Part 3 (1/2)
At the time the Commandant was at the fort attending to General Grobelaar and about 500 men who were retreating in the direction of Pretoria. During the day bodies of armed burghers were continually pa.s.sing through the town.
On arrival at his office Dr. Krause found Major Davis in the company of two old Johannesburg residents. The latter were dressed in mufti.
Both these men had taken an active part in the agitation which preceded the war.
Major Davis in soldierly manner addressed Dr. Krause by saying that he was commanded by Lord Roberts to demand the immediate and unconditional surrender of the town, in the name of Her Majesty Queen Victoria.
Dr. Krause's reply was very short: ”No, sir, not immediately and not unconditionally.”
Major Davis thereupon said that Lord Roberts had also expressed a desire that the Commandant should grant him an interview, at which the matter could be discussed. Dr. Krause a.s.sented to this proposition.
What the Boers wanted was delay--and if Commandant Krause could delay the forward advance of the British troops a great advantage would be gained.
Lord Roberts was encamped just above the Victoria Lake, close to Germiston. On arrival at the camp Dr. Krause was met by Lord Roberts on the verandah of the house occupied by him and his staff.
A private interview then took place between the two officers, at which the terms of surrender of Johannesburg were agreed upon, and which will be found in the letter set out hereunder.
The chief reason for an armistice advanced by the Boer Commandant was that if the British were at once to enter the town, street-fighting would undoubtedly take place, as the many armed burghers pa.s.sing through the town would only obey the orders of their own respective Commandants and Field-cornets. Such street-fighting would be a serious menace to the women and children and to the other peaceful citizens of the town. Lord Roberts agreed to this, adding that he had once, in Afghanistan, experienced street-fighting and would not like to see it again.
Another incident of this interview is worth recording, viz. the protest made by Dr. Krause at the presence of the two civilians who accompanied Major Davis. Lord Roberts asked for the reason of this protest, and was informed that, according to the view of the people in Johannesburg, these men, through the part they played in the mendacious political agitation which was carried on prior to the war, were partly responsible for the war, and further that he (Dr. Krause) had in his possession a warrant for the arrest of one of these men for high treason, issued prior to the commencement of hostilities, and consequently their presence in the town was looked upon with a great deal of disfavour and resentment.
Lord Roberts expressed his regret, and said that these men had accompanied his officer only because he was told that they would be excellent guides, knowing the locality and the officials.
The terms of surrender were agreed to, including an armistice of twenty-four hours. This delay undoubtedly helped to save the Republican forces from utter destruction and certainly enabled General Botha and the other Boer officers to retreat with their men beyond Pretoria and to collect their scattered forces.
Dr. Krause returned to Johannesburg after this interview and immediately set about making the necessary arrangements to carry out his part of the bargain. A Proclamation was issued, calling upon all armed burghers and other capable men to leave the town; all officials were ordered to be in readiness the next day at the respective offices, for the purpose of handing over their administration to their successors.
Early the next morning Mr. William Shawe, the Deputy Sheriff, was dispatched to Lord Roberts, with a formal letter, confirming the terms of surrender agreed to at the above interview. This historical doc.u.ment is, I believe, here printed for the first time and reads as follows:
”JOHANNESBURG, ”_May 30th, 1900._ ”Lord Roberts, ”Commander-in-Chief of Her ”Majesty's troops in South Africa.
”YOUR LORDs.h.i.+P,
”Referring to the verbal interview I had with Your Lords.h.i.+p this morning, with reference to the surrender of the town, Johannesburg, I now wish to confirm the following in writing:
”(a) That all officials and other Government employees will be treated with the necessary respect and consideration. On their behalf I can give Your Lords.h.i.+p the a.s.surance, that until the surrender is complete, everything will be done by them to facilitate Your Lords.h.i.+p's work, in so far as their honour allows.
”(b) With reference to the protection of women and children (including the women and children of Burghers on Commando),--that these persons will not be molested by the troops,--Your Lords.h.i.+p having already given the necessary instructions in this connection.
”(c) That property will be protected, also forage, except in so far as military requirements necessitate it.
”(d) That as regards the 13,000 Kaffirs still on the mines, the necessary precautions will be taken by Your Lords.h.i.+p:--in this respect the Special Mine Police corps, till now under my command, will render Your Lords.h.i.+p all a.s.sistance.
”(e) Enclosed I send Your Lords.h.i.+p a copy of a notice distributed by me, which speaks for itself, and from which Your Lords.h.i.+p will learn that all fighting and armed burghers have been ordered to leave the town at once.