AFTER MR. KRUGER'S FLIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 181, 17 July 1900, Page 4

AFTER MR. KRUGER'S FLIGHT.

INTERVIEWED IN HIS 'MOVING CAPITAL.

About a month ago we were informed by cable that President Kruger, after his flight from Pretoria, was interviewed by a correspondent of Messrs. Pearson's new London paper, the Daily Express. The account of the interview, jas cabled to American papers, is as follows: j The entire executive offices of the Transvaal Government are in a railway car, which is shunted on a switch at Machadodorp station. President Kruger caused the interior of the coach to be reconstructed some time ago with a view to contingencies that have now arrived.

The correspondent of the Daily Express, who went from Lorenzo Marques to see President Kruger, was received yesterday. The President sat smoking a long pipe. He looked worried, but his bearing was quiet and determined.) " Yes," said President Kruger, "it is quite true that the British have occupied Pretoria. This, however, does not end the war. The burghers are fully determined to fight to the last. They will never surrender so long as 500 armed men remain in the country. I feel deeply encouraged by the fine work Steyn and De Wet are doing in the Free State.

" What, 1 ' exclaimed Mr. Kruger with energy "is a capital? It does not consist of any particular collection of bricks and mortar. The capital of the Kepublic, the seat of government, is here in this car. There is no magic about any special site. Our country is invaded, it is true, but it is not conquered. The Government is still effective."

Referring to reasons why he left Pretoria, Mr, Kruger said: — I was not foolish enough to be taken prisoner. I provide(i_thia_Baaaa^^ me to keep away f m Pretoria, where I could be •of'no and where I should only play into the hands of the enemy." "They say, Mr. Kruger," remarked the correspondent, "that you have .brought with'you gold to the value of : £2,000,000?" "It is not true," replied the President. " Whatever monetary resources I have with me are simply those which we require for State purposes. At the same time lam not going to tell you were our treasure is. Let Roberts find it if he can.' r

"They also say in London, Mr. Kruger, that you contemplate taking refuge on a Dutch man-of-war at Lorenzo Marques." " That again is a lie," retorted the Prs-ident with vehemence. " I know of no such Dutch war vessel. I am inot contemplating refuge anywhere. 'I shall not leave my country. There will be no need of my doing anything of the kind."

"There is much surprise at your having left Mrs. Kruger." " But why ? Mrs. Kruger is quite safe in Pretoria. She would only be put to personal convenience here. All communication between us is stopped, of course, but she will await my return with calmness and courage. She is a brave woman. I. am here awaiting further information. We •ire surrounded by faithful burghers and are qViiet safe." Secretai y of State Reitz remarked: — •' You may deptnd upon it the war is not over. Guerilla warfare will continue over an enormous area. We in-, tend to fight to the bitter end, and shall probably retire upon Lydenburg, were we can hold out for many months." " Yes," observed Mr. Kruger, " it is only now that the real struggle has , begun. I fear that there will be much bloodshed, but the fault is that of the -British Government." > i

I Then, raising his voice to an almost passionate height, Mr. Kruger exclaimed—"The time has passed for us to .talk. We have done plenty of that, but it has done no good. The only thing left for us to do is to keep on fighting—to keep on fighting." The Daily Express in commenting upon the interview, refers to the " unabated defiance of the chief of the Trans vaaleis."