The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-26
NO EFFORT TO ADVANCE
-FOUR HUNDRED DISEASED BRIT
ISI HORSES SHOT.
LITTLE CHANGE IN MILITARY SITUATION
Superiority ofthe Boer ARTILLERY Commen' ed on.
British Recruiting Active. The Question Of
Regarding Food as Contraband Ex-
cites Much Discussion.

London, Dee. 26-(4:30 a. m.-Tues-
day. Up to this hour nothing has arriv-
ed from South Africa that would Indicate
any change in the military situation
there. The War Office is issuing lists of
further deaths and wounded, as well rs
accounts of sickness. The most serious
report of the last class is that horse
sickness has broken out in both British
and Boer camps in Natal.
Four hundred British cavalry horses,
it is said. have already been shot owing
TO the occurrence Of CHAMBERS. The dis
ease is likely to spread with much
greater rapidity among the British
horses than among the hardy Boel
ponies, and this may mean considera-
ble prolongation of the campaign. Horse
sickness in South Africa generally lasts
three months. The present outbreak IS
unusually early.
A dispatch from Chieveley, dated
Tuesday. December 18th, says:
''The British naval guns have destroy
ed the Colenso foot bridge, thus pre-
venting the Beers holding any position
south of the Tugela River. The enemy
are taking up fresh positions on the east
ern side nearer the British camp.
The British position at Frere is being
strengthened The Tugela River is ris-
ing, and there is a prospect of heavy
rains.
a two hours bamSardment Of Lads =
smith has been heard from here. Ac
cording to reliable native reports. the
Beers had two hundred killed i'll the
fight at C0ienso.'
The news that the Colenso foot bridge
has been destroyed seems to show that
General Butler is more anxious to keep
the enemy at bay than to attempt a fur
ther advance.
Despite the severity of the censorship,
hints are being continually received of
the serious spread OF Dutch disaifection
in both the Queenstown districts OF Cape
Colony and Natal.
a correspondent of the Daily Mail at
Pietermartzburg says:
"The extent of Dutch disaffection
should make the imperial authorities real
ize the magnitude of the task before
them
There are unconfrmed reports from
Cape Town that General Sir Charles
w dTFtD, CDHlHi3IlucF Oh IHe l. lItn III
vision, has returned there
Commandant Demeillon, who was
taken prisoner at Elandslaagte and
brought to Simonst0wn. where he was
confined on the British cruiser Pene-
lope. has succeeded in making his escape.
The Times this morning makes the
following announcement:
We are informed that the Govern
ment has decided that it is not desirable
to make further demands upon the Euro
pean garrison in India unless unforeseen
difficulties arise"
An undated helograph message from
iJadysmith. by way of Pietermaritzburg,
represents the garrison as in no way
daunted by General Buffers reverse mt
ColenSo, and as confident of being able
to hold cut indefinitely.
The mails are just arriving from Lady
smith. All the correspondents comment
bitterly upon the superiority of the Boer
artillery.
The Times correspondent says:
1T is impossible to evade the opinion
that if British gunners were im the BOer
positions the loss of life and damage TO
property in Ladysmith would be ten
times greater"
The holidays have brought no surcease
of recruiting activity. Lord Alwyne
Frederick Compton, Unionists member of
| Parliament for the Biggleswade division
of Bedfordshire. will raise a corps of
mounted mem. Lord Salisbury's private
| Secretary, Mr.. Schomberg Mcdonnell,
who rs a volunteer officer, has volunteer
cd for service.
| The action Of the United States Gov
ernment causes considerable discussion
| regarding the contraband question as af-
fecting Delagoa Bay and Portugal. Wide
| ~ divergent opinions are expressed. The
Daily Graphic in an editorial on the sub
| iect says:
I'VE believe that every provision has
been made in British treaties with the
United States for dealing with this mat
ter. In the special circumstances of the
present war the Government is bound to
| regard food as contraband. No doubt the
question can be satisfactorily settled by
paving compensation for the seizure Of
| American flour
The question of neutrality, however,
| is more serious and Great Britain's duty
is to have the LOurenzo MARQUES -Irans-
vaal Railway watched by capable agents
to warn Portugal THAT she will be held
liable in damages for assistance to the
Beers by means of the railway.
The Morning Post. on the contrary
argues that the Government would be