Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-04

spies.
NEW YORK, February 3.-Charles
D. Pierce, consul general of the Orange
Free State, and trustee and treasurer
Of the Boer relief fund, has given out
a statement about the condition Of af-
fairs in South Africa.
The statement in part is as follows:
"Advices by cable and private mes
sages from Europeans in South Afri-
ca are more encouraging than at any
time since the beginning of the war.
There a be no doubt of the final sue
J cess of the Beers who will accept no
other terms from Great Britain than
peace with honor, meaning the full
| recognition of both republics, with
full treaty making powers and with
out the language of ~"suzerainty." The
Beers are not yet ready to negotiate
with England for peace, but are de-
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.
THE Boer forces in the South AT.
rican Republic and the Orange Free
State, including the invaders of Cape
Colony, number over $4,000 men,
strong. l~iberty-loving patriots. Born
hunters and trained marksmen, they
are admirably fitted by long training
to carry on the guerrilla warfare which
has SO sorely crippled the British army.
They have so far succeeded in obtain
ing by capture, a large portion of their
supplies from the British. Gen. Chris
tian De Wet, that greatest cavalry
leader of modern times, in one week
~has>captured 1925, 900 in gold and $780,
900 khaki uniforms-enough to last
the army for 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 $500 900. The Boer forces are
very mobile and have advanced to
within two days march, or 100 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
YEARLY about the country with wag-
ons drawn by slow oxen) loaded down
with camp equipments and loot. The
Beers have an abundance of provis-
ions, guns and ammunition, and when
short of any of these important ele-
ments it is only necessary for them to
capture a British outpost or provision
train, and help themselves TO what they
need.
From the above it can be readily
understood why the Beers can continue
the war indefinitely regardless of the
number OF British troops sent against
them.
The Beers total losses in killed and
dying from wounds in battle have not
exceeded 1900. but the loss in property
and the impoverishment of the people
has been very great, Thousands of
women and children are left in a state
of restitution and hundreds of thous-
ands of dollars will be required to rem
der them immediate and effective
again.
The war has cost Great Britain
$500, 100000 in gold a sum twice
greater than the entire value Of the
republics if sold to the highest bidders
and over 100. 900 of her troops. have
been rendered hors du combat. Dur
ing the past one 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, 200, 600 per
day for troops in field and Boer pris-
oners at st. Helena, Ceylon and other
points. The British failure to open
the Kimberly and johannesburg mines
has deprived British stockholders OF
dividends on securities listed at $780,
000, 900 and has reduced the output of
diamonds and gold 1884, 900, 900 and
has added $500. 600. 900 to the taxation
of Great Britain and Ireland. These
tremendous sums subtracted from
British have resulted in the
impairment of the values of many
kinds of securities dealt in by London
stock brokers and are the superinduc-
ing causes of numerous bankruptcies
in British financial circles.
DEEP SNOW DRIFTS