The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 22, 1900, Page 1

VOLUME SAN FRANCISCO, THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1900. SOUTH AFRICAN WAR MAY COLLAPSE 1N THREE WEEK S From British Sources Comes a Story That the Free Staters Are Anxious to Give Up and Transvaalers Are Ready to : Cease Fighting. 1000800600000 000000000008 00 0200000000004+ 9 s = PN Doing Good to ONDON, March 22.—Possibly mportant war news contained in this arrived here from 1 was informed that movement was probable some negotiations I was unable to of these negotiations Alfred Milner's de- Town had any o par connecti “Th ever, every sign e Staters are anxious to it would not be surpris- ve 1 P the war collapsed quickly,-fo g if of the feeli gs of the Trans- vaalers many stories are afloat to the effect that they are anxious to cease fighting.” opinion is ner’'s mission temporary ad- State The. republic, ac- gotiations re- 1 Govern- reports of nd returning tish forces ac- campalgn. iquarters the truction of = raliroad. been blowh up—one River, fourteen mfles another at the Vet 1 rt station ahd 1 g over the Valsch T t of Kroonstad The ed to be de- the British ern border of the Free State ound the Boers in a forti- rrenton. Colonel Pake- days' fighting at Four- ne burghers are said to ty miles northeasterly to wes that the British occupied h if true, would consti- nvasion of the South Afri- ritory. It appears more the that o engagements of an advance of a t <t 20,000 men on Pretoria by v, where the Yeomantry, 1 troops from England a base. neral Brabant is still ntly determined French is be- 1 columns are ¢ way of Roux- :neral Clements well advanced fontein and are to the dispatches to the surrender of num- f Free Staters, f a train service be- nd Bloemfontein Lord Roberts has If the actual master of the territory west and south of He is in effective military more than half of the total are: il are lishme Town & Their Enemies. area of the republic and has reduced the Free State army to a mere contingent of thie Trans al forces. There are many sigr ler is preparing to move. [ s that General Bul- In front of him, »eyond Elandslaagte and commanding the | Dundee-Newcastie force of Boers in who hold the Bigg: emy’s position i they occupied at Colenso. shes-are the every day occurrence. all the Boer resistance fs overcome in Pretoria Raiiroad ds a onsiderable strength, The en- Outpost skir- r til Northern Natal, there can be no British | advance in force through Drakeasberg Passes or invasion of the Free State by y of Harrismith. Not a‘ word wds recelved yesterday as to the outlook of Mafeking's relief. |DAVIS ‘SAYS BRITISH NEGLECTED THEIR DEAD Special Cable to The Call and the New York Herald. Copyright, 1900, by the New York Hérald] Compeny. BRUSSELS, March 21.—Private letters from Pretoria- state that' Webster Davis, Assistant Secretary .of the Interior of the United States, witnessed- the battle of Spion Kop, and afterward gave his im- pressions .in Pretoria. , He -said that,he had been especially strick by the neglect by the English in regard to the burial of their deéad. *““They hardly.” he -declared, “dig any graves at all, but are hiding corpses under a few shovelfuls of earth, from which are constantly seen emers- ing a foot, hand or head. When the heat | or rain comes the corpses offer an atro- cious picture. A white, moving mass, is observed, consisting of worms feeding on the dead. In proof of this statement Mr. Davis had himself photographed in the midst. of English corpses at Splon Kop. Private letters also state that the khaki uniforms of Britfsh prisoners at Pretorfa ing worn and tattered, the Transvaal Government has had the kindness to au- thorize the prisoners to don new clvilian clothes, despite the danger of escapes, as no one could distinguish between the British prisoners and any ordinary civil- fans. It is alleged in Pretoria, according to a letter to the Petit Blue, that in the Coles- | berg fights several Boers were terribly wounded by “dum-dum’ bullets. An Eng- | lish sergeant, who was wounded and | made prisoner, conféssed to Dr. Krause that the English employed “dum-dums,” adding: “It is not our fault; we have to obey orders. - S s s D’S STAND | SWITZERLAN s | REGARDING INTERVENTION | | BERNE, Switzerland, March 21.