West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-01-17

S"hg 10 regain the army base at nlccm
fonlcin.
lie had not long to wait for a solution
Evidence Of il accumulated as hi, broke,
army passed along. Near Brandon
fort the telegraph wires were found cut
while the footprints Of animals and the trail,
ot wagons were abundant. leading west
ward toward the mountains. Inquiry showct
that DeWet had unloaded SO carloads o
mules, 100 carloads of horses and as or ,s
carloads of supplies at this point and hsd
burned hundreds of tons Of stores, dozens o,
cars aud bales of uniforms. besides destroy.
ing 10 locomotives.
II took some time To clear up the mystery
OF the lelegrsms, but at last this was done.
1t seems that in Dewet's force was an ex.
American railroad man. named Michael
Maguigan, formerly employed in the west.
This man had always carried with him q
small "wreeking" telegraph instrument, such
as railroad conductors invariably use In the
Tar ives, of America. With this he had Gu,
the wire, and. attaching the key, used /, to
have the animals and supplies hurried for.
ward from Bloemfontein, while holding
Hunter In the North by pretended orders
itom headquarters. The value of the ami.
mails, rolling stock and supplies captured
and destroyed by DeWet ON this occasion Ia
estimated to have exceeded $1,000, 900.
Lord Roberts is said to have drst been
angry and then intensely amused over the
affair Hunter and kitchner are said 10 have
not yet recovered from the humiliation of
the incident.
| DeWets other demonstrations. over n
wide extent of territory, were none the I..s
audseious, iaasmuch as he seemed equally
ready TO operate within or without the
British lines. A feint, In which he sent
beiary and Botha To make q denomination
as u he intended to invade the Cape Colony.
was sufficient to send heavy force after
him from Kimberly, while another was
hurried from Middleburg. Both these had
their trouble for their pains, inssmuch so
Tar from moving into the Cape Colony dis.
'rlc', the intrepid Boer moved eastu ard.
making successive demonstrations against
fauresmith and destroying OF dispensing
'umber of isolated British gsrrisons between
there and Bethulie. Al Fsuresmith the
British commander. finding himself en-.
trapped, as he thought, incon,inently sur.
rendered himself and his men, with their
arms and supplies, to fcrce numerically
too weak almost to guard his forces after
they had been disarmed. Then DeWet
locularly gave him letter to Roberts, ask.
my "Whether he though, the war was
ended 2"
These exploits, and the dissatisfaction
OF The mine owners aud Outlanders. have
gwen rise TO the belief, now general in
Soiih Africa, that recurrence of the
war is imminent. Experts concur IN the
statement that the British are able to actually
hold but small portion of the country.
relatively speaking, and that DE Wet and
his men can continue, to wage the war in.
definitely.
That this belief is shared TO some extent
ny the government at London and the war
Office officials is shown by reference To the
report OF the British forces now smployed
here, which is greater than any previous
time in the history OF the war. On the Is,
OF September there were, roughly speaking.
10000 men Of all arms Of the service en-.
gagged here, and reinforcements ere con.
stantly arriving at the rate of 200 or 200
weekly Practically none Of the forces
have been ordered home, except those in.
vslided, portion Of the Imperial yeomanry
and London and Cheshire voIunteers-less
than 1900 men in all.
Moreover, Lord Roberts eGectiyel, re-.
sisted suggestion Of the war Office that
division be detached for service in Ching.
saying It could not be spared from here.
CeoH Rhodes IS quoted as saying that a
settled government is impossible unless the
independence of the South African republic
be acknowledged, and that the proclaimed
annexation means nothing more or less Than
endless warfare.
In the Trsnsyaal Itself conditions are
reported to be growing constantly worse
In Johannesburg business is still at stand.
still Inc mines are not reopened and will
not be until their owners are assured that
the attempt to force them to pay the pe.
cuniary cost Of the war has been abandoned.
II Is estimated that the military Exclusive
Of the naval operations in connection with
the hos'iliies in South Africa have thus far
cost Gres, Britain SIzo, 600, ,ooo(about 5000 :
100000, and the expense is by no means
rapidly diminishing. Meanwhile DE Wet.
agile Of body and keen Of mind, is kent
posted regarding the hosfliues IN China.
and the difficulties supposed to be imminent
between the great powers Of Europe in that
part Of the world. Lately when he re.
ceiyed a Gag Of truce from Lord Robert,
inviting bin to surrender upon practically
his own terms he replied
"Noi while have 70 men left who will
fght 3"
According 70 the most reliable estimates
there remain abou, 4S Boer commandos in
the held, aggregaiing 10000 men, amply
equipped, mounted and supplied. These
commando' are, IN general, not over 900
strong respectively, while many numbsr not