Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-12-28
TRANsvAAL WAR ITEMS.


The British government has at last
consented TO mobilize foce which
Gen. Butler is credited with laving de-
manled all along as an essential OF sue
cess in South Africa, mandy 10000
mounted infantry. On the Forming OF
the Goth the war Office issuet an order
to the effect that the government had
decided to raise for South Africa a
mounted infantry force, To be called
Imperial Yeomanry" and p be re-
cruited from yeomanry, volunteers and
civilians possessing the requisite quail
fications Enlistment will h for one
year or during the continuance OF the
war. The men must be between 20
and 35 years of age and of equal physi-
que to the ordinary cavalry soldier.
Officers and men are to provide their
own horses and to wear neutral tint
cloth shooting jackets, not necessarily
uniform, felt hats, breeches and gait
ers. All must be good rioers and
marl<smen.
President Kruger's government has
formally protested to Secretary Hay
against the sale of munitions Of war by
American manufacturers and merchants
to the British government. Secretary
Hay has sent reply to the Boer gov
eminent rciterating the neutrality OF
the United States in the present war
and declaring that American citizens
in trading with both beligerents vio-
late no neutrality obligation.
The gravity of the military situation
in London is again becoming accent
uated in the public mind owing to the
complete absence of news Nothing
has been heard from Lord Methuen
since Dec. 18th, and it is feared that
his communications have been cut off.
If this be so, his position is dangerous.
Gen. Buffers casualty list at Colenso,
just published, shows that lag were
killed and 746 wounded. Two hundred
and twenty-seven are described as miss
ing, and of those about 40 are known
to be prisoners in the hands of the
Beers. This makes total larger than
Gen. Buffers original estimate.
Royal letters signed by the queen are
being circulated by the archbishop to
the bishops of the various dioceses au-
thorizing "a collection in the churches
throughout England on Jan in aid of
the fund for sick and wounded soldiers
and their families.
The Beers have been largely rein
forced since Gen. Gatacres reverse at
Stromberg. The country north of that
point is in arms, and the farms of the
loyalists are being taken by the Beers,
who reap the crops.
Gen Gatacre has issued a proclama-
ton forbidding all persons living on
farms to move about the district or to
visit Sterk storm, except on Saturdays,
and then only with passes, under pain
! of summary arrest.
The lord mayor of London, Alfred
| Newton, is raising and equipping a
force of 900 volunteers among the city
corps. The large city firms are contri-
buting the necessary expenses.
Little credence is placed in the re-
port that the guns lost by the British
were not capt6red by the Beers Sin
Redvers' artillery cannot now muster
much more than 30 guns.
Gen. Lord Roberts viii suppressed
! Gen. Butler in handling the British
forces in South Africa. Gen Kitchener
will also go to South Africa as chief o.
staff to Lord Roberts.
The government of New South Wales
has decided to send field hospita
corps and battery of artillery to Soutl
Africa in addition to the mounted con
tingent.
The bodies of two of the guides wh'
mislead Gen. Gatacre at Stormbert
were found on the battlefield. Th'
men had been shot.
The imperial government has &C
copied the offer of the Dominion gov
eminent to send a second contingen
to the Transvaal.