and uuscrupuious nnessiuE
II NAV oe OF fnteres; TO add that this
shrewd adventurer. who succeeded in
hoodwinking so suspicious a character
as President Kruger and who prior 20
the South African War enjoyed not
only official but intimate confidential
intercourse with most OF the leading
statesmen Of Europe. has been pro-
fessed atheist When he first inform
ed President Kruger that he believed
in no God. thai piOus old ruler. whose
Bible and whose pipe were his insep-
arabic companions and who was as
vigorous a pastor as he was a chief
magistrate. smoked for several min
utes in silence and then exclaimed:
Young man. il grieves me. il hurts
me. and / blame you much But II
You do your duty faithfully and trust
worthily as an honorable man, there
need be no objection TO your serving
this republic
DR.. Leyds has been twice married.
His frs. wife. by whom he has A boy
and a girl. was the daughter OF y.
HOef. the mathematician Two years
ago he married again at The Hague
the daughter OF W. e. J. Castens. one
Of the principal officials OF the Colonial
Department OF the Netherlands.