Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-07-21

A correspondent at Lourenco Mar
ques gives d graphic description of the
district north Of Lydenhurg. in the
Transvaal, where ii is reported great
preparations are being made TO carry
on the resistance TO the British, says
the New York sun. The center of the
district is at 0hrigstad. abou. 80 miles
north of Lydenbufg. The 0hrigstad
lager is SO called because Il Is the
oldest and strongest position taken up
by the Beers Of the first trek going
north from Cape Colony and Natal.
From GO to 100 years back the Trans
vaal was inhabited in districts by Ba-
sutos, who were raided by the Zulus
and other tribes. The Boer immi-
grants took advantage of this condi-
ton of things and established them
selves in the country against all COM
ers. When hard pressed by large
inpis of natives, the Beers retreated TO
0hrigstad valley, where the positions
are impregnable If well defended, be-
ing a series of volcanic Notifications.
interminabe kopies extending for
miles Inside these natural defenses Is
a beautiful and fertile valley about 20
miles square. protected on the east by
the Drakenberg and on the north and
east by the broad and deep ELEPHANTS
river with Forts Oliphant and Weber.
From the south the valley narrows to
Lydenburg the only gate. the transport
station for which Is at Nelsprint, on the
railway from Pretoria to Delagoa Bay.
Six or eight thousand Beers or even
fewer, with artillery. could defy the
whole British army now in South At
RIGA for an indefinite period. No army,
no matter how many thousands In
number, could climb those giant ridges
or pass the multitudinous deathtraps OF
bowlder built kopjes intersected with
dongas. The force inside the natural
citadel would be safe so long as am
muntion and food lasted. Three beau
tiful rivers-the Blyde. Ohrigstad and
Steelport-run into the Oliphant's river
and are fed by hundreds of springs
and rivulets. The nature and aspect
of the valley are those of one continu-
Gus garden capable of irrigation from
streams in all directions. The soil Is
alluvial producing with the present
| primitive methods of cultivation grain,
forage. tobacco and almost anything
required. and the hillsides afford ex-
| cellent pasturage for horses, cattle and
sheep summer and winter.
The valley is even now fairly popu-
| lated by Beers and well TO do natives,
| all of whom have fruit gardens. The
] natural advantages for a defending
| force cannot be overestimated. The
| length of the resistance would depend
| on the supplies of food and ammuni-
| ton. and to stop those it would be nee
| essary for the British government to
| obtain possession of Koomatipoort,
| which would require some fighting.
| Britain and Bolivia Friends Again.
| a remarkable instance of interna-
tional boycotting is brought to an end
! by the settlement in the capital of Bo-
| iivia of Sir w Beauczernet as British
| minister TO the republic says the Sus-
sex Daily News Since 1860 Great
/ Britain has not been directly repre-
scented in Bolivia. and the reason is pc
culiar. In that year a political mob
from Sucre seized the British repre-
sentative and compelled him to take an
undignihed ride through the streets
mounted upon an ass. He was sub
| iected also to other lndiGnities AS a
| consequence official England botted
Bolivia from the map, and it remained
blotted for - years.