The Yale expositor., 1899-12-01
TRANsvAAL WAR ITEMS.

Mr.. Macrum, the Uuited states con-
sui at Pretoria, has been instructed by
cable TO impress upon President Kruger
that in the view of the U. 5. govern
ment the usages of all civilized nations
sanction the ministration of neutral
representative in the interest of the
citizens and the captives of one Of the
parties TO a war, and he must further
insist upon performing the sacred du-
ties imposed by all considerations of
humanity. This is practically an an
nouncement of the insistence of our
government upon the execution OF
the trust it assumed to look after
the interests of British citizens in tho
South African republics.
Callers at the United States er,I ,ssy
in London on the 21st were info. ed
that the Uuited States was no -er
able TO forward messages or secure n
formation regarding the British pris-
oners, President Kruger having re-
fused the request TO permit Consul Ma
crum to transmit list of British pris-
oners. Though Mr.. Macrum appar-
emily still remains the nominal agent
of Great Britain, he is practically de-
prived of all powers pertaining to the
position.
A severe battle was fought at Bel
mont on the 23d. Gen. Methuen, Of
the British army, claims a complete
victory The British losses were SO
killed, 15S wounded and 10 missing.
The Boer casualties are known TO have
been heavy and 40 were made prisoners.
1t is also reported that the Dutch in
the Broken Nail districk continue to
rise, and a body of armed Dutch have
already joined the Burghers in the
field
The British transport Kildonan Cas-
tie, said to be the largest transport in
the world, which left Southampton,
Nov. 4, with 5000 men, their kits,
weapons, machine guns, ammunition,
balloons, pontoons, wagons, etc, ar
rived at Cape Town on the ed. About
$4,000 of Gen. Buffers army corps have
now arrived.
Gen Snyman, who is outside of MAIZE
king, reports heavy fighting on the af-
ternoon of the goth. The British
briskly fred on the French cannon and
Boer forts. The Beers replied, bonn
harding the British forts with good eff
feet. The loss of the British is un-
known. One Boer was wounded.
The military authorities have given
permission to the Canadian contingent,
on its arrival at Cape Town to march
through the city, which will be beauti-
fully decorated and the day will be OBJ
served as "a holiday.
United States Consul-General Stowe
has received information that the Brit
ish prisoners in Pretoria are we'll fed
and that there is no truth in the state
ment that they are suffering from
scurvy.
The official returns of the Transvaal
casualties since the outbreak of the
war show that 90 men have been killed
and 200 wounded, of whom a number
have recovered and returned to the
front.
The Beers have cut the telegraph
wires between Durham and Estcourt,
making it impossible to get direct COM
munication.
An official message from Gen. White
at Ladysmlth, dated Nov. -, says tho
situation is unchanged and that the
troops are well and cheerful.
From another source it is learned
| that in the battle at Belmont the Boer
losses was 500 killed and $50 wounded.
The whereabouts of Gems. Lawton
and Young is becoming as mysterious
as Aguinaldo's. The belief is begin
ming to grow at Manila that Gen. Law
| ton has struck the trail of the insur-
| gent government" and is pursuing the
ministers into the Binqua mountains.
1t has been his ambition to capture tho
Filipino leaders and he and Gen. Young
believe that cavalry brigade, living
on the country, could run them down
to any part of the island. One vague
report brought by Spanish prisoners is
that Aguinaldo and others were nearly
surrounded by Americans soon after
the insurgent chief left Tarlac, but he
escaped through the lines in peasants
clothes.
Gen Macarthur has returned to Tur-
lac and has established his headquarters