The Brussels Post, 1902-5-1, Page 7FIELD MARSHAL LORD ROBERTS,
Who Changed the Whole Complexion of the CaMpaign,
SCHOOL CHILDREN'S EXCUSES.
School teachers get some curious
written excuses for absence. One of
theta reads : "Mister sir, my Jason
had to be late to -day, It is his 14z --
nese to milk aur cow. She kicked
Jae° In the back to -day when he
wasn't looking or thinking of her
actin', So he Lhot his bath was broke
but it ain't. But It is black and
blue, aud the pane kept him late.
We would get rid of that mew of wo
could. This is the fourth time she
kicked Jae, but never kicked him
late before. So excuse him for me."
A girl absent for half a day brought
the following satisfactory excuse :—
"Mister teecher—My dotter's ab-
sence yeetorday was unavoidable,
Her shoes had to be half -soled, and
she had a sore throte. Iter kon-
stitashun is delikit and if she is ab-
sent any more you can knew that it
is en acoent of unavodabel sickness
or sontelh* else." A boy absent
for half a day laid the following ex-
planation on his master's desk :--
"Dear sir, please excuse 'Harry. He
went Lo grandpapa's funeral with
me this forenoon. I have been pro-
mising him for several -weeks that
ee might. If he was good and he has
been very good, so I kept my word.'
DIDN'T RECOGNIZE IT.
A distinguished judge has discover-
ed that he still has something to
learn In the direction of agriculture.
io bought a farm recently, and
finds Bimetal delight in walking about
the, place commenting on the con-
dition of GM crops, and in many
ways showing his interest in his new
possessions.
One evening during the summer ho
was strolling over the farm. The
grass had been cut during the day—
a very thin crop -,-and was lying or
tho ground to dry. The judge sem
it, and ceiling his Man, he said :
"14 seems to me you aro very
careless. Why haven't you beet,
more particular in raking up this
hay ? Don't you see that you have
left little dribblings all about ?"
For a minute, the man stared, won-
dering if the judge wore quizzing
him. Then he replied :
"Little • dribblings 1 Why, man
that's the crop 1"
A VALUABLE BOOK,
A very valuable book is a Hebrew
Bible in the Vatican. In 1512 the
Jews tried to buy it from Pope 1
Julius 11. for its weight in gold. It s
is so largo and heavy that two men
can hardly lilt it.
"WOODEN RUSSIA."
This runic, says our consul at St.
Petersburg, is familiarly applied to
the vast forest areas of Russia in
Europe, which cover 664,548,000
acres, or /36 per cent-. of the entire
area of the country. Yet some fear
is felt that the country may be de-
forested through the carelessness of
Private owners, and the Government
is considering steps for the protec-
tion of the forests. In Russia houses
built of any other malarial than
wood aro almost =known outside
the cities, and wood constitutes the
Principal fuel.
LONGEST OCEAN CABLE.
Before the end of the present year
the work of laying the trans-recific
cable to connect Canada with Aus-
tralia and New Zealand will be be-
gun by the British Government. The
manufacture of the cable is in pro-
gress, and a new cable -laying steam-
er, the largest vessel of the kind
afloat, is under construction. The
loegmt span of the new cable will
he 8,560 miles, between Vancouver
Island and Fanning Island in mid -
Pacific just north of the equator.
The total length will be about 8,000
miles. The melds will touch the FRI:
latitude and Norfolk Island, will
reach Australia near Brisbane, and
will cross thence to New Zealarel.
NOISES AND SNAKteS.
It is a curious fact that there are
certain ki,uls of noises which attract
snakes. For instance, the whirr of
the mowing machine, instead of scar-
ing these reptiles, as might bo sup-
posed, seems both Lo ellure and en-
ra,go them, and they almost invar-
iably dart towards it, rearing them-
SelVeS in front of the machine, which
of cows°, promptly chops off their
heads. In six months so many as
120 cobras alone have thus been
slaughtered on one grass farm in
MARRIAGE cusTotr.
Tho Scandinavian bridegroom
gives Ina betrothed n prayer -book
and many other gifts, which usually
include a goose. She, in return,
gives him, especially in Sweden, a
shirt, and this he invariably wears
on his wedding day. Afterwards he
ays It away, and under no Mecum -
tenths of stale or poverty will he
Tar it again whiee alive. But he
Sears it in his grave.
