Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-05-31
TRANSvAAL WAR ITEMS.

Lord Roberts infantry advance Is de-
layed at the Rhenoster river for day
or two by the depth of the stream,
which is not fordable. The BANKS,
which are precipitous, are 40 feet high.
A pontoon and temporary bridge con-
structions are under way. The rail-
way has not been damaged to any great
extent between Kroonstad and Rhen-
oster. The Transvaalers have offended
the Free Staters by destroying their
splendid bridges when retiring at
Kroonstad. They refrained from doing
this on the retreat to Rhenoster, but
row they are destroying the railroad
nd bridges almost completely north
Of the Rhenoster. The British troops
ire in the form of a crescent with
horns 30 miles apart, with Gen.
Frenchs cavalry on the left within %
miles of the Vaal, and Gen. Ian Hamil-
tons mounted men on the right, within
30 miles of the Vaal. The center of
the crescent is about 40 miles from the
Vaal. Seventy or eighty miles to the
left Lord Methuen is advancing up the
Vaal.
Gen. French crossed the Vaal at Lin
degues drift on the 25th and Gen.
Henry, with mounted infantry, the
day following. They pushed forward
and nearly succeeded in saving the
bridge, only the northernmost span be-
ing destroyed. All the refugees agree
that the mines will be destroyed. The
Beers are taking position at Kip
river drift, having left the Vaal. The
commandments have assembled to dis
cuss the advisability of continuing the
strug lie. There is n force of the
enemy at Mayerton.
The Beers to the south retired from
Kunana, 10 miles east of Martha, and
Ire falling back further on Barpilspan.
The Beers routed at Mafeking rallied
few miles east of Polfontein. A cor
act who failed to support Commandant
Gloff in the latter's attack on Mafek-
ing, in which Eloff was captured,
wrote a letter sympathizing with him.
Eloff replied that he hoped the devil
and all his angels would torment him
nrnally and that he and his would
rot.
In accordance with an understanding
with Gen. Botha and President Steyn,
the government has issued a circular
stating that should the enemy succeed
in gaining a position in the Transvaal
and take possession of one or the other
district, the inhabitants would be free
TO decide whether or not to leave their
f.. IL.
must remain with the Commands.
1t is officially announced in London
that while Col. Bethune was marching
in the direction of Newcastle, Natal,
on the 21st, he was ambushed by
party of Beers six miles west of Vry-
held, in the Transvaal, and that very
few of his force escaped. His casual
ties number 66 men.
The secretary of state for war, the
marquis of Lansdowne, discussing mill
tary matters in the house of lords on
the 25th, announced that H. 900 addi-
Africa next month.
Mrs. Reitz and her family, with sew
eral other prominent Boer families,
have left Pretoria for Lorenzo Marquee.
to go aboard a German steamer.
1.-The report is not true" Kruger
cables New Workers, referring to his
rumored request for peace terms.
Six houses in Newcastle, Natal. were
burned by Beers. Machinery of the
Navigation collieries was ruined.
Kruger is said TO have transferred
most of his property to friends to pre-
vent confiscation by Britain
British newspapers express great
satisfaction at President McKinley's
declination TO intervene.
4Lady Sarah Wilson may be given
sword of honor for her share in the
siege of Mafeking.
Gen. Clery fought Beers near Laing's
mex recently, capturing some wagons
and prisoners.
Gen. Dewet is in command of Boer
forces, owing to Botha's illness
Gen. Botha is said to have baked "A
plan to destroy Johannesburg
Johannesburg will be defended by
the Beers, it is announced.
Lord Roberts is still at Kronstad, re-
organization his forces.