The Yale expositor., 1900-03-16
TRANSvAAL WAR ITEMS.

too rapid for the supporting infantry,
and as result the Boer position was
turned before the main body could
strike effectively. The Beers fell back
precipitately and, extending to the
southeast, they checked the advance
of the British cavalry with a heavy
rifle fire at 500 yards range. Accord
ingly, Gen. French moved southwark
and outflanked them again, but the
Beers repeated their tactics. President
Kruger, who was far in the rear, tried
to stop the retreating Beers, who re-
fused to stay, and the Bloemfontein
police tried to stop the retreat of the
Free Staters, but they declared that
they were not willing to fight any
longer and they blamed President
Steyn.
The Boer position has now been
fairly located as about four miles to
the British front and extending about
eight miles. The Boer right consists
of high, long mountain on the north
side of the river. Apparently the space
between the mountain and the river
has been entrenched. South of the
river the Boer lines cover more ground.
a few days ago their left rested on the
high kopjes standing in the middle OF
the plain. They have now been eX-
tended two miles further south, while
six small kopjes stand in the plain be-
tween the center and the left and be-
tween the center and the river, and
form a ridge behind which the Beers
move unseen. The weakness of the
whole position, however, is that it can
easily be turned in either direction.
The country is flat and water abounds,
the recent rains having nearly filled all
the dams.
Among the wounded soldiers who ar
rived at southampton, Eng. on the
9Th from South Africa is Private
O'Leary, whose case is remarkable. He
was shot in the head during the battle
at Colenso. The bullet lodged in his
brain, rendering him speechless, sight
less, and paralyzed His life was des
paired of, but Sir William MacCormac,
president of the Royal College sur
geons, who was acting as volunteer
surgeon with the British army in South
Africa, removed portion of the
wounded mans brain, extracted the
bullet and O'Leary has since practically
recovered his lost senses.
News from Lady Grey, Herschel and
Aliwai North, show that the rebels
are laying down their arms in large
numbers, and that the Beers all along
the border are in serious straits. The
rebels assert that the Beers are sub.
sisting on bread and water and so
called coffee, made from rice. Other
| rebels are leaving to fight in the Free
State. British rule has been restored
at Lady Grey, where big fight is re-
| ported to have occurred, many rebels
being killed. 1t is reported that thou.
saEds of rebels contemplate surrender
ing TO Gen. Brabant.
Clements has occupied Norval's Pont
and the adjacent drift. As soon as the
! engineers, pontoon and troops arrive
! he will cross the river, when the neces.
sary repairs to the railway bridge viii
De commenced. Gatacre occupied Bur.
ghersdorp, March and was greeted
with great enthusiasm on the part OF
! the loyal Inhabitants. His scouts re-
port that large number of the rebels
in the neighborhood are anxious &c
surrender.
Gen. French, who is 10 miles ahead,
reports that his front is clear of the
Beers. All other reports tend to con.
firm the state of disorganization of the
Boer forces, Transvaal as well as Free
State. The general impression is that
the further progress of the British &c
Bloemfontein will not be opposed.
| The British casualties during the
two days fighting near Dordrecht or
! the 4th and 9Th were 10 killed and sc
wounded Gen. Brabaut was in com.
mand of the British forces and scored
two complete victories.
Sir Alfred Miner has issued proc.
lamation declaring martial law in the
Cape Colony districts, owing to the fact
| that many British subjects have al.
ready taken up arms against their ma.
| tive country.
The food question is becoming a diff.
ficult problem at Mafeking. A SOUP
kitchen has been organized and horses
stray dogs and heads and feet of oxen
are utilized. The town is on strict
rations.
Surgeon Treves cables from Lady.
smith that the condition of the town i,
most deplorable, and that there are 500
! cases of typhoid fever. Lavish supple,
of comforts are now in the place, how.
ever.
1t is stated that there is dissensior
between President Kruger and Gen
Joubert and that the latter has resigned
| If this is the case probably President
| Kruger will assume chief command.
A dispatch from Lord Roberts dated
| Driefontein, March IL, says the Boer,
suffered heavily, 1O2 of their dead be
| ing left on the field, and we captured
about 90 prisoners.
The British reported casualties tt
date, March IL, are as follows: Killed
2,41s; wounded, s,747; died of disease
1,O29; missing, 3,4s3; total, 1857.
Great Britain's war expenses will ex
ceed the revenue by e17, 40, 900, accord
ing to Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, chan