Willmar tribune., 1899-12-20
CRISIS IN WORLD HISTORY.

The peace loving, simple and God-
fearing Boer of South Africa, valiant
ly fighting for liberty and independ-
ence, bids fair to cause an upheav al
in the affairs of the world the bounds
of which no human eye can at this
time discern.
The Boer settlements in South Afri,
ca, augmented by emigration from a il
the northern countries of Europe,
have been subjected to the indignities
offered them by nation whose lust
for gold and world-power has long
made it leader among the robber-na-
tions of the earth. The inevitable
conflict came at last, and it found Il e
Boer alert, forewarned and aggres-
sive. The moment the tocsin of WAR
sounded he invaded the surrounding
British territory and beleaguered the
British towns where garrisons wer4
stationed. Over the boundary on the
western slope of his mountainous ter
ritory lie the British towns Mafeking,
Vryburg and Kimberley. 70 the
southeast on the eastern slope lies
Ladysmith. These towns were close.
ly invested aud a continual lombard
ment has been kept up to reduce them.
The proud mistress of the seas
awoke, whistled for her dogs OF war
and in thrice her entire standing
army, well-provisioned, we'll armed
and accompanied by all the en- gines of
destruction known to modern warfare
were riding the high seas for the care.
There we're regiments sunbrowned
from campaigns in East Indian and
soudan campaigns, regiments from
Australia, and regiments from North
America. The Beers we're to be ami
hilated and their territory appropri-
ated, to become another portion of the
great empire. She mustered her grim
warriors before her and Gene1 al
Butler was chosen to lead in the " +
of total extinction because of Il S
traits of bulldog tenacity and merci
less cruelty. The plan of campais n
provided for three armies. General
Methuen proceeded from Cape Town
by rail northward through the Cape
Colony and was to first relieve kim
berlcy and from that point assume TIE
offensive. General Gatacre was to
invade the Orange Free State in order
to draw the state troops to the defense
of their homes and thus weaken tie
Transvaal forces which were investing
Ladysmith and Kimberley. Gene al
Butler himself with the largest bo iy
of troops landed at Durham and WAS
to march to the relief of Ladysmith a
few score miles distant. His army
augmented with the garrison at Lady
smith, some 10000 men in all, the
flower of the English army, he was to
push forward into the Transvaal' to-
ward the capital, Pretoria.
The civilized world awaited in awe
the crushing of the Boer forces by tine
supposed superior and we'll discipline d
troops of the British empire. Every
lover of liberty throughout the world
dreaded the news. Not a power on
earth would interfere, palsied as they
all had become by their own greed for
gold and lust for power. But all the
reckonings of man did not allow a
contingency for the will of the Lord Of
hosts. He heard the cries and pray
ers of his faithful children of the hills,
and he decreed that the arrogant pro-
gram of the mistress of the worlo
should be checked. Il: = *o@>zz~ ~.
Gen. Methuen arrived at Modder
river. All bridg had been destroyed.
On the other shore lay the Boer
forces, oslensibly to prevent q cross
ing. In early morn an advance was
made. The artillery opened its roar
ing serenade to make 4 breach in the
opposing force long enough to give
time for laying 9 pontoon bridge.
The we'll formed ranks Of Infantry " th
cleaning weapons and flashing ac-
coutrements advanced to wage battle.
Forward they came dis daining an el,e-
my they could not see. But sudde ef:ly
they are swept 81 their feet By q well: stells:
ssimed rife dre. The ranks we're thil-
ned even! at the first volley. Such
aipsd murd derons fire. Was never