Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1900-06-08
British Troops Engaged
Roer Troops Engaged
British Losses
Boer Losses .
Cost to Britain
Cost to Beers

one that has scanned the hearts of the
victors with sorrow. 1t was not
achieved before the British nation had
passed through seasons of humiliation,
when even their ultimate success was
doubted. 1t was not achieved without
loss of life greater, perhaps. than
among the Beers.
The war began with an ultimatum
by the South African republic, issued
on October 10 and put into effect
October -. For days before this Il
had been known that such a result
was inevitable. Grievances asserted
by outlanders in the Transvaal, made
an occasion for intervention by Great
Britain. had remained uncorrected
Mediation had failed Long neSotia-
tons. tentative on both sides. made
clear differences of Intention which
could not be reconcied. President
Kruger. pressed ny the aggressive els
ment of young Beers. finally decided to
take the initiative. President StCyn
of the Orange Free State at once an
nounceI thai his government would
stand or fall with its brother republic
General Sir George Stewart White
was then commander in Natal. His
force numbered 1900 men. most of
them at Pietorm2rtiZburs in reserve
but 1000 at Ladysmith.
Skirmishes in Natal quickly fol-
lowed. Newcastle was occupied on the
14th. Then on the goth came the bat
tie OF Glencoe. to the north of Lady
smith, where General Joubert was de-
feated by General William Penn Sy-
monds This. with another victory at
Elandslaagte, where the victOrs lost
in killed and wounded $50, was not
sufficient to stay the Boer advance
and soon General Tule second in
command to General Symonds, was
forced TO fall back to ioin General
White at Ladysmith, leaving his SUI
periOr officer. wounded at Glencoe. to
fall into the hands OF the Beers. who
treated him well until his death a few
days later. The withdrawal required
a three days terrible march before
Ladysmith was reached.
Victory Tor Bur.hers.
IL the meantime General White had
received endorsements from PETER
maritZhui \. and he settled himself to
hold Natal for his country The first
great battle came at Ladysmitn on
the 30ih OF October, when tie Beers
shelled the town. wounding or killing
leo British. and capturing during a
sortie the E'irs, Gloucester regiment
and the First Battalion of Irish Fusil-
iers.
Al Kimberley and at Mafeking
fighting had also been going on. Pres
ident Steyn had issued proclamation
declaring Bechuanaland annexed to
the Orange Free State. and this had
been answered by a counter procla
nation from Sir Alfred Miner declar-
ing the first ANIL and void. Sir Red
vers Butler had been given the COM
mand in South Africa as soon as war
had been declared. and with his staff
and heavy re-eniorcements was on his
way thither-
Invade Cape Colony.
The fghtins in the month OF Novem
Der was marked by two characteristic
les. One was the capture by the Beers
of various points around Ladysmith
Colenso. Estcourt and Others. SO as to
effectually invest General Whites
force. The other was their passage
over the line into Cape Colony iii
strong forces, and the fighting with
the forces OF Generals Gatacre and
Methuen. which We're working their
way north on the road to Kimberley
from the seapOrtS. To all this there
was the steady rumbling accompani-
ment of dis, content and threatened up
rising by the Boer subjects of Great
Britain in Cape Colony. while the
Basutos and other natives We're very
restless. When General Butler arrived
in Africa with his re-enforcements in
the middle Of the month his combined
army numbered 10000 men. The
Beers seized Colesburg, Cape Colony.
| November II. and week later they
, occupied StormbEr.s. putting them
, selves in front of the advancing army
of Ga;acre, which passed through
Queenstown on its way north.
Killing of WauchOpe.
Methuen was marching north fur
ther to the west, and he was the first
to come into conflict with the Beers
on large scale. His direct objective
point was Kimberley. and 1t was at
Belmont, fifty-six miles south of there.
that he won his first big victory
About $50 were killed or wounded on
each side. but the Beers fell back TO
Gras Pan. where their position was
carried at the point of the bayonet
on the 25th.
S~-~.~~>~-~.o.oo-~~-o