The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-06-22
SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS.
The British Must Make Terms with
the Beers.

INC bOeTS.
II. S. Pingree, ex-governor Of Mich
,igan, visited South Africa recently for
his health. In letter from Lourenzo
Marquee to the Detroit Evening News
he says:
American newspaper readers have
formed in my opinion, wrong impress
slons regarding conditions in South At
RIGA. For the general opinion which
prevails in our country the British gov
eminent is responsible. That govern
ment owns and operates all the tele-
graph wires and exercises rigid cen
sorship over every dispatch that is
sent from these shores. We have been
assured, in these dispatches that the
Beers are no longer fighting face-to-
face combat, that they are conducting
only Il cowardly species Of guerilla war
fare; and that, in fact they are cuus-
ing Great Britain no worry whatever.
have seen enough here to realize
that all the mosquitoes in an African
jungle do not cause the wild lions of
Africa more annoyance than these
same Beers are causing the British lion
today. They do not stand up against
great odds and risk pitched battles, but
they do ride at will over three fourths
of Cape Colony itself, and they come
sufficiently close to the port towns to
keep the people in fever of anxiety
and excitement
Tlle result is that business remains
paralyzed, and trade is ut standstill.
Before the war, many Of the merch-
ants of Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and
Durham had stores in the interior.
which have been closed down by the
war, and now the merchants find them
selves on the verge of ruin. They cam
not send goods into the interior, be-
cause they cannot themselves get into
the interior.
To secure a military pass to 20 from
one city to another involves endless
red tape, and If you succeed in getting
the pass and set out for the interior.
the chances are a toss-up whether Won
VIII reach your destination or be cam
tured by the Beers.
In Port Elizabeth and Durham, both
coast cities, martial law prevails, and
une young men in the cities have to
spend their nights in the trenches.
READERS Of the News will remember
that in previous letter 1 spoke of tho
regiment of Imperial infantry which
was sent down on the same ship. the
briton, In which sailed from Eng.
land. Only this week I read in a M
per published in Durham, the Natal
mercury, how company of Imperial
feomanry'-which is the same regiment
were sent out from Port Elizabeth to
capture party Of Beers. The yeo.
many aO6 strong, located the Beers In
clearing at the base Of mountain
range The Beers had outspanned
their horses and Were making coffee.
Ihe young Englishmen, fresh from
nome felt certain of victory, as there
were only 81 Beers altogether, and II
seemed they had taken them by sur.
prise The English advanced under
cover Of the high brush, which SIR.
rounded the opening where the Beers
nad been discovered, but when thev
mad reached the margin the burgers
had fed.
The steam of the boiling coffee was
SUI to be seen, and they concluded
that the Beers must be in retreat They
dashed out from their cover and start.
gu across the open veldt in pursuit as
shey supposed, of the enemy.
The British had reached the middle
OF the open plain, when they discovered
that the Beers had galloped around
right flank and were now CHARGING
them from behind. All the Britisl,
could do was to surrender. As the
Beers no longer take prisoners thew
dhsarmed the men and told them 70 or
back to their camps, but they made the
officers follow them.