—The | Federal Council has answered the Boer appeal for mediation as follows: “The Swiss Federal Council would have | been pleased to co-operate in friendly me- | aiation in order to end further bloodshed, but as the Presidents of both South | African republics have directly approach- | ed the British Government, In order to | conclude peace on a basis indicated, and the British Government has shown itselt against the proposal; and, ‘as further- more, the British Government has de- clared to the Cabinet at Washington that it did not propose to accept the interven- tion of any power, the Swiss Federal | Council to its regret must also renounce | the idea of taking any steps on the lines of the request made by the Presidents of the South African republics. There re- | mains for the Federal Council, in the e Un-| “Officer of th nces, nothing but to express its wish that the . belligerents will have succeeded at no too distant date in finding a basls for an understanding hon- orable to both parties.” 'FOUR THOUSAND | ' TRANSVAALERS IN DANGER LONDON, March 22.—A dispatch to the | Standard from Bloemfontein, dated Tues- day, says:~ “Four thousand Transvaalers from Colesberg trekked on Saturday and | Sunday to the nortkeast, going by way of the Basytoland border., They will prob- ably be caught at one of the passes. | “A striking feature of the advance on Bloemfontein was the abandonment of our communications with Poplar Grove. Lord Robérts, confident in the ability of his transport fo meet all the immediate needs of the army, deliberately left the enemy | at Abrahams Kraal to do what they liked. | The result fully justified him. The enemy. | to the south were paralyzed by the bold- | ness and rapidity of the stroke, and Gen- erals Clements and Gatacre were enabled | to cross the Orange River almost without | 'opposition.” e e SCHEME TO GIVE THE COLONIES REPRESENTATION Special Cable to The Call and the New York Herald. Copyright, 1900, by the New York Herald Company. LONDON, March 22.—In well-informed political . eircles an impression is gain- | ing ground that the Government contem- plates a great coup in July should the war in South Africa be brought to a suc- cessful termination by that time. It-is belleved-that Lord Salisbury intends not ouly to dissolve. Parllament #nd appeal | to"the country, but also 'to bring forward |a scheme for imperfal federation by which ‘the great self-governing colonies will be | given representation at Westminster. Mr. Chamberiain is sald to be responsible for | the latter poftion of the programme. It is pointed out tnat all Parllamentary | business is being so shaped as to make provision for the possibility of a general election in July. One strong factor in fa- | vor of an early dissolution of Parllament |is. the belief in ministerial circles that there will not be found even among Liber- al leaders any strong opposition to the policy of annexation of the Boer repub- | lics. Should the war continue beyond mid- summer, however, there is little probabil- ity of a general election this year. PREPARING FOR BOER PRISONERS AT ST. HELENA LONDON, March 21.—Colonel Chalice of the Army Corps salls for the island of St. Helena in order to make the necessary ar- rangements for the accommodation there of General Cronje and the other banished Boers. It is still doubtful whether all the prisoners will be sent there, owing to the feuds between the Transvaalers and the Free Staters. If all the Boers are sert to St. Helena a consideraple increase in the strength of the garrison will be required. R SCHEME TO AMALGAMATE THE (TWO REPUBLICS | LONDON, March 22.—The correspondent of the Times at Lourenzo Marquez, tele- graphing Tuesday, says: 4 e British Army Servléé Corps 'Buying Cat- ! soldiers at De Aar Junction distributing refreshments, tle for the Troops From Chief Newadi on the Upper . -s and tobacco, to Boer prisoners on their way to Cape Town. Tugela. ® (From Frank Lesite's.) {From Frank Leslfe.] * - . - b o et oo ode bGP eberebeb e e bebebeb et . 0@‘%@—0—0—*@—0—00—0—“”0—0-0—04—0-‘-9-&@ R o e “It is reported from Pretoria that a scheme has been arranged for the amal- gamation of the Transvaal and the Free State. Kruger will become President of the federated states and Steyn command- ant general of the Boer army. The flag will be the same as that of the Trans- vaal, with an additional orange color. “‘Although this story is not confirmed, it is not improbable. It is a notorious fact that General Joubert has lost the confidence of the burghers simply because from the first he refused to shut his eyes to the inevitable result of the war. With all the burghers in the field, it might not be difficult to secure a formal indorsement of this rumored scheme.”” —_—— | DECLARES BOERS ARE NOT TRUE CHRISTIANS ¢ KANSAS CITY, March 21.