Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-03-22
THE BELDlSC BANNER
8ELDING, = MICHIGAN.
MICHIGAN.
TRANSvAAL WAR ITEMS.

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the slogan of Mr.. Chamberlain, "the
Boer republics must go" His ascend
lncy in the British government is com
plete. Even Mr.. Chamberlain regards
dim as the final authority in British
foreign policy, and would not attempt
to push even pet doctrine to extremes
against the premier's objections. Lord
Salisbury enjoys the unchallenged con-
fence of the crown, the government,
parliament and the nation. The an
swer he gave to the Bloemfontein note
asking a definition of the conditions
upon which peace could be secured ex-
pressed his unalterable conviction OF
the necessities of the case.
The mounted force from Kimberley
proceeding to the relief of Mafeking
has arrived at Warrenton. AS the force
neared Windsorton the Beers evacuated
the town, blowing up the bridges. 1t is
reported that the rebels who refused
to accompany the Transvaalers when
the latter vacated Taungs and Vryburg
are preparing TO trek into Damara-
land on the approach of the British,
but that the Hottentot chiefs are get
ting ready to bar their escape.
Another plot to free the Boer prison
ers at Simonstown was discovered on
the 14th. The remarkable quantities
of watermelons received by the prison
ers aroused comment and an investiga-
ton discovered that compromising let
tiers were contained in the melons, the
writer's planning the escape of the cap
h. IAN han -, hah 1,1l
of the prisoners sailed for st. Helena
shortly after the plot was made known
to the British officials.
The British troops under Lord Meth
uen have returned to Kimberley from
the occupation of Bushof, Orange Free
State. Guns and 10000 rounds of am
munition were seized and a strong gar
rison was left to guard the town. Six
Beers were arrested there on charges
of treason. Nearly all the residents
were wearing mourning, as the Bushof
commando lost 200 men at the battle of
Belmont.
Events have occurred recently
which induce some to predict that
the war will last only so long as it
takes to march to Pretoria. The edu-
Gated Beers, even the Transvaalers, are
ready to accept the inevitable. A
corps of 1000 women has been formed
at Pretoria 1t is called the Amazon
Corps. All the members are uniformed
in kits and are armed.
The German press at Berlin, in com
menting upon the war situation in the
Transvaal, says: 1t would be a justi-
fable act for the Beers to blow up the
mines, since it would prevent the
authors of the war, which the whole
world has declared criminals, from Sc
curing the rewards of victory.
great popular demonstration took
place at Cape Town on receipt of the
news that Bloemfontein had been occu-
pied by the British All tho =
= bells were rung and a procession neaoeo
W Srre ,,n;a.. jack, >,.s.S uo-tne govern
ment house, where Sir Alfred Miner
made his acknowledgements.
A dispatch from Bloemfontein, dated
March 16, says: We are getting rifles
surrendered faster than factory coulo
turn them out. 1t is quite certain that
if British official can reach the north
ern lddSerS WITH LOru hODeFJ pIoCld-
nation, the whole Boer population will
declare for peace.
Gen. Pole-Carew's force has returned
from Springfontein where a junction
was effected with Gen. Gatacre. Gen
Poe-Carew also proceeded to Norval'
pont, from which point he photographed
to Gen. Clements that / 800 Free Skaters
had submitted at Edenburg.
The chief OF the intelligence depart
ment, Molengraaf, announces that the
Boer losses prior to the relief of Kim
berly and Ladysmith were: Killed, 677
wounded, 2,129. Accidents, sickness
and other disabling causes, he asserts
bring the total to 4,35l.
A dispatch from Lord Roberts dated
Venters Wei, March 10, says Gen
French now occupies two hills close t.
the railway station at Bloemfontein
A brother of President Steyn has beer
made prisoner.
Gen. Sir Geo. S. White, the defende
of Ladysmith, is now seriously i'll a
Cape Town.