THE BOER WAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 10 January 1901, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

[BY ELECTIUC] TELEGEAPH —COFYBIGHT.]

(PEB, PHESS ASSOCIATION.)

Boer Peace Committee

London, January 9, The Central Pol Leo Comniitn o formed at Kroonstad, including \V.. J). Da Wot (late assistant to the Chiof Commandant) three ex-members of the Orange Freo State Volksraad, and two Justices of the Peace, addressed-an open letter to the Cape Dutch. It states that the moment had arrived for the inhabitants of tho Orange River Colony to strive to avert further desolation, Tho country is a wilderness, and the farmers and their families arc forced to refuge in the towns. Tho ruin is duo to a small, obstinate majority. We have done our best and fjught to get tho Afrikander's one flag, but we havo been beaten, and our duty is to accept England's irrevocable terms. Meetings such as the recent Afrikander Bond Congress at Worcester do much harm by oncouraging invasion. It is unbrotherly if you raise false hopes. We appeal to you to depufationise Steyn and Do Wet, they being tho only obstacles to peace. Kruger and the late Transvaal Government are twice willing to accept tho British terms. Stoyn's refusing to accept and encourage tho burghers to hope for intervention. It is your duty to assist in showing the hopelessness of this. A Reutcr's correspondent states that tho invaders of the Calvinia district are fredy receiving horses, food and good wishes. They profess themselves to be a big patrol preparatory to De Wet's ap. pearance. If ho comes to the district there is every likelihood of the Dutch joining him, providing that he can supply a sufficiency of arms and ammuniiion. Only the rnoro educated realise the hopelessness of the struggle.

Other advices state that the British preparedness and significant arming of tho loyalists genuinely impress the Dutch. The newspaper Advertiser, published at Worcester, Cape Colony, has been suppressed. Every preparation has boon made at Piquetberg and Pricskn to resist the invaders. There are 1600 Boers near Sutherland and others near Jamestown. 23 of the Garrison Artillery and 21 Hussars, thai were reported missing when the Boors surprised Helvetia, are still missing. The Liverpool Regiment had 11 killed at tho Helvetia fight. The Times' Capetown correspondent states that many Afrikanders are joining (lie forces enrolling for the defence of Cape Colony, and (hoy declare that it is their plain duty to repel the invaders. The Dutch settlers .much resent the raiders' pillaging. Wellington, This Day. Milner cables to the Government that Trooper Miller of Gibbies Flat, Cantorbury, is dangerously ill at Pretoria. Received this day at 8 .39 a.m. London, January 9. Eight hundred mounted men were enrolled at Capetown in a few days. Brabant, head of the Colonial Defence Corps, and other authorities are very active. 150 Boers raided De Boers farm near Kimborly. Tho residents of the district arc Mocking to town. Tho Daily Mail and Daily Express concur in stating that invaders have plenty of ammunition and arms, which wore cunningly buried until (he Boors were ready to use them. They also stated that the invasion has been carefully organised and long planned,