—Two Metho- dist Eplscopal conferences are in session in Kansas City, the Kansas conference meeting on the Kansas side and the Mis- souri conference meeting on the Missouri side. The feature of the Kansas gather- ing was a speech by John W. Hamlilton of Cincinnatf, corresponding secretary of the Freedmen's’ Aid- Soclety, In dentinciation of the Boers and deploring the sympathy in their behalf being manifested in this country. He insisted that the Boers were not true Christians, for he said they. de- nied their Christianity to the black men. He - declared that a victory for England would 'be a victory for clvilization and freedom. The assembled ministers ap- plauded his words. BOERS USED SPLIT AND ¢ SOFT-NOSED BULLETS .LADYSMITE, March 21.—It has been aseertained that the accidental removal of stones, covering some Boer graves af- ter the fight at Pleters Hill, February 25, revealed thousands of split and soft-nosed bullets. Princess Christian’s hospital train ar- rived this morning. It was the first train over the new Colenso bridge. The rail- road is now open to Elandslaagte, where a camp has been established. Drakens- berg and Biggarsdorp are closely watched by the British cavalry. Foreter LA GOVERNMENT REORGANIZED. NDON, March 2.—A Daily Chronicle UNCLE AN - REFUSES T0 BE HELD UP “Shaves” the Railroad Bills for Transportation of Troops. LEGAL - FIGHT THREATENED —_— Treasury Department Declines to Pay More Than the Rate Given to Private Parties. s HICAGO, March 21.—The Chronicle to-morrow will say: General pas- senger agents of the rallroads ope- rating in the territory west of Chi- cago have become irivolved in a quarrel with the United States Govern- ment over the rate per ticket to be pald for the movement of soldiers to San Fran- cisco, en route to the Philippines. The Government authorities dre withholding nearly $175,000 demanded by the Western roads for the transportation of soldiers. The troops were moveéd on orders from the War Department and each man was charged at full tariff rate, less the deduc- tion of the land grant roads. When the rallroads asked a settlement ! of the transportation bills the Treasury Department demanded a rate of 2 cents per mile less than the land grant reduc- tions. The 2-cent-per-mile rate is that given to parties of twenty or more travel- ing on one ticket, and this applies only to organizations traveling for the pur- pose of giving entertainments, exhibitions and those taking part in contests. Lawyers Asked for an Opinion. Officers of the railroads conténded that military business does not come under any. of these heads, or that it was not what is known in rallroad parlance as “party business.” The Comptroller of the Treasury was then appealed to and he gave an opinion that the rallroads had no right to charge the Government any higher rates for transporting its troops than they did for carrying parties of pri- vate citizens. Officers of the rallroads appealed to their legal departments for opinions on the question and a special meeting of the general passenger agents and the at- torneys of the interested roads will be held in Chicago to-morrow to hear their opinions. p" the raiflroad lawyers side with the Comptroller of the Treasury the twenty- five or more Western roads that carried the military business will be out between $75,000 and $100,000. In addition, if these opinions are allowed to stand, the West- ern roads will be forced to throw open their low yflrter rates to any party of ten or more traveiing on one ticket or order. — ROBERTS TAL‘I!!’Q HIS MEN. BLOEMFONTEIN, March 2L — Lord Roberts, while. Inspecting the-naval bri- gade on the plain’ outside the town in the presence of many of the townspeople, ad- dressed the men, thanking them for the excellent work they had done in the course of the campaign. He wished good luck to those who were about to rejoin the ships and expressed the hope that the others would be present at the entry into Pretoria. FREE STATERS SURRENDERING MAZERU, Basutoland, “March 21.— Everybody in Basutoland rejoices in the restoration of telegraphic communication with Aliwal North. The proclamation of Lord Roberts is apparently effective, as the Free Staters are surrendering to the ‘Basutoland officials. The occupation of Thaba Nchu and Roxville by the British has produced an excellent impression, convincing the Basutos that the authority of the Queen is paramount. J formed that Great Britain, the end adopt the amendment. plated by the treaty, notwithstanding The Central American republics gua and Co; B o A R e R e e e e e e e s 22 that they may suffer as a resuit. EW YORK, March 2L.