EX -PRESIDENT KR DMA
ne Min Who Was PriMarily Respotsible for tile. War.
TUE S01111 RICA WA
Chronological History of the Thirty
f1onth's Struggle.
1890.
Oct, 11—Time fixed by the Boers
for compliance with their "wIticant,
um" expired at 5 p,
Oct. 1.4—Boers march on Kimberley
and Mefelfieg.
Oct. 15—Kimberley isolated.
Oct, 20-13eer position on Talena
31113 captured by tile British under
Symons.
Oct, 21—White moves out force un-
der Freneti to eject Boers from
Elandslaagte, 13oess routed,
Oct, 22—Yule retires from Dundee
on Ladysmith via Beith.
Oct, 28—Death of General Symons
at Dundee.
Oct. 80—General sortie from Lady-
smith. Naval guns Whim° Boor
siege artillery. Surromier of part of
two battalions ad a Mountain Bat-
tery at Nicholson's reek.
Oct. 31—Cleneval Sir Redvess Bul-
ler lands at (Jape Town,
Nov. 1-1)oers levied° Cape Colony.
Nov, 2—Larlymulth isolated.
Nov. 9—General attack on Lady-
smith repulsed with heavy loss to
Boers.
Nov. 15—Armored train wrecked by
Bathe near Chieveley. Over 100
'British troops captured.
Nov. 19—Lord Methuen's column
for the relief of Kimberley concen-
trated at ()rause ltiver.
Nov. 28-11.1ethue.n attaens Boers at
Belmont with Guards Brigade and
b tit Brigade. Boers driven from
their position.
Nov, 25—Meth-um attacks Boers in
position at Ensile and dislodges
them. 'General Sir Redvers Buller ar
rives in Natal.
Nov. 28—Methuen engages 11,000
Boers at Madder River. Battle last-
ing all day. Boers evacuate posi-
tion.
Nov. 30—Sixth Division for South
Africa notified.
Dec, 1 --Australian and Canadian
contingents leave Cape Town for the
front.
Dec. 10—Gatecre attempts night at-
tack on Stormberg, but is theorised
and driven back with heavy toes.
Dec. 11—Methuen attacks Boer po-
sition at Illagersfontela and is re-
pulsed with heavy loss. General
Wauchope killed.
Doc. 15—Duller advances from
Chieveley against Boer positions near
Colenso. British force repulsed on
Tugela with 1,11)0 casualties and loss
of 12 guns. Mobilization of Seventh
Division ordered.
Dec. 18—Lord Roberts appointed
Conunancler-in-Cilef in South Africa,
with Lord Kitchener as Chief -of -
St afi.
Dec. 19—Regulations healed for em-
ployment. of 1 eomanry and \whin -
toms in South Africa.
Dec. 20—Formation of City of Lon-
don Volunteer Corps for South Af-
rica announced.
1900.
Jan. f3—Suffolk Regiment loses
heavily near Ronsburg, over 100
prisoners taken. Boer attack on
Ladysmith repulsed.
J an. 10—Lord Roberts end Lord
Kitchener arrive at Cape Town, For-
ward movement for relief of Lady-
smith resumed,
11—Dundonald seizes point on
Tugela at Potgeiter's Drift,
Jan. 18.—Bulier makes second et,
tempt to relieve Ladysmith. Dun -
donate, having crossed Tugela, en-
gages Boers near Acton Haines.
Crossing of Tugela by Warren and
Lyttioton concluded
Jan. 21—Warreu attacks Boers'
right !leek.
Jan, 23-24.—Spion Kop captured
and held during 24th, but evacuated
on the night of Jan. 24-25. General
Woodgate fatally wounded.
Jan. 26-27—Buller's force recrosses
the Tugela.
Feb. 8—MacDonald with Highland
Brigade marches out from Modder
River,
Feb, 5—Duller's third attempt to
relieve Ladysmith commenced. -Lyt-
tl t Tu ela and delivers
attack Vaal Krantz, which he
captures and occupies.
Feb. 7—Vaal Krantz evacuated and
British forth withdrawn across Tu-
gela.
Feb. 0—Lord Roberts arrives at
Modelth
Feb, 11—French having been sum-
moned from Southern frontier leaves
Mockler River with Cavalry Division
and Borth Artillery.
