A MISSION OF PERSUASION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 147, 22 June 1901, Page 5

A MISSION OF PERSUASION.

MRS L. BOTHA'S VISIT TO EUROPE

Mrs Louis Hotha (.says the Natal "Times"' of 17th inst.), wife of the Commandant-General of the Boer forces in the field, arrived in Durban on Friday. She made no .secret of the mission upon which she is now entering, and for which she has obtained the consent of Lord Kitchener. Mrs Botha is among those who disapprove of the continuance of the war, and has 'three times specially visited her husband to induce him to abandon the hopeless cause in which he is still engaged. All these attempts failed to induce the. General to surrender, and now Mrs Botha has hit upon the idea of undertaking a journey across the ocean to interview cXPresident Kruger, in the hope of prevailing upon iiini to urge her husband to discontinue the struggle. Possibly the idea is that if their former President gives such an instruction, the forces in the field will feel free to lay down their arms. Every facility is being afforded Mrs Botha in carrying out her mission, which, for the sake of the suffering of thousands of Boers, it i.s to be hoped, will be successful, as prolongation of. the- war can only entail further misery for them. Mrs Jiotha. who is young and very intelligent, heartily desires an end of the terrible and hopeless Struggle. She speaks very highly of the kind treatment Dutch women have received from the military authorities. A goodly number of friends accompany lier to Europe, including Mrs Fisher (wife of the Commandant), Mrs Be range, Mrs Loun, and others.