—Among the T passengers who arrived to-day on board the steamier Finance from Colon were General Haines and Edward Noble of the Panama Canal Commission, Lieutenant R. L. Belknap of the United States navy snd Henry N. Allen. General Haines hurried from the boat to take a train for Balti- more. Commissioner Noble will remain in this city for a day or two and then join General Haines in Washington. Com- missioner Noble said that they did not bring with them any portion of the re- port, but that they might be called upon to_go before the Congressional commit- tees. Seven of the Commissioners, he said, were now In Costa Rica, one of the objects of thelr visit being to call upon the: President of that State and find out what concessions could be obtained. Commissioner George C. Morrison of New York, he safd, was on his way to the Darient country with a surveying parly looking for a possible route in that re- gion. Commissioner Noble declined to in- dicate the impression he or the other Commissioners received as to the best route for a canal or to forecast what the recommendations’ will be. he would say was: le will want a rydteairons e lathmmag, but the work of dig- ging the canal on any route will take longer than anybody seems to think. Feasible Route Selected. Before his departure for Baltimore Gen- eral Haines sald: The present commissioners’ report will not only decide upon & practical route for an isth- mian canal, but will demonstrate conclusively that the route selected is the most feasible one that could have been chosen. We have at pres- ent about 300 surveyors in the field, under the charge of competent engineers. They are go- ng wWith the greatest care over the Nic a route, the Panama route and all the other Toutes suggested by any of the former sur- Ve ¥eries this we have a number of exploring parties out, in the hope of discovering sites that have been hitherta overlooked. Our object is to do the work with such thoroughness that our results cannot vossibly be questioned at any future time. We have the reports of all previous surveys, but we. shall cover every mile of ground through which we think it pos- sible for the canal to be run. The country is Varied and the work of the surveyors is diffi- cult and progress slow, especially in the section about Darlen. FEASIBLE ROUTE FOR THE CANAL Isthmian Commission Returns From Its Work to Report to Congress. Senator Davis will urge consideration of the treaty at an early date, as it is his bellef that Great Britain will agrce to the amendment. There seems to be no doubt of the ratification of the treaty in {ts amended form. The object of the Davis amendment to the Hay-Pauncefote treaty is in effect to place in the hands of the United States the same authority for con- trol of the Nicaragua canal as Great Britain enjoys In respect to the Suez canal—that is, the United States shall have the right to take what measures it may find necessary for securing by its own forces the defense of the United States and the maintenance of public order. fote treaty, because it seemed to assure prompt building of the canal by the United States, with its neutrality assured. Representatives of both Nicara- Rica, however, expressed regret when the Davis amendment was offered. They said that their Governments would certainly oppose a modification which would make it possible for the United States to take pos- session of their territory whenever it deemed such action necessary. Since the war with Spain, and the acquisition of Porto Rico and the Phil- ippines by the United States, the Central American republics have developed a fear that this Government may acquire a desire for further expansion and The only thing PRICE FIVE CENTS. Members Decline to State-Which of the Proposed Locations They Consider the Most Practicable, CALL HEADQUARTERS, WELLINGTON HOTEL, WASHINGTON, “March 21.