Feb. 18, -Lord Roberts at Dekiol's
Drift.
Feb. i5—Lord Roberts et Jacobs -
del. Relief of 'Kimberley,
Feb. 17—Rearguard action between
Kffily-Kenny runt Cronjo en route to
Moemfoetein. Fourth attempt to re-
lieve Ladysmith. Buller pram% ad-
vance on :Monte Cristo Hill.
Feb. 19-11111101' takes Illangwaae
14finI1e.te 20—Beers under amide, hav-
ing laagered mew Paardeberg are
bombarded by Lord Roberts.
Tech, 21—Fifth Division crosses Tu-
gallote'l; 2:1-11aller 'unsuccessfully at-
tacks Railway. Hilt
Feb. 26—Buller makes fresh pas-
sage at Tugela.
Feb, 27—Cronjo surrenders Pear
deborg. Pieter's Hill, the main Boer
position between Ladysmith and the
Tugela, carded by Iliblyard.
Feb. 28—Relief of Ladysmith, Cle-
ments occupies Colesberg.
Meech 5—Gattiere occupies Storm -
berg. Brabant again defeats and
pursues Boers, Overtures of peace
made by Boer Presidents,
Bathe 6—lefeld Force arrives at
Carnavoll to quell rising in North-
West.
Nevelt 7—Lord Roberts defeats;
Boers Driefont Me.
March let—Overtures of peace re-
011 cl Maas g
131oeMfontein. Booth retire on
leroonstacl.
March 27—Death of General Jou-
bort,
March 81—I3roadwood attacked at
Waterworks. During retirement R.
ILA, and convoy entrapped at Korn-
tfirefsr.uit. Six guns lost, 1150 casual -
April 3—Detachment of Royal Irish
Rifles and Mounted infantry sur-
rounded near Ituddersburg.
April 7—Colonel Dalgety isolated
mew Wepener,
April 13—Cherneside leaves Red-
erweburg to relieve Wepener.
April 20—Galway relieved, Boers
retreat northwards, under uotha,
May 3o—,te-anti River crossed.
Boers rapidly retreating before Lord
Roberts' advance.
May 12—Lord Roberts enters
Krounstad without opposition, Pres-
ident Steyn having retired to Beil-
bron, which he prociehns his new
capi tal, Attauk on Sleeking re-
pulsed, 108 Boer prisoners, including
Commandant Eloff, teken,
May 13—Mahon with Matching Re-
lief column repulses attack at Koo-
doosrand.
May 15-13uller occupies Dundee
and Glencoe, having driven the Boers
from the Biggarsberg. Plumer, re -
info , cod by Canadians and Queens -
'antlers from Carrington's division,
joins harids with Mahon.
May 17-18—Relief of Mafeking.
May 24—Advance portion of Lord
3,3,nothyesrts' force crosses the Vaal near
May 28—Annexation of Orange
Free State under name of Orange Ri-
ver Colony formally proclaimed at
B1 °entrap tein.
May 80—Flight of President Kru-
ger from Pretoria.
May 81-13ri tish flag hotted at
Johannesburg. Surrender of 500
Yeomanry at Lindley.
Junin le negotiations be-
tween Duller and Christian Botha, for
armistice.
June 5—.0ccupetion of Pretoria.
June 8—Hildyard takes Botha's
Pass, Surrender of 4th Derbyshire
at Roodeval.
June 11—Stubborn fight Alle-
man's Noir, Heavy Boer losses.
June 12—Boetis evacuate Lang's
Nek. Roberts defeats Botha at Di-
aniond Hill, east of .Proteria.
June 14—Boer attack on Send Ri-
ver repulsed.
July 4—Roberts and Buller join
hands at Vlakfontein. Railway to
Natal clear.
July 1.1—Surrender of Soots Greys
and Lincolns at Uttval Nek,
July 21—Advance eastwards to-
wards Komati Poort begins.
July 30—Surrender of Prinsloo and
8,000 Boers to Hunter in Brand -
water Basin,
Aug. 1 6—Eland's River garrison
relieved.
Aug. 25—Execution of Cordua for
conspiracy to kidnap Lord Roberts.
Aug. 26-27—Fighting Dalmanu-
Aug. 30—British occupy Nooitge-
dacht aucl relense 2,000 prisouers,
Sept. 6—Buller occupies Lydon-
burg.
