THE TRANSVAAL. THE BOER REPUBLICS. DR LEYDS ON THE SITUATION.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 9688, 13 February 1900, Page 4

THE TRANSVAAL. THE BOER REPUBLICS. DR LEYDS ON THE SITUATION.

Vienna, December 24. A correfpondtnt of th.9 Neaer Wiener Journal Ins hid an interview with Dr LeydB, ia 'ho course of wraoh the I*< ter made the following statement: " I have no iost-uc ions concerning mediation. Aa ell telegrams pus through the baids of tha English aa^ thotit'ea, President Kruger csald not cornamoicabe with me on the eurjec^. As regards my estimate on the ait at-, bi d, I may tell you tint both of he R c pahl C8 are res'lvid to continue th; war. They lack ne ther mea cor amman tioa, nor are they alumed by the appointment of the Ecglish Gejotah Roberta and Ki'chscer. Both of these efficera wt 1 meet wi h • nco c determined re iitance lhaa th ir pre« deoeßßOrp. M«Dy Boers in tto C*pe CUony and Natal will tlz» the opportunities offered by Qejerel Roberta's appointment, which aigoifies a war of extermination agninit iv, to join our army." Being asked whebber he thought an tittempb at mediation woold he fru't< leap, Dr Layds answeed : •' Ai iegirds England, ceitainly, The English w.nt to te cieve their reverses, bua the S.uth African RepoUica wou'd impose as a first cmdiDion to tny effer of mediation that there should ba no return to the status quo ante. Something better wculd be reqaired, and it would hive to extend to the inner and foreign intdepeodence cf both Republics.'' Dr Lcyds coacluded with these words: "In the int^rf&ta of both beUiger* cot', s speedy ( c minabion of the w r s desirable, as they are th eatened in the eamo degree by a geoerdl risiog of the bUck rac3\"

Paris, Decembfr 24. The Junraal published th's morning an interview with Dr Leyda in which tlo agent of the Transvaal ia repie* atntad as having s»id : " We have arms and ammunition to proloag te straggle aa !oag «b may be ntcesßsiy. I graat ycu fio importatknioffood into thg Transvaal are stepped, bob th fa doaß not aflfcot the Bee s, for our boI ii re 1 va oa a little rice and floor cake This, witb a morsel of b'lbong —dried be f —3affiCB3. The c nlj luxu yia tob ceo, and of this we have qua-.t ties. Ab for a'-iraiaents we hive tie Mauser aod the Martini-Henry rfle, aloboagh f r bhe moment o ly ilia former is in use. We have enough, of th:m to provide every Beer in tin two Repallios wi-h bwc. Th> saaie i> true of the ether. Nor wll oar cattddgca run oir. Do oot forgeb tbab the Boers never in* dol>B in loonJa of fitiog, bub 6ra only wlun they see the mark, Tqbb no amojuui ion it watted, but even if the were nob their pr ctioe tiey wou d ttlll have enough —aoi Hods of oari* ndges. As fcr oar art llery, each giio h provided wi h eevo al tlmsmda of charge!. lhare are al'e*dy expert aod c-nEtrucbots at Pretoria ready to le^air tbo ait Lry aod if noceseary to mske proj ctiles, A Ger-. man and cno of the rxoib eminent) F ench exper a are out there.' A Mut'n reporter In b had en inter, view with Dr L°yd?. Ths main grieH vance vih'ch be now pus is tha telen graphic communicatione hive been ictercep'ed betwcea h mself and Prß-idect Kroger, that ha U an^ble to >n r o mMr Kruger of what ib t»king p'aoe ia Europe, aad thit tha latt r, even if he debired o send commen'cabieni favourable to peace, could net get them to their destination through brs authorized agenf,