—There are good reasons for.belléving that Great Britain will ae- cept the Davis amendment to the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, under which the United States will have the right to place the same safeguard around the Ni- caragua canal as the British Government enjoys canal. It was strongly intimated to me to-day by a diplomat usually well in- with some show of reluctance at first, will in My Informant also expresses that all the European nations will join in the neutrality agreement contem- in respect to the Sues the opinion the Davis amendment. heartily applauded the Hay-Paunce- R R R s R L R e R S e S R g : § | ! $ H } } s | $ ; z | For this reason it is impossible to set even an approximate date for presenting our formal report to the State Department. Unless Con- gress especially requires one, we shall submit no prelimtnary report. Untll our work is done, therefore, it is improper for any member of the commission to speak in regard to the merit of the several routes proposed. Commissioner Noble was asked if the commission had found the representations of the Panama canal people who were at Washington before the commission left, to be true. He replied: I think they have the number of men em- ployed that they sald they had. 00, that they have done the dredging and are cutting down the hill. Things are much as they said they were. The present Panama Canal Company has been spending the money it has mainly in mak- ing a narrow, deep cut through the great divide that it has fo get through to reach the other coast. The work is being well done. In re- gard to the Chagres River, we have found that the Panama pevple have a feasible way to manage that. although everybody laughed at them when they said they could do it. We have a surveying party at this point now making the Decessary survey on their plams. Ex- Evarts’ Views. WASHINGTON, March 21.—In response to a resolution of the Senate the dent to-day sent to that body the cor- respondence between the United States and the Government of Colombia, rela- tive to the Panama ecanal. The corre- spondence covers the period from 1579 te 137, and much of it has been heretofore DrAnked. . o mon; locuments which have not been published is a letter of April 19, 1880, from Secretary Evarts to United States Minister Emart Dychman, con- cerning the Panama canal concessions, in which the Secretary says: The Government of the United States mi, be willing in the matter of the mere Mercon tile interests of its citizens to trust to the in- telligent self-interest of those who undertake its construction to see that reasonableness and equality of tolls, simplicity of regulation and perfect - impartiality of treatment should be made the inducements to draw the commerce of all nations to its channel. But it cannot be concealed, and the Government of the United States does not attempt to conceal, that its relation to this enterprise must be governed by larger and more serfous considerations, This enterprise, once achleved, works more than a commercial revolution. It touches the condi- tions under which the security of the United States may need to be maintained. While the United Stgtes feels no concern as to the ade- its power to meet any emergencies that may arise, while there is no issue in the world’s politics which at all threatens its tranquillity, while its relations with ail na. tions are of peace and good will, yet it is not unwise to anticipate tingencies S o o o 28 of 2 o D N e e S R dt e e o ol o oo de iR o col ;pondent at Bloemfontein, telegraph- ing Tuesday, March 20, says: “The civil government has been reorganized. J. A. Collins, Under Secretary of the Interior in Steyn’s executive, has been appointed Landrost. Steyn is regarded as guilty. of fatuity, but not influenced by nepotism. He was always Kruger's tool. It has been rumored that he has reaped financial benefit from this connection, but the re- port is not substantiated. Mr. Fischer played the part of Steyn’s Mephistoph- eles.” T DESPERATE FIGHT PREDICTED. LONDON, March 22—A’dispatch to the Dally Mail from Pretoria, dated Monday, March 19, says: “President Kruger re- turned from Kroonstadt yesterday. He says the fight in' the Free State will be mqgu. 1 amiinformed that the Trans- veal Government lias taken no resolution, f} property as a last —— Rhodes Sails for England. | CAPE 'TOWN, March 21.—Cecil Rhod sailed for England to-day. ; e e o DDA INDIDIDEP S B SPALE £ 8 S A0 A0 A0 h G0 % &S I S - husbands and fathers, they fought the British, and it is now Mmmtmmnpsundfioofingummyh-_mt | | Types of Boer Women Who-Are Forming a Home Guard. - Boer women have nlnldabun found lying dead in the trenches, where, side by side with their announced that they are forming a home to the front. Many of the Boer women - : ! : z | AP PP PP SPRPSPP AP ST SR SN SR S S S S S S A St ML i s an e e b e o s B 2 | ;