1 1—Kruger, flying from the
Transvaal, takes refuge at Lorenzo
Marques,
Sept. 1 3—Proclamation issued by
Roberts calling on burghers to the-
rewith. French occupies Barberton.
Sept. 25-13ritish force occupies
Komatl Poort. Many Boers cross
Portuguese frontier and surrender to
Portuguese.
Oct. 0—De Wet driven across tho
Vaal out of Orange River Colony.
Oct. 1 9—Kruger sails from Loren-
zo Marques for Marseilles on Dutch
nan-of-war.
Oct. 24—Buller sails ' frein Cape
Town for England,
Oct, 20—Formal annexation of
South African Republic, to be styled
Transvaal Colony,
Nov. 6 --Do Wet defeated at Botha -
Nov. 22—Kruger lands at Marseil-
les,
Nov. 2 8—Garrison at Dewetsdorp
captured by Do Wet.
Nov. 29—Lord Ki tchener takes
over supreme command.
Dec. 5—Do Wet's first attempt to
enter Cape Colony frustrated by
1I—Lord Roberts sails from
Cape TOW11 for England.
Dec. 1 3—Clements defeated with
heavy loss by Delarey at, Nooitge-
dacht. Mishap to Britbant's II arse
at Zambron,
Dec, 14—De Wet and Stoyn enape
through ,Sprinkhatin's Pass,
Doe. 16-20-11oer Raid into Capo
Colony.
Dec, 20—Martial law proclaimed
over Northern districts of Cnpe Col-
ony,
Dec. 22—War Ofike announce des-
rirtetac.11 of reinforcements to South AS
Dec; 28—De Wet falls in attempt
to break back into Cape Colony.
Cape raiders driven northwards.
Dec. 29—Surrender of Liverpools
n,t Helvetia.
1001.
Jen, 1—001011101 Defence Force cal-
led out in Cape Colony,
Jan. 13—Defeat of bodyguard near
Lindley by Botha.
Jan. 7—Determined Boer attack on
Belfast and other stations on rail-
way to Loreneo Marques.
Jan, 18—Delneey's force defeated
near Von Lersburg,
OS—French enters lerritelo,
5110 th-Dorrien repels determined at-
tack by Botha. Seveepieg movement
commenees in South-eastern Teens -
veal, finally resulting iti capture of
eight. gene, 781 prisoners and large
quantitiee of /Ammunition, transport,
Cattle, etc.
Feb. T -,-Wer Oillee annolInce des-
jeele/1 by Lord Selisbury.
marrb in—tora itohorts, 101111001 naleh of additional 80,000 mounted
III '11101' lighting, takes ponsession of leering.
GEN. LORD KITCHENER,
The Commander -in -Chief Through Whom the Peace Proposals Were
Forwarded.
Feb. l0—Do Wet slips through into
Cape Colony.
Feb. 18—Botha writes to Kitchen-
er proposing an interview.
Feb. 213—After desperate chase De
Wet recrosses Orange river, having
lost all guns, ammunition transport
and many prisoners. Kitchener
meets 13otha in response to the Boer
conunandent's desire to confer with
him with a view to peace negotia-
tions.
Starch 3.—Unsuccessful attack by
Delaney on Liehtenburg.
March 16-1101110 breaks off nego-
tiation.
Mar. 22-23-13abington routs De-
larey at Ventersdorp and captures
three guns and six Slashes.
April 8—Pliner occupies Pieters-
burg.
April 10—Civil jurisdiction resum-
ed in Transvaal.
April 14—Rawlinson captures laag-
er and two guns at Klerksdorp.
April 20—Winter operations in the
Bush veldt begin, During following
two weeks many small captures are
almost daily reported.
May 8—Milner leaves Cape Town
for England. Municipal Government
started in Johannesburg.
May 24—Milner received by the
King and raised to peerage.
May 29—Delarey defeated by Dixon
at Vlakfontein.
June 2.—Kritzinger captures James-
town, Cape Colony.
June 6—Elliott engages De Wot
near Reitz and captures bus convoy.
June 12—Disaster to Victorians
near Wilmansrust.
Juno 20-13oer attack on block-
houses along Delegoa railway,
July 4,—Train wrecked by Doers
near Naboonispruit.
