The Boer War.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 62, 14 March 1901, Page 2

The Boer War.

THE BOERS TO CONFER ON

FRIDAY.

WANT TO DISCUSS THE POSITION,

By Tolograph—Press Association—Copyright London, March 13.

A confcrcnco of Boor commandos will bo hold on Friday to discuss tho position.

Although thcro aro eight soparato guerilla commandos in tho Oran go River Colony, tho civil administration is largely replacing tho military.

MURDER OF PEACE ENVOYS,

Bloemfontein, Jan. 28.

Tho following is tho full text of tho wire received by' tho Military Governor from tho Kroonstad District Commissioner, with rcfercnco to tho aUogcd murder of a Boor peace envoy by order of DoWct: 11 Kroonstad, Jan. 26.—Sequel to doath of Morgondaal. Am awaiting arrival of oyc-wit-ncsscs from Liudloy. Havo ovidonco of Gorliardus Muller, who was present whon Morgondaal was shot. 110 stated that Morgondaal was never tried by tho Boor court. Froncman lioggod Morgondaal first in a most cruel way with a Bjainbok across tho faco and head, and threatened to shoot him. Do Wot called out, 1 Shoot tho b—,’ and Froncman promptly shot Morgondaal. The evidenco appears only too clear. I have the statement of an oyo-witness, Muller, who was only 10 yards away all tho time, and that of Mrs Morgondaal, who received tho death-bed statement of her husband, which confirms Muller’s statement, and a letter from a doctor, >vho heard tho story from othors. Andrics Wessols, who went with Morgondaal, was still alivo last Saturday. His ovidonco, when obtainable, will bo of value. Copies of affidavits will bo forwarded to you. Tho caso is one of a cowardly murder of a British subject and justico of tho peace, who had taken tho oath of allegiance, and was under tho whito flag. No doubt, later, plenty of confirmatory ovidonco w)]> bo forthcoming.”

Smaldccl, Janucry 30. I have just interviewed a nativo who was with Morgondaal, tho pcaco envoy, and escaped. He arrived horc this morning, and statos that Morgondaal was first sjamboked and afterwards shot by tho personal order of Dc Wet. Ho was then carried to a farm-house. The boy also * statos that Wc'ssols was made prisoner, but is alive.

Bloemfontein, January 30. Tho District Commissioner of Kroonstad has telegraphed to tho Military Governor that Andrics Wossels, who accompanied Morgondaal, who was shot by Froneman noar Lindley, while on a mission to acquaint tho burghers with Lord Kitchener’s offer in regard to voluntary surrender, was also shot by order of Dc Wet at Klipfontcin on Monday. Kroonstad, Feb. 2.

Evidence accumulates which proves beyond doubt that the peace envoy Morgendaal was cruelly murdered. The native who drove Morgendaal and Wesscls out was taken prisoner by Do Wet, but escaped from the laager. He was an cyowitness to tho murder, and lias made an affidavit which corroborates in every detail the information already published. Ho, however, states that both men had undergone examination, but judgment had not been passed. That Mr Andrics Wessels, ex-M.V., met with tho samo fate, after being sentenced to death, appears only too true. Tho report comes from a reliablo source, accompanied by a warning to others not to attempt to approach the commandos on similar missions. '

Tho incident has cast quite a gloom over tho town, where both men were well known and highly respected. Mr Wessols was an old man and lame. Ho had considerable interest among burghers prior to the war. The district around Kroonstad is quiet, with the exception of small roaming bands on booty bent.

PLEA FOR PEACE.

SUFFICIENT BLOOD HAS BEEN

SHED.

The Bloomfontoin Post publishes a letter sent from General Piet Do Wet to his brother, Commandant Christian Do Wot, in which the former makes a strong appeal for peace, and declares that enough blood has been shed. Piet De Wet declares that from the commencement of the war he has done his duty to his Government, "and although not one of the bravest soldiers, he has fought as well as he could. When ho saw that they were beaten by the British he wrote;to the President requesting him to consider terms of peace, but such were not entertained. lie had always done his duty, and never lagged behind. “ Take, for instance,” ho continues, “ the battle at Schietmakaar, where I, with Commandant Prinsloo charged the guns when we were so shamefully left in the lurch by - General Froncman, who, instead of charging at this point, according to agreement, fled. (Today he is the very man who shoots Mr Morgendaal in cold blood. Don’t forget that there is a God, and that He docs not sleep.) , , “ I was also convinced that the Tran, : vaal Government and the Council of_War were in favour of making peace. And , what do I see now ? That you and President "Steyn carry on a guerilla war. This made ine write a letter to Lord Kitchener, dated December 11,1900, requesting him to give me the opportunity to come to the Free State and try; to persuade even if it wore only some men to lay down their arms, that peace could bo restored, and further bloodshed prevented, thoro being no Government in the Orange Free State any longer against whom I could commit high treason. After appealing to hi? brother to consider the positive unrighteousness of their cause, the writer concludes:—

“In the first place we declared war against England, contrary to God’s Word, a kingdom twenty times as strong as we are.—Luke 14, 31. Secondly, we crossed our borders, invaded the colonies, attacked them, destroyed private property, annexed parts ofthe colonies, and forced the inhabitants to take up arms against their lawful Government. vf'

Even if there should have been a nation in Europe willing to help us, our own doings mad& it impossible for them to send help. ,

“ Could we for a moment think of taking back the country, should it be offered us, in its state of destruction, and with thousands of people who have to be supported by a Government that has not a farthing, andji .debt of five • or six million pounds sterling?

•Even if we could get help from Europe, could we for a. moment think that there would be a nation so mad as to Lave thousands of men lulled, and spend millions to win the country back, and then, out of love for us, give up the Republics and tho necessary capital to govern them ? v

(Signed) P. Da Wet,