The Pretorians have practically confessed an understanding with the disloyalists
in Cape Colony. One or two of the latter are being tried for treason, and so concerned is President Kruger about their fate that on February 10th he intimated to Lord Salisbury that he might avenge their sentences on the prisoners in his hands. Lord Salisbury, of course, replied that the President would be held personally responsible for any such outrage. That means, writes Mr. Kruger to the —Yew York Herald, that " he will hang ME," and he expresses contempt for the threat. With the surrender of Cronje, of course, this danger vanishes ; and the Boer agents are now busily spreading a report that they will destroy Johannesburg and the mines. They hope by this threat to stimulate the German and French Governments into intervention, but as yet they have only annoyed their French and German sup- porters, who want to believe the Boers highly civilised and humane warriors. The mines cannot be destroyed, though they can be temporarily injured, and Johannes- burg would rise from its ashes as Chicago • These threats are, in fact, only advertisements of the rage. of the Beer -leaders, who are aware of the full extent of their defeati, who are warned from Cape Colony that the stream of reinforcements never ends, and who perceive symptoms that their authority over their deluded followers is waning. They have alvie,ys .concealed their leeks, Wand lately they . have been obligid to invent.victories. .
