UNKNOWN

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 245, 21 August 1902, Page 1

UNKNOWN

London, August 17.

The steamer Saxon, with Generals Botha, De Wet, ami j'e la Key on board, reach, il Boris mouth at ten o’clock on baturd y moruing. They weie met by Miss Emily Hobhouse, Mr Abraham Fischer, and Dr Clark, formerly Consul-General for England in the South African Republic. A tremendous concourse cheered the Boer Generals lustily upon landing. All three had accepted the invitation to w’tness the naval review, but Geneial De la Roy, after he had con»ulted Mr Fischer, refused to keep his engagement. The visitors went on board the steamer Nigeria, where Viscount Kitchener introduced them to Earl Roberts and Mr Chamberlain. The latter had a long conversation with them, and also several minutes’ talk with General Botha’s ten yearold son.

The Boers afterwaids entrained for London. They return to Cowes to -day and visit the King. The crowd mobbed the Boer Generals at Waterloo station, crying “ Good old D» Wet,” “ Brave soldiers,” and “We are all united." The railway police and porters cleared a space to allow the Generals to reach two railway ’buses, which were cheered through the streets. Pressmen pursued the ’buses in cabs to the hotel, but the Generalsdeclinedinterviews, though they announced that they aie delighted with their reception in England. They will proceed to Holland shortly, possibly for the late Mr Lucas Meyer’s funeral on Tuesday. The party includes Mrs De la Key and the wife of Commandant Ferreira.

August 18

His Majesty the King bad a very cordial fifteen minutes’ audience with the Boer Generals. His Majesty referred to the very gallant manner in which they had fought, and to the consideration and kindness wherewith they had treaied the British, including the wounded. His Majesty concluded by expressing his warm wishes for their future.

The Generals feelingly acknowledged the King’s gracious sentiments. They afterwards 1 m-

with Viscount Kitchener - y were cheered during the jouu ey from Southampton to London. They informed the newspaper representatives that they wer© delighted and much struck with the King’s reception. The Kino, who was on the deck of the Royal yacht, went towards the gangway on their arrival, and after their introduction shook bands with each of them. Later His Majes y introduced them to the Queen and Princess Victoria.

The Berlin newspaper National Zeitung predicts a stormy interview between the Generals and Dr Leyds. The latter will be asked to disgorge, and he will probably accuse the Generals of compounding with the enemy, just as the Krugeriles used Mr Lucas Meyer’s visit to Mr Chamberlain as a weapon against him ; but the Generals will unlikely listen to those played-out methods, and will go forward in accordance with their own judgment of what is best in pursuance of their mission for raising money to assist their distressed countrymen.

The papers consider the generous reception given to the Generals as a since)e expression of the admiration of King and people alike in welcoming them as subjects of the Crown. The Times says that while it is right to show respect to a brave enemy and reasonable to accept their assurances of fidelity, the exuberance of emotion shown by vbi London crowds was much in excess of what was appropriate, and was unworthy of the spirit in which the struggle had been conducted on both sides.