July 15—In reply to Botha's en-
quiries about ending war Kruger tel-
egraphs to Botha to continue fight-
ing.
July 1 — Broadwood surprises
Reitz and captures Steyn's corres-
pondence. Narrow escape of Steele
July 14—French drives Scheepers'
commando with heavy loss out of
Camdeboo Mountains.
July 20—Death of Mrs. Kruger.
July 30—W. Kitchener captures one
gun, 82 prisormes, from 13. Viljoen
near Midrielburg.
Aug, 1—Kitchener reports shooting
of native prisoners by 13oers.
Aug. 6—Proclamation by Lord Kit-
chener or permanent banishment from
South Africa, of all Boer leaders tak-
en in arms after September 15.
Aug. 8—Commandant de Villiers
and two field cornets surrender' at
Warmbaths.
Aug. 113—Kitchener reports the
largest return of Boer losses yet
made in a, week. More than 800
prisoners, '700 wagons, and 83,000
cattle.
Aug. 1 3—Kritzinger's commandoes
routed near Steynsburg by Colonel
Gorringo.
Aug. 17—Boer leaser near Middel-
burg captured by S. A. Constabu-
lary with heavy loss.
Aug. 19-1)uke of Cornwall lands
at Cape Town,
Aug, 21-3Citchenerls despatch pub-
lished commenting on Inefficiency of
certain reinforcements.
Aug. 25—Kitchener announces re-
ceipt of letters from Steyn, De Wet,
and Botha declaring their intention
to continue fighting.
Aug, 27—Lord Milner returns to
South Africa..
Aug. 31—Train wrecked by Boers
near Waterval.
Sept. 5—Lotter's commando cap-
tured by Colonel Scobell; Corrunand-
ants Lotter and Breedt prisoners.
Sept. 10—Colonel Orebbe routs
Schooners' commando at Laings-
burg. Von de Merwe killed.
Sept. 3.7-13ritish force under Major
Gough surprised near Utrecht.
Smut's commando surprises 17th
Lancers at Eland's River Poort.
Sept. 20—Kritzinger fails to
force a crossing of the Orange River,
after inflicting heavy loss on Lov-
at's Scouts.
Sept. 26-13otha'e attack upon
Forts Italy and Prospect, on the
Zulu border, repulsed with severe
loss.
Sept. 29—Proclamation issued at
Pretoria, providing for sale of the
properties of Boers still in the field,
in accordance with previous prevail -
Sept, 30—Delarey's attack upon
Kekewich's camp at Medwill beaten
off with heavy loss on' both sides.
Martial law extended throughout
Cape Colony,
3902.
Feb. 19—Canadian Mounted Rifles
arrive in Durban.
March 7—Capture of Lord Methuen
by party of Doers near Merksdorp.
March 31—Gallant stand of Cana-
dians in charge of the baggage at
Bart's River. Comedians held their
post, but lost eleven killed and for-
ty-five wounded. In one section ev-
ery man was either killed or wound-
ed. This brave action elicits much
favorable connnent.
E ,7. -PRESIDENT STEVW
In Whose Handi Restal the Termination oi the MAW.
BRITAIN'S ROYAL INVASIOT
GREAT FOLKS WRO ARE 00.4
ING TO TEE CORONATION%
Interesting Figures Among Vria..
• CeSSeS-^-aing gaWard'S
3111s-
iting Relations.
