Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-03-08
TRANSvAAL WAR ITEMS.

The reopening of Robinson's bank In
Pretoria is due to the good Offices Of
Mr.. Hay, United States secretary Of
state. Mr.. Choate and Adelbert Hay,
the American consul at the Transveal
capital. When President Kruger closed
the bank he tried to commander the
British staff, and on their refusal to
comply he threatened them with expul-
sion. Adelbert Hay sent the protest
Of the manager of the bank to Lord
Salisbury through Mr.. Choate, with
the result that Mr.. Kruger liberated
the banks staff and restored the com
Wandered gold.
President Kruger has sent fervid
religious appeal, with orders that it
should be read by all the officers to the
burghers, urging them to stand fast
and strive in the name of the Lord, for
unless they had faith in Him cowardice
would set in and their position would
be hopeless the moment they turned
their backs on the enemy. Their past
victories, he declared, shows that the
Lord was on their side. The president
beseeched the burghers not to bring
destruction on their progeny.
Labyrinth has been relieved and all
England is jubilant. After being shut
up at Ladysmith for l24 days Gen. Sir
Geo. White and his forces were re-
lieved on the night of Feb %. When
relieved the garrison were subsisting
on half a pound of meal man per day
with occasional meat rations of horses
or mules. The relieved men will re-
quire quite little nursing before they
are fit for field service, as they were
greatly reduced in strength during
their long siege of fasting.
Fire destroyed the famous cannon
factory at lie Creusot, France, on the
2Sth, whence the Beers obtained their
powerful Long Toms" Two enorm-
GUS buildings containing gun material
and electrical stores, including a num-
Der of artillery models, were destroyed
The losses are estimated at between
500, 900 and 900, 900 francs. A large
number of worlimen have been thrown
out of employment.
The Transvaal agency at Bussels,
SllRs. NOlllIlnS IllG SldlculCnI Illdb
President Kruger is ready to conclude
peace with Great Britain on the basis
of the independence of the two repub-
lies and that otherwise the struggle
will continue to the bitter end. The
agency believes that the Afrikander
element in Cape Colony and Natal will
rebel rather than allow annexation.
Gen. Brabant's colonial division, af-
ter nights march, on the morning of
the 4th attacked the Beers in a strong
position at La Buschagne's Mex, on the
road from Dordrecht to jamestown.
The engagement proceeded with great
vigOr and the Beers gradually retired
before the British shell fire, from three
positions. The British loss was six
killed and Is wounded.
The British army estimates, issued
IN the LIST show total expenditure of
fGl 400, 400, an increase over last year
of $40, $50, 200. The total number of
officers and men is placed at 43O, 900, an
increase over last year of 245, 147.
Gen. Cronje on behalf of his party,
and Commandment Wollmarans and
1000 other prisoners, has returned
thanks to Gen. Roberts for his kind
ness and consideration since they were
taken prisoners.
From British source it is estimated
that the Beers cannot place more than
10000 men to oppose Lord Roberts, eX
cept by a complete abandonment of
Natal.
According to a British report Gen.
Joubert is now assembling so, 900 men
at Weinberg, 20 miles northeast of
Bloemfontein.
The Boer casualties at Colenso dur
ing the week ending Feb. 25 are re-
ported to be 81 men killed and $50
wounded.
When Gen. Cronje and his family
reach Cape Town they will be placed
on board British flagship.