The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1902-06-25

Oct. IL, 1899, war began in South AT
RIGA in consequence of the British gov
ernment's Official refusal "even to con
slider the peremptory demands OF the
Transvaal government" says the Phil
adelphia Press. These demands. Is
sued Oct. o, called on England to arbi-
trate her differences with the Trans.
Naal to withdraw all her troops from
South Africa and to reply within forty
eight hours.
The price that Great Britain has paid
for its conquest of the South African
republic in money, including the mill
tary appropriations for South Africa to
the end of the fiscal year, Is 1,114.-
100000
Price paid in men, officers and pri-
Yates, $4,000 in gross loss from injuries
in field and disease, with a net abso-
Lutte reduction of British forces amount
ing to 2S,500 men, of which number
the dead total up to 2250O and the
missing and prisoners" and the ''un-
ait inyalids" 5000.
Great Britain's absolute loss in men
amounts to more than one-half Of the
number of troops, $4,000, with which
British military experts in 1899 be-
lieved the Beers could be conquered in
a three months war at a cost of $780,
100000.
The war has lasted nine times as long
as the British war office anticipated,
has cost twenty two times as much in
money and has involved at it's maxi
mum an army over five times the size
of the force that was originally calcu-
dated as equal to the task of bringing
the Beers to terms. The maximum
British force of 100000 men is about
five times the maximum Boer force, es-
timated at about 10000 men. and is al
most equal in numbers to the entire
Boer population of the Transvaal and
the Orange Free State.
The BOer forces, according to British
estimates, at their maximum, were di-
vided as follows: Transvaalers, $4,000;
Free Staters, $4,000; foreigners. 1000;
Cape Colony and Natal rebels, 5000.
BY the end Of FEBRUARY, 1901, 1000 of
this force were dead 10000 were pris-
oners, and 10000 were still in the field.
BY November, 1901, 10000 were esti-
mated still to be in the field and with
a total Boer loss of killed, captured and
surrendered Of zoos men between Nov.
Is, 1901, and May 5, 1902. only 9O2
Beers were officially "at large" when
the peace negotiations were concluded.
The actual cost of the war to the
Beers in money Is unknown, nor are
their losses in the field known with
any degree Of accuracy. Ii the total OF
$4,000 Beer prisoners in British hands
be correct, the net loss of killed and
missing among the Beers, estimating
the BOer force at 10000, will reach to
24,00e.
The total number of men involved on
both sides during the war amounts to
nearly 100000. Duration of the war
from the invasion Of Natal by the
Beers on Oct IL, 1899. to acceptance of
the British terms on May 81, 1902, two
years and seven months.
In exchange for this expenditure of
cures in the Transvaal a state with an
area OF 119, 139 square miles, about equal
to New Mexico's 122. $50 square miles,
with white population estimated at
$50 900 before the war. The main re-
sources of the Transvaal are it's gold
deposits, which produced an average
of $50. 100000 year just before the
war and which are capable, it is be-
sieved. of a greater yield, since the
available gold still in the Witwaters-
rand reefs has been estimated to
amount to $3.5O0,0OO,0O0.
In the Orange Free State less rich
prize is secured. The state has an
area OF 4S302 square miles, but little
smaller than Louisiana's 4S.720 square
mltes, aud it's white population before