Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-02-08
TRANSvAAL WAR ITEMS.

At the re-assembling OF the britlsh
parliament on the 30th, the queen in
her speech, in part, says: The peace
which had recently been broken In
South Africa when last addressed you
has, unhappily, not been restored, but
otherwise my relations with other
states are friendly. am deeply grieved
that so many valuable lives should
have fallen a sacrifice, but / have wit
messed with pride and with heartiest
qualification the patriotic eagerness
and spontaneous loyalty with which
my subjects in all parts of my domin-
ions have come forward to share in the
common defence of their imperial in
terests. am confndent | shall not
look to them in vain when i exhort
them to sustain and renew their exer-
tions until they have brought this
struggle for the maintenance of the
empire and the assertion of its suprem-
acy in South Africa to victorious con-
clusion
Mr.. Macrum, who short time ago
threw up his position as consul at Pre-
toria, stopped at Washington on the
5th just long enough to secure post
ponement of the settlement of his ac-
counts, and then departed for his home
at East Liverpool, o., for few days
rest. Whether or not he is a bearer of
any message from Kruger is yet a
secret rir1H .ftnf n0
The Vossische Zeitung says: "The
best prepared and most carefully plan
ned British operation during the war
has now ended in complete fiasco.
What is there now to prop up the sink
ing prestige of world power?' To talk
about another 100000 men is rubbish
and the few battalions that can be
raised will not change the issue of the
campaign" " "
For the present the British can do
| nothing to help Ladysmith. Some ex-
perts believe that Gen White will try
to cut his way out. He must either do
this or surrender, for his food supply
upon the fall of Ladysmith, DIR. Leyds,
of Europe, and Montague White, in
Washington, will appeal for mediation.
| Webster Davis, United States assist
ant secretary of the interior, accom-
| panied by a party of friends, is at the
head lager of the Beers at Ladysmith,
and is closely inspecting the camps and
| positions around the beseiged town.
The German consul at Pretoria, Herr
Hermann, is accompanying Mr.. Davis
on his trip to the Boer head lager.
There is no sign, except the anxiety
of the British cabinet, that any hostile
demonstration against England is con-
| templated. Russia and France are
sure to take advantage of England's
helplessness by grabbing territory in
Asia, but the car is living up to his
reputation as the foe of war at the
present time. r
The latest news from South Africa
is unfavorably commented upon by the
German papers The National Zeitung
says: 1.-The British position around
Ladysmith is now untenable. Either
Lord Roberts must wait reinforcements
or remove his strategic center else
where, abandoning Ladysmith.
During the bombardment of Kimber-
Icy on the Goth the Beers sent $50
shells into all parts of the village. The
favorite target was the hospital but
shrapnel shell exploded close to
hearse which was proceeding to the
cemetery and shell burst in the Gem
etery during the funeral.
The British public seems to have
totally lost confidence in Gen. Butler.
The next big news is expected to be
furnished by the Beers. They have
doubled their energy in the siege of
Kimberley, and may be expected to
close in on Ladysmith at almost any
time. rr-tat raarrHr
All British subjects in the Barkly
West district, in the Transvaal, has
been ordered by the Beers to take up
arms for the republic under penalty
of e37 or three months at hard labor.
About 800 men are affected by this
order t.
1t was decided on the both that no
river and harbor bill would be pre-
scented at the present session of con-
gress.
The Lokal Anzeiger says: 1.-The de-
feat at Spion kop is likely to become of
decisive Importance for the whole war;"
The Boer shell factory at Johannes
burg has been blown up. tf.ytlt
President Mckinley celebrated his
57th birthday on Jan. 30.