Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-05-03
TRANSVAAL WAR ITEMS.

A Bloemfontein correspondent in
commenting upon the war situation,
says: 1.-The Beers have taken every ad-
vantage of the mountainous nature OF
the country which marks the line of
their retreat to Ladybrand. The task
of driving them is difficult and 1t is
doubtful whether they can be reduced
to submission in a district so favorable
to their tactics. A cavalry reconnais-
sance % miles northeast encountered
400 Beers. The British drove them
out of kopje north of Karee. Our
outposts are still harassed by moving
commands. In an outpost affair on
the Goth several Beers were killed.
The enemy will certainly make stand
at Kroonstad, where they have con-
structed miles of trenches"
The latest news from the Orange
Free State indicates that though the
Beers have evacuated Thabanchu, they
have only done so to occupy stronger
positions. On Sunday, April 20, Gen.
Dewet made an effort to turn French's
eastern flank, which was only foiled
by the cavalry after vigorous maneuv-
ering. The Beers hold the ridges to
the eastward, whence they will prob
ably fall back when the pressure of
superior numbers increases. The Brit
ish casualties sustained during the
Thabanchu fighting were slight. Gen.
French's object, now that all chance
of catching the main bodies of the
burghers has disappeared, is to harass
| the Beers and prevent any well-organ-
lied retreat.
Many stories of marvellous escapes
| from the Boer shell that were poured
into Kimberley during the siege have
| been told, but this is equal to any of
them. A lady named Miss Mallett was
| lying on the bed in her room when a
| servant came 10 the door and asked for
| some money. Half-raising herself to
| take the purse from her pocket, her
| feet were removed from the bed, when
one of the 100-pound monsters crashed
through the roof of the house, struck
the part of the bed on which but n
moment before the lower portion of
her body had been lying, and so on
! through the floor without exploding.
! The bed was covered with debris from
the roof, but the lady escaped unhurt.
The Beers are preparing to spend the
winter in Natal. They are removing
their stock from the high veldt into
Natal for winter gazing and they are
demanding that the Kaifirs pay the hut
! tax to them instead of to the Natal
! government. They also declare that
unless the Kaflirs work for them they
(the Kaffirs) must remove south of Sun
days river.
British forces are now in control of
Thabanchau, and it is said they will
continue to hold it, owing to its STRAIT
egic Importance. Many burghers in
the vicinity are reported swearing al
legiance to Britain and giving up their
arms.
Boer peace ENJOYS will leave Rotter-
dam for the United States the fore
part of this month. 1t is said they
place hopes in Bryan, thinking his in
huence with the people may force the
administration to do something for
them.
prisoner captured by the British
on the Goth asserts that President Steyn
was present during the fight at Slang
fontein east of Leeuw kop on the 23d
He had shaved his beard, SO that he
was not easily recognizable.
The strength of the Beers in the Big
rarsberg district is believed to be be
tween 5000 and 5000. They are com
manded by Gen. Lucas Meyer and are
well supplied with artillery.
Lord Roberts cabled from Bloemfon
TEN under date of April 25, as follows
De Vets dorp was occupied by Gen
Chermside without opposition this
morning.
Bloemfontein dispatches say The
British war Office must keep a steady
stream of horses pouring into that dis
trict for the use of Lord Roberts army
Gen. Oliver, Boer leader, is reported
to have been wounded at Wepener las
week