The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-02-05
INTERESTING STATEMENT ON
BOER WAR.
WHAT IT COSTS ENGLAND
Consul General of Orange Free
State Gives Situation in
Two Republics.

Pierce, consul general of the Orange
Free State and trustee and treasurer
for the Boer relief fund, today gave
out a statement about the state of
affairs in South Africa. The state
ment in part is as follows:
"Advices by cable and private
messages from Europe and South
Africa, are more encouraging than at
any time since the beginning of the
war. There can be. no doubt of the
final success of the Beers, who will
accept no other from Great Britain
than peace with honor, meaning a
full recognition OF both republics,
with full treaty powers and without
the language of. 'Suzerainty'. The
Beers are not yet ready to negotiate
with England for peace, but are deter
mined to continue fighting until the
general situation is strong enough in
their favor to make diplomatic steps
certain.
"The three pretended peace commits
.%sioners sent to DeWet by the British
were spies and traitors. They inter-
fered with the burghers. One, an
Engllshman, was properly shot and it
is known one other, Address Vessels,
was a burgher Of the Orange Free
State and subject to the laws of the
republic of which President Steyn is
regarded by the fighting burghers as
chief executive, while British SOW
.ereignty is not recognized by them.
President Steyn is with DeWet and
there is little, doubt but tina, these
burghers were tried under the laws
of the Orange Free State and lawfully
executed OH verdict.
1.-THE Boer forces in the South Afri-
a republic and Orange Free State,
including the invaders of Cape Colony,
number owe %, 900 men, strong, lib
erty loving patriots. Born hunters,
and trained marksmen, they are ad-
mirably fitted by long training to
carry on the guerilla warfare, which
has S o sorely crippled the British
army. They have so far ucceeded in
obtaining by capture a large portion Of
their supplies from the British. Gen
eral Christian DeWet, the greatest
cavalry leader of modern times, in one
week has captured 1926, 900 in gold
and 100, 900 khaki uniforms, enough
to last the army four years, he has
also captured over 100, 900 horses and
5000 prisoners. He and his forces
alone have inflicted on the British
losses of over 1916, 900, 900.
1.-THE Boer forces are very mobile
and have advanced to within two
days march or 100 miles Of Cape Town.
many of them three, enabling them
to make rapid marches and quick
retreats. The British march YEARLY
about the country with wagons drawn
by slow moving oxen loaded down
with camp equipage and loot. The
Beers have an abundance of provi-
sions, guns and ammunition and when
short of any of these important ele-
ments, it is only necessary for them
to capture British outposts or a provi-
sion train and help themselves to
what they need. In the beginning of
the war the Beers were armed with
Mauser rifles, using plain bullets, but
many of them now have Lee Metford
rifles. using dumdum bullets, all of
which have been captured from the
British and bear the arrow mark of
Woolwich.
"From the above it can be readily
understood why the Beers can con-
tinue the wal indefinitely, regardless
of the number of British troops sent
against them. The Beers total loss
in killed and dying from wounds in
battle have not exceeded 1900, but
the loss in property and impoverish-
ment of the people has been very
great. Thousands of women and
children are left in a state IF destitu-
ton and hundreds of thousands of
dollars will be required to render
them immediate and effective aid.
"The war has cost Great Britain
$500, 600, 900 in gold, a sum twice
greater than the entire value of the
republics if sold to the highest bidder,
and over 100, 900 of her troops have
been rendered hors du combat.
During the past n or two months
the British have been compelled to
act almost entirely on the defensive.
The war is costing Great Britain at
the present time over 81, 900, 900 per
day to support the troops in the field
and the Boer prisoners at St. Helena,
Ceylon and other points. The failure
of the British arms to open the Kim
berley and Johannesburg mines has
deprived the British stockholders of
dividends on securities listed at $780,
600, 900 and has reduced the output of
diamonds and gold 1924, 900, 900 and
has added $500, 600, 900 to the taxa
ton of Great Britain and Ireland.
These tremendous sums substracted
from British have resulted
in the impairment Of the values of