31 Is expected that more royal per,
sonages will be in London at the
coronation than -England has over
before seen together. There will be
some attractive and interesting wo-
mea among the royal guests, and
incidentally, there should bo, too, a
marvellous display of jewels. The
Grand Duchess Serge of Russia will
bo perliteps the handsomest of the
foreign princesses, Sno is Xing Ed,
ward's niece and was, before her
marriage, Princess Elizabeth of
Besse. She is a, sister of the Czar-
ina, She has been called the most
beautiful of (131e1111 Victoria's Cle•
scendams, and her jewels and cos-
tumes are a. proverb. With her will
be her cousin, the Duchess of Spar-
ta, daughter of Empress Frederick,
The Duchess of Aosta, wife of the
heir presumptive to the throne of
Italy, will be the Craad Duchess
Serge's chief royal rival la the mat-
ter of good looks. She was mar-
ried, when Helene rl'Orleans, in the
Catholic church at Kingston on the
Thames, and she made her social
debut at a Marlborough House gar -
lien party, so a visit to England will
bo rather like a home -coining to
her. The Duke of Genoa, uncle of
the king of Italy, will also attend
the coronation and conunand an
vItaailiraenviinewam of war in the great 110'
Tao PRINCESS OF A.USTRIAS
is not a beauty, but her husband,'
Prince Charles of Bourbon, is suffi-
ciently good looking to strike an
average, and the princess is both
pleasant and agreeable. She WWI
Queen of Spain frona November 1886
when her father died, until the fol-
lowing May, wimp. her brother Alfon-
so XI1T. was born; and now, as heir-
ess presumptive to the throne she is
next to the king, the most import-
ant personage of S.pain. Many
charming stories aro told of her de-
votion to her brother and to her
country. She refused to marry any
prince who would require her to live
outside of Spain, and when 21. made
a love match in spiteof opposition
from family and public. She has ne-
ver been in England, but like all
royalty in Europe, speaks English
perfectly.
TheC
rowil
princess of Roumania is
filing Edward's niece and spent her
childhood in England.
Prince Beery of Prussia and his
wife are doubly related to the King,
through Prince Ilenry's mother, Em-
press Frederick. and Princess ITenryee
mother, Princess Alice, His wife le
famed for her sweetness of disposi-
tion and charm of manner.
Prince Rupert of Bavaria and his
pretty young Austrian wife, who was
a grand -daughter of Francis Joseph,
will represent I3avaria. They are
not related to the English royal
family, but the feeling between Eng-
land and Bavaria is
PARTICULARLY CORDIAL,
Another young couple destined for
a throne are Prince Albert of Flan-
ders and his bride, who is an un-
commonly attractive young woman,
daughter of Duke Theodor in Bavar-
ia. Prince Albert has not spent
much time in England but was nam-
ed for the Prince Consort and was a
favorite of Queen Victoria,
The Crown Prince and Princess of
Denmark have been frequent visitors
at Sandringham and Marlborough
House, since the day when the Crown
Prince with his parents and
brothers took Alexandra to her wed-
ding at Windsor. The Crown Prin-
cess is the only child of the late
King of Sweden. This couple will
undoubtedly be the favorite guests of
the King and Queen.
The Crown Prince and Princes s of
Sweden are also popular with the
royal family of England. The Prin-
cess is a granddaughter of Emperor
William L
There is a rumor that the Duke
and Duchess of Cumberland will at-
tend the coronation, The Duke, now
King de jure of Hanover, is a prince
or the British blood royal and his
wife is Queen Alexandra's sister, so
their welcome would be a hearty ono
but the chances are that they will be
represented by their son, Prince
(loorge, and their daughter, Princess
ylroTauxiillogest of Germany's rulers, will
ofi)Bukaorleonf.
Saxe-Cobourg-G o tha,
return to his old home for the coro-
nation and will be uncommonly glad
to get there on any pretext, for 111-
11101. has it that lie is a bomesick,
though conscientious and
EXEMPLARY YOUNG RULER.
His sister, Princess Alice of Albaner,
and his mother will be with him.
The list is not complete and more
prospective sovereigns may bo added
to the collection. Gossip manes the
genial Duke of Oporto, brother of
the King of Portugal, as Portugal's
representative, but Sorvin. and Bul-
garia are unknown quantities; and,
unless the Boer War ends speedily,
Holland will doubtless sond only an
anTibhaessanticocto•
Mmodation of so much
royalty is giving the royal hest
some anxious liniments. London has
no such assortment of colossal royal
palaces/ as Most of the great Euro-
pean capitols. mariborough
and Buckingham Palace will not
lodge comfortebly any save the pri-
vileged close relations of the King
and Queen. It is said that a large
hotel neer Buckingham Palate has
been taken for the King's guests, and
that. several lieblenlen have placed
their London houses at King Ed-
ward's disposnl,
After the coronation week many of
tho royal guests will visit Windsor
and Man dringimm, and vertu in rif the
great country homes of Englend; et)
mighty preparations fier elaborate
entertaining are being wade through-
out the length and breadth of the
land, as well as in London, and tile
n111011111 01 1110017 that will 33" hos-
pitably spent during the se:mon is
beyond ordiumv calculation.