Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-03-15

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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 heavy
rifle fire at 500 yards range. Accord
ingly, Gen. French moved southwark
and outfianked 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 Skaters, 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
| AiNOi VIC DUET llutS CONcI ulOIt bIOuliu.
A few days ago their left rested on the
high lSopjes 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 ridge behind which the Beers
| Of thn
whole position, however, is that it can
easily be turned in either direction.
The country is fiat and water abounds,
the recent rains having nearly filed all
| the dams.
Among the wounded soldiers who ar
rived at Southampton, Eng. on the
5th from South Africa is Private
O'Leary, whose case is remarkable. lie
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, Ilerschel 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
,lNy.le A II
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 will
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 "A large number of the rebels
in the neighborhood are anxious to
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 II no ,rnnnpn1 itn,NraS.iAv, =
the further progress of the British to
Bloemfontein will not be opposed.
The British casualties during the
two days fighting near Dordrecht on
the 4th and 5th were 10 killed and 30
wounded, Gen Brabaut was in COM
mand of the British forces and scored
two complete victories.
Sir Alfred Miner has issued a proc
lamatiou 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 Mafel1ing. 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 is
most deplorable, and that there are 500
cases of typhoid fever. Lavish supplies
of comforts are now in the place, how
ever
1t is stated that there is dissension
between President Kruger and Gen.
Joubert and that the latter has resigned.
If this is the case probably President
Kruger will assume chief command
\ dispatch from Lord Roberts dated
Driefontein, March IL, says the Beers
suffered heavily, 1O2 of their dead be-
ing left on the field, and we captured
about 20 prisoners.
The British reported casualties to
date, March l2, are as follows: Killed,
2,41s; wounded, s,747; died of disease,
1,029; missing, 3. 4s3; total, 1867.
Great Britain's war expenses will ex-
ceed the revenue by cir, no, 900, accord
ing to Sir Michael Hicl<s-B Beach, chan.
cellor of the eXcheuuer