NEWS OF THE WAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 15 April 1901, Page 4

NEWS OF THE WAR.

Interview with Mr Kruger

The Pall Mall Magazine for March r.outains an account of ai. , ntervicw with Mr Kruger at The Hagis. In it the ex-President says:—

" Will no one arbitrate ? Will no one give'us the chance of defending ourselves ? Wc may have done wrongly. We have our faults, our weaknesses. Wc declared war. But our hands were forced. We can prove it." Mr Kruger further declared that when an English statesman come to treat with him, an English despatch was on the seas, stating that nothing but force would avail. The ex-President goes on to state that the Transvaal had offered more reforms in one week than an. older country would do in forty years ; that it had given in on all points almost to the uttermost, but that that uttermost was seized upon as a stumbling-block. As regards his reception in Europe Mr Kruger expresses himself as bitterly disappointed. "I care nothing for flowers. Nothing. Nothing. The people who sent them mean well, and lam grateful. But I care nothing for them. What I want is a fair hearing. "Will no one take up our cause ? Will no one help us ? Justice! I ask for justice. We are a little folk, but we have made great steps. We have given much."

Asked why ho' came to Europe, Mr Kruger said —" I could not go with the I Commandoes as can President Steyn, because lam too old. I may be of some use here. " "With regard to Mrs Kruger, he said—" lam sorry for her too. I have deep sorrow foi her. but I have more sorrow for ' Die Land. ' My wife has her children. Six are still with her. They have left her in her own homo. Two of my sons are dead. They died on the battlefield. Two are prisoners, one in Ceyion. I believe that two more are dead also, for I have not heard from them for nearly two months, and I know they are in the thick of the fight. But thirl y-ono sons and grandsons are in the field jet. Bat I could net go on commando, I have not heard from my wife for sixteen days, but she has six of her children with her."

Mr Steyn, if he means to go on calling himself "President of the Orange Free State," wii) now have to get himself reelected. His term of office expired in February. Is began on 21st February, 1596. Mr Kruger's term of ofiico has still two years to run. I learn from a well-informed source at The Hague 'says the London correspondent of the Birmingham Post) that Mrs Kruger may shortly leave South Africa to join the ex-President in Europe Whilo acknowledging in her letters that every respect is paid her and every consideration shown her by iho British authorities, the old lady has insisted that, if tbere be no present prospect of her husband returning to South Africa, she should bo allowdd to come to him, however terrifying such a long journey might be to her.