Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-01-11

news throws no further light upon the
war situation. The exact position at
Molteno and Cypergat is not yet Clear,
but in any case these little engage
ments are of small Importance beyond
proving that the British forces are
beginning to attain greater degree of
mobility. 1t is fully expected that
next week Will see heavy battle on
the Tugela river, which is now the real
pivot of the campaign. The Beers ap-
pear to be working incessantly with
shovel and pick.
Lord A[ethuen's cavalry scouting has
developed the fact that the Beers in
trenchments extend some forty miles,
far overlapping the British positions
and making flank attacks exceedingly
difficult. Military analysts affirm that
the Boer trenches confronting Gen.
Butler stretch away some seventeen
miles, and that work upon them is be-
ing pushed unremittingly.
While the advance is delayed flank
movements are rendered most difficult
because long marches are not done
with celebrity and it is hard to time an
attack with certainty. The extent of
disatfection may now be measured by
taking line from Priesk, on the west,
to Herschel or Barkly, on the east.
Along the whole of this line, except
at points actually occupied by the
British, the population seems for the
most part hostile. New redoubts are
being built at Kimberley, and seven
teen miles of works now encompass
the town. The admiralty programme
embraces the staticning of small
squadrons at Durham, Simon's Bay,
Port Elizabeth, Lorenzo Marques, st.
Vincent in the Cape Verde islands and
Cape Town, and sending an additional
ship or two to Alden. 1t is announced
that the British agents and detectives
are secretly watching all Italian ports.
Beers Ask United States to Inter-
vene.
New York, Jan. Ga special to the
Herald from Washington says: There
is reason to believe that the Transvaal
government has only recently request
ed this government to use it's good
offices to bring an end to the war with
Great Britain. The proposition came
through the American consul at Pre-
toria. No answer has been given by
the state department, and unless
Great Britain intimates that she is
desircus of the president exercising
his good offices there is no reason to
believe that he will comply with the
Boer request. 1t can be stated on au-
thority that there is no intention con
the part of the administration to de-
part from it's policy Of non-interference
unless requests for mediation are re.
ceived simultaneously from Great
D,.;to,, or1 rNho rNporcvao1
All Must Fight.
Cape Town, Jan. 6.-1ntelligence has
been received here from the Free State
to the effect that President Steyn has
issued a proclamation declaring that
every white man, irrespective of ma
tionality, is to be considered burgher
and is liable to be compelled to fight
for the defense of his country.
Want Mckinley to Mediate.
Brussels, Jan. 6. = Senator Lejune,
former minister of justice and now
member of the Belgium council Of
State, presided at a meeting in this
city yesterday of the committee re-
Gently formed to organize movement
in Belgium in support Of an address
to President Mckinley appealing to
him to mediate in favor of peace be-
tween Great Britain and The Trans
vaal. Among those present were M.
La Fontaine, former secretary, many
other former members of the senate,
several members of the. chamber Of
deputies, several professors Of the Uni
versity Of Brussels and number of
other prominent men, most of them
members Of the Universal League of
Peace. After long discussion it was
decided to invite the public to send
letters in support Of the movement to
the secretary of the league, and on
next Sunday to present petitions for
signature in all the cafes in Brussels
and the provincial towns. The petition
to President Mckinley reads as fol-
lows:
brightly moved by the bloody and
terrible struggle in South Africa be-
tween two Of the most civilized peo-
pies of the world, the undersigned adj
dress a most pressing appeal to your
excellency in favor of mediation, which
you alone can offer. They beg you to
| fulfill the sacred duty OF human
| brotherhood"