Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-30
Beers and KaRrs Have a Battle In
Which the Whites Win.
THE WAR WITH ENGLAND.
Beers Kept informed as 10 British
Army Movements Desultory
Fighting In Progress

Pretoria, Tuesday December goth, VIA
Lourenzo MARQUEE, Thursday, Deem
Der 2-Commandant swart reports
from the lager at Alowyn's kop. near
zeorust, that he had an engagement on
Friday, December 22nd, with kafiirs in
the neighborhood Of Dordorpoort The
kafiirs occupied strongly fortified
ridge, and were well prepared for emer-
gencies. After heavy firing the
burghers captured the kanir position,
losing three killed and FIVE wounded
London, Dec. SO-The latest special
dispatches from Chleyeley camp hint
darkly at some important movement as
imminent This Is interpreted with
some msglvngs,' TO mean that Gen
Butler contemplates a renewal Of his
attempt 10 relieve Ladysmith.
II Is reported by the same dispatches
that the Beers have now retired to me
north bank OF the Tugela, being afraid
that the swollen river may bar their re-
treat They are also moving their Rag
ers neaer Ladysmlth, probably with
the intention OF putting further pres
sure on the garrison which now seems
TO be suffering pretty heavily from
bombardment
IL II difficult, however, TO conceive
that Gen. Butler would make another
frontal attack. especially NOW that the
river is rising, and an additional indl-
cation that this Is not his purpose IS
The fact that he has removed his head
quarters back to Frere.
The Boer movement northward from
the Tugela Is quite IN keeping with the
enemys plan Of securing safe line or
retreat.
IL is known that further artillery is
due TO arrive for Gen. Butler, but the
belief here IL that his forces even then
will be too weak. he may however
be animated by desire 60 accomplish
something before the arrival Of Lord
Roberts and to satisfy the keenness Of
his men to retrieve their defeat
The reported engagement with kaliirs
is very vague, and cannot be explained
pending the arrival of later dispatches
The Times has the following, dated
December 9th. from Lourenzo Mar.
quez "Caigoes for the Transyaal have
dwindled TO one-ffth OF the average,
but large shipments are expected from
Europe In the meantime there are
persistent rumors here and In Durham
that guns and ammunition are snug
gled through for the Beers. A French
liner now in the harbOr, Is said TO
have brought two large guns from
Madagascar.
"'rhe head OF the customs assures me
that there Is absolutely no ground
however, for such rumors. The goods,
he says are discharged. examined and
dispatched by daylight. SO great Is the
stringency. according 20 this official
that even saddles and horse-shoes are
not delivered to local importers except
In small lots and under written gaaran-
tees. The same precautions are taken
with reference TO all contraband arti-
Giles. OF course, much depends upon the
competence and incorruptibility OF sub
ordinates.
The Times has a later dispatch from
Lourenzo Marques, dated December
2Sth, which says. THE suspicion that
the Boer intelligence department Is In
close touch with a foreign consulate In
Pretoria is confirmed by the fact that
the news OF the appointment Of Lord
Roberts as Ommander-in-chief In
South Africa was generally known in
Pretoria. December Goth, Indirectly
reaching Delagoa bay from the Trans
vaal two days later Suspicion rests
upon a consul who Is notorious for his
Boer sympathy, There Is reason 10 be-
lieve that Pretoria is kept well in
formed with regard TO British military
movements.
with reference 20 the rumors Of
smuggling cOntraband, II is significant
that Mai. Erasmus Of the Free State
. artillery Is here, his arrival being coin
cident with that OF the French liner.
Considering the freedom with which
the Transyaal secret service fund Is
spent, considerable mischief may be
done unless cargoes are inspected by
British searchers who understand for
eign bills Of lading."
The Modder river correspondent OF
the Timas. referring TO the searching
OF the Beers, says; Their nervousness
causes much amusement among the
British. 1t Ia quite certain that half
the Bcer force Is employed watching
by day and the other half by night
Probably the consequent WEAKNESS
with The scarcity Of water and The
presence Of typhoid, will render the
Boer position inlolerable. Their pres
ent action IS due either 10 a scare OF
TO wish 20 cover retirement "a
Spytfontein.'
The Times publishes the following
dispatch from Chieveley Camp. dated
December cath: Parties OF Beers APP
preached today within three miles OF
Chieyeley Camp. threatening ouI
watering parties, who are compelled
10 go some two miles owing 10 The
scarcity Of water. II is reported thai
the Ladysmiih garrison made a SORTS
on Thursday and captured hill"
The CapetOwn correspondent OF the
Daily News says: "A leading resident
OF Vryburg. who was released by tho
Beers. saw 1900 colonials from GriQua.
land West. lie says colonial faces ar,
TO be seen everywhere In the BoeI
ranks"
Commandant Snyman reports as fol
lows from MolopO; ION Monday morn
ing the enemy from Mafcklgg attacked
one OF our forts IN force with cannon
and an aTmored train and so persistent
" that there was fighting right on th'
Ndlls OF the lOlt inul We nave lf
tained our fort. The British loss is re-
ported as 55.
The other commands report. IA
quiet, with the exception Of the usua
bombardment ot Ladysmlth. Gen
Meyer has recovered and returned &
the 'front.'"
Advices from Ladysmith dated Sun
day. December 2ith via Pieiermaritz
burg, say: Gen White has had
slight attack Of fever, but he Is nov
cOnyalescent.
The Boer shell fire has been verl
damaging recently On Friday on
shell killed six men and wounded nine
The same missile killed fourteen horses
Another just missed the nth lancer.
lines, slightly wounding six officers
Several shells have fallen close 90 Gen
Whites house. compelling the remova
OF headquarters 90 another point
IT Is reported that Gen. Joubert
again IN command Of the Beers here
The military authorities app.ar conn
dent but they are very reticeht Boer
have been observed moving northwar
and westward in large numbers"
The Marseilles correspondent Of tn
Daily Mall, telegraphlng the substanc
= OF an interview with the Russian Con