Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-03-15
Number, 43
MORE BRITISH SUCCESS
LATEST MOVEMENTS IN THE
CAMPAIGN.
A Full Summary Of the Transvas,
War News-Progress Of the Con-
flict From Day to Day-The British
Encouraged.

War News-Progress Of the Con-
flict From Day to Day-The British
Encouraged.
Lord Roberts reports to the British
War Office that he attacked the Boer
army near Driefontein, in the Free
State, March 8, and fierce fight en-
sued, in which the burgher forces
were defeated. More than 100 Boer
dead were left on the field, and the
list of British casualties included sew.
eral officers of distinction.
The new war loan of $15O,000, 900,
which the London Stock Exchange
has christened "Khakis," has proved
most popular, and has been already
thrice covered, exclusive of applica-
tions from the provinces, the colonies
and the continent. 1t is understood
that offers have been received from
the United States to take up the
whole issue, which it is expected will
be covered ten to twenty times"
A special despatch from Bloemfon.
tein says that President Kruger, adj.
dressing crowd Of people, said:
Although God is testing our pt oplc,
my personal opinion is that the limit
of the test is nearly reached. II the
people are sustained by faith In the
time of adversely God will soon agaii.
turn the tide in our favor. If we have
strong faith in God he will surely
deliver us. The God of deliverance of
olden times is the same God now"
The speech of the venerable President
brought tears to the eyes of men ana
women alike. The Free State Volklica
national anthem) was then sung. Th,
visit of President Kruger has 6onc
much good and has cheered the Ces.
pondents. President Kruger more re-
Gently has been visiting the commAG.
does south of Bloemfontein.
Lord Roberts reports that in TIE
British advance March Z. Boer can
non was captured.
At a general council of war held in
the B0er camp at Biggarsberg Louis
Botha was appointed Lieutenant Gen.
eral for Natal, and several Major Gen.
erals were appointed.
A despatch from the Boor camp IL
Eiggersberg says that the retreat from
Ladysmith was due to q mistake of
commandant in ordering his men to
retire from the key of the position
without any reason for the move.
movement is said to be in prog
ress among the Cape Dutch to obtain
q settlement of the South African
questions consistent with the main
tenance of the independence OF the
republics.
A revised list of General Buffers
casualties shows that the total cost
to the rank and file in the final relief
of Ladysmith was 1859 men.
General Butler reports Natal as
now practically clear of the Beers
and it is thought the main body of
Jouberts army crossed the Drakens-
berg Mountains to aid In resisting
Roberts. Fighting on large scale is
expected shortly.
The Beers have occupied and en-.
trenched line of kopjes about Ave
miles east Of Orfontein. It is said
the weak spot in the position is that
1t can be easily turned.
So far as can be judged, the situa.
ton in the neighborhood Of Modder
River is unchanged, the British camp
being still at Osfontein, few miles
southeast Of Paardeberg, the Beers
occupying position extending about
eighteen miles. 1t may be assumed,
as the Boer left rests on some kopjes
not far from Osfontein, that their
right is on the river. The army is
roughly estimated at from 1900 to
5000, and extends in some sort OF a
thin formation as far as Abraham's
Kraal, about II miles east Of Koo-
doo's Rand. They can hardly have
any serious intention OF disputing
Roberts advance, for their number
are not sufficient for such purpose.
Obviously they hope to delay matters.
and give time to Joubert to collect
forces in northern Natal and else
where and make stand either nj
Brandfort or Windburg.
The budget introduced in the Brit.
ish House Of Commons calls for an ex.
penditure Of e154,082,000. For the
year just ending an anticipated sur.
plus of f5,000,O00 has, by the war.
been converted into q deficiency Of
E17.770,000.
The total cost Of the war is estt-
mated at s60,OOO,O00, in order to
meet which it is proposed to increase
taxes. issue Treasury bills and borrow
money on bond. The House adopted
the proposals.
Martial law has been declared by
Sir Alfred Miner in the portions OF
Cape Colony where many British sub
{acfc havo takou I'm or,n~