Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1902-07-19
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.
Leading Incidents Of the Great
Struggle Now Ended.
WHAT IT COST THE BRITISH.

Over Two Years and a HaIf-Wha
Great Britain Gets.
Oct. II, 1899, war began in South AT
RIGA in consequence of the British gov
ernment's official refusal seven to con
slider the peremptory demands Of thu
Transvaal government" says the Phil
adelph1a Press. These demands, is
sued Oct. 9, called on England to arbi
trate her differences with the Trans
vaal 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 tC
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,5O0 men, of which number
| the dead total up to 22,50O and the
missing and prisoners" and the "un-
| tit invalids" 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-five 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-
lated 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.
Beers were officially cat 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. If the total OF
$4,000 Boer prisoners in British hands
be correct, the net loss of killed and
missing among the Beers, estimating
the Boer force at 10000, will reach tc
$4,000.
The total number of men involved on
both sides during the war amounts to
nearly 100000. Duration of the wal
from the invasion of Natal by the
Beers on Oct. II, 1899, to acceptance of
the British terms on May 81, 1902, two
years and seven months.
In exchange for this expenditure OF |
men and material Great Britain Sc |
cures in the Transyaal a state with al |
area Of 119, 1870 square miles, about equal |
to New Mexico's 12259O square miles, |
with a white population estimated at |
100000 before the war. The main re |
sources Of the Transyaal are its colo |
deposits, which produced an average |
of $SO,000,00O a year just before the
war and which are capable, it is be
lieved, of a greater yield, since the
available gold still in the WitWaters
rand reefs has been estimated tc
amount to S3.5OO0OO,OOO.
In the Orange Free State q less rich
prize is secured. The state has ap
area Of 4S.3G2 square miles, but a little
smaller than LouiSiana's 4S, 72O square
miles, and it's white population before
the war was not much over $4,000. The
main industries are agricultural, but
it's diamond mines yield about $780,
COO in gems annually.
October 1S99.-The Beers
under Joubert invade Natal and on
Oct. 20, at the battle of Dundee. make
their first capture of British troops,
which is followed by further captures
on Oct 80, and the investment Of Lady
smith on Nov. /. Mafeking and Kim
berIey are also invested by the Beers
and the British advance from Cape
Colony is checked at all points. Butler
arrives at Cape Town and leaves at
once for Natal.
Dec. lO-17, 1S99.-The "black week
Of the war" for the British; Buffers
fails all along the line, Cat
acre loses at Stormberg. Methuen at
and Butler on the Tu-
gela. Lord Roberts appointed COM
mander in chief on Dec 16, with Lord
as chief Of staff.
Jan. 24-Feb. %, 19OO.-Buller again
suffers loss on the Tugela and War
rem is defeated at Spion Kop, but Gen
eral Roberts forward move begins Cd
Feb. II, with siege of Kimberley raised
On Feb. Is, Cronje's surrender on Feb.
27 and Ladysmith relieved on Feb. %.
March 13-June 5, 19OO.-Bloemfon-