Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-27
NO GREAT CHANGE,
Situation at the Seat Of War
in South Africa,
THE CENSORSHIP RELAXED,
Dispatches Still Much Delayed, But Ar
rlYiDS More Freely.
BRITISH CANNONADE AT COLENso.
Destruction of TugeIa Bridge-It il
Thought That Britons VIII Make
No Serious Move Pending Arrival
of Roberts.

of Roberts.
LONDON. December 27.A5O A. NJ
Dispatches from South Africa are stnl
greatly delayed, but they are arriving
more freely, which shows that the CEN
sOrship has been relaxed
There appears to be no great change in
the situation.
A dispatch from Lourenzo Marques.
dated Thursