The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-03
Captured I'm One Week Nearly a Mil
lion Dollars I'm Gold and 1OO,-
900 Khaki Uniforms.
CASUALTIES
SMALL
B0ER
WHILE THE BRITISH LOSSES TO
DATE NUMBER OVER 100000.
Shooting of Peace ENJOYS Justified
Nothing but Complete Inde-
pendence to he Accepted.

NEW YORK, Feb 2.-Charles D. Pierce
consul general of the Orange Free State
and trustee and treasurer for the Boer re-
lief fund. to-day gave out a statement
about the condition of affairs in South
Africa. which. in part. is as follows:
'Advices by cable and private messages
from Europe and South Africa are mora
encouraging than at any time since the be-
ginning of the war. There can be no DOUBT
OF the final success of the Beers, who Will
accept nothing from Great Britain but
peace with honor, meaning the full recog-
nition of both republics, with full treaty
making powers and without the language
Of 'suzerainty. The Beers are not yet ready
to negotiate with England for peace, but
are determined to continue the fighting
until the general situation is strong enough
in their favor to make diplomatic steps
certain. The three pretended peace COM
rissioners sent to De Wet by the British
were spies and traitors. They interfered
with the burghers. One, an Englishman.
was properly shot, and 1t is known that
one other. Andres Vessels, was burghcr
OF the Orange Free State and subject 20
the laws of the republic of which president
Steyn is regarded by the fighting burghers
az chief executive, while British sovereign
ty is not recognized by them. President
Steyn is with De Wet, and there is, little
doubt but that these burghers were tried
under the laws of the Orange Free State
and lawfully executed on the verdict.
lie DUET lOFCeS III the oOulH african
Republic and the Orange Free State, in
cluding the invaders of Cape Colony, num-
Der over 5000 men, strong, liberty-loving
patriots. Born hunters and trained marks
men, they are admirably fitted by long
training to carry on the guerrilla warfare
which has so sorely crippled the British
ermy. They have so far succeeded in OBJ
tanning by capture q large portion of their
supplies from the British. Gen. Christian
De Wet, that greatest cavalry leader Of
modern times, in one week has captured
$G25. 600 in gold and 10000 khaki uniforms
enough to last the army four years. Ht
has also captured over 100000 horses and
5000 prisoners. He and his forces alone
have inflicted on the British losses of over
SIS. 900. The Boer forces are very mobile
and have advanced to within two days
march, or one hundred miles Of Cape Town.
Most of the burghers have two horses
many Of them three-enabling them to
make rapid marches and quick retreats
The British march wearily about the coun-
try with wagons drawn by slow-moving
oxen) loaded down with camp equipments
and loot. The Beers have an abundance of
provisions, guns and ammunition, and
when short of any of these important ele
Elents it is only necessary for them to cap
ture a British outpost or provision 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 through
necessity have Lee-Metford rifles. using
a dum-dum bullet, all of which have been
captured from the BrlllSn anu Dear the
arrow mark of Woolwich.
From the above 1t can be readily un-
derstood why the Beers can continue the
wal indefinitely regardless # the number
of British troops sent against them.
THE Beers total losses ir killed and
dying from wounds In battle have not ex-
ceeded 1,5O0, but the loss in property and
the impoverishment OF the people has been
very great. Thousands of women and chill
dren are left in state of destitution and
hundreds of thousands of dollars will be
required to render them immediate and
effective aid.
THE war has cost Great Britain $500, ,000,
600 in gold-a sum twice greater than the
entire value of the republics IL sold to the
highest bidder-and over 100000 of her
troops have been rendered hors du combat.
During the past one or two months the
British have been compelled TO act almost
entirely on the defensive. The war is cost
ing Great Britain at the present time over
81 900 600 per day to support the troops in
the field. and the Boer prisoners at st.
Helena, Ceylon and other points. The fail
ure of the British arms to open the Kim
berley and Johannesburg mines has de-
prived British stockholders of dividends on
securities listed at $3.50, ,0o0,0 900 and has re-
duced. the output of diamonds and gold
$2S4, ,O00, 900 and has added $500. .Co0 000 TO the
taxation OF Great Britain and Ireland.
These tremendous sums subtracted from
British resources have resulted in the i'm
pairment in values of many kinds of Sc
ourities dealt in by London stock brokers
and are the superinducing causes of num-
ercus bankruptcies in British financial cir
cies."