The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-22

summit Of the mountain, which, to all
appearances, was impregnable. The
top Of Majuba is saucer-shaped, with a
perpendicular belt running around it
broken by some Gulleys through which
access might be had from the slopes
below. These slopes are. steep and the
upper parts screened from the view
above. General colley distributed his
men round the edge of this position. but
neglected to fortify 1t in any way, not
believing the Beers would attempt to
scale the heights.
At first It looked as though he was
justified in this belief. for the Beers had
already begun to prepare for retreat,
seeing their flank threatened, when un-
der some inspiration their leaders,
Generals Joubert and smIdt decided to
try the effect Of direct assault. A
part Of the Boer force taking cover with
their usual skll' opened Are at long
range, doing. however, comparatively
little execution, owing to the British
troops, after the experience at the In
gOgo, taking care not to expose them
selves to the Boer craftsmanship.
While the attention Of the British was
distracted by this firing and they were
unable to put their heads over the edge
Of the summit without the very great
risk Of receiving bullet, some $50
Beers, the official statement says 1913,
were creeping up the steep slope OF the
mountain. One OF the BOer leaders,
with picked body OF about sixty men,
made for small peak standing out on
the edge of the mountain summit, which
proved to be the key OF the position.
Arrived at this point he discovered a
British picket quite unconscious Of the
proximity OF the enemy. BY well d.
rected vOlley the whole Of the picket
were laid low and the Beers seized the
peak. By this manoeuvre the British
were caught In flank and rear and fell
back in confusion from the edge OF the
summit. Meantime other parties OF
Beers rushed up by another gap and
completed the defeat Of the British, who
fled in panic, the Inflated Sir George
Colley putting an end to his own life.
Cameron. the special correspondent of
one Of the London papers, who was
present on the occasion and was cap
tured by the Beers and taken before
General Joubert. who released him af-
ter examination. described the British
soldiers as running and bounding down
the slope OF the mountain like deer. He
himself was in the flight. and stepping
on loose stone rolled down the hill to
find himself brought up by stalwart
Boer who escorted him to headquarters.
In describing the events OF that time
Cameron. who was afterwards killed at
Abu-Klea In the soudan. always main
tanned that the splendid shooting Of the
Beers had completely demorallzed the
British troops. and Inspired them with a
feeling bordering on terror at meeting
the Beers In the field. The British
losses at MaJuba were about half those
holding the hill, while the Boer loss was
six, of whom only one was killed.
The result of this memorable victory
was that treaty of peace between En-
gland and the Transvaal was signed
on March 2l.1SSl, England recognizing
the independence OF the Transvaal. on
February %, 1884, further convention
was signed by which the British gov
eminent retained only the power of
vetoIng. during six months after their
conclusion, any treaties between the
Transvaal and any other country ex-
cept the Orange Free State. It was ex-
pressly stated by Lord Derby that En-
gland gave up ali pretention to inter-
fere in the internal affairs OF the South
African republic. Swaziland was placed
under the administration of the Trans
vaal government In 1894. the swazIs re-
naming under the rule of their own
chief and their other rights being guar
anteed. Internal troubles, said by the
Beers to have been InstigRted by out
siders, broke out among the swazIs last
year. but were arranged without tight
Ing through their conclllatory treat
ment by the Boer authorities.
1t was the gold discoveries that led to
the present troubles In the Transvaal
The influx OF large alien population,
most Of them only seeking to make n
fortune and then return to Europe to
enjoy It, led the Beers. who were jeal-
Gus of their independence, to restrict
naturalization only to those who In
tended becoming permanent citizens Of
the republic. and then only after perl
cd OF probation prolonged beyond for
mer limits. II was this and further re-
strIctions imposed on foreigners as the
result OF the Jameson raid that have
been made the pretext for interference
with the internal affairs OF the Trans.
vaal by the present British government.
But behind all is the fact that the
Transvaal is the pivot OF the aspira-
lions Of the Afrikanders OF South Afrl-
ca. to separate and independent ma
tlonallty. to the constitution of fcder-
alton Of free states under the flag OF the
United states Of South Africa, 1t Is to
crush these tendencies ut the centre
that the British government Is deter
mined at the cost even Of bloody war
to assert Its sovereignty over the Trans
vaal. That is the root Of the matter;
the rights Of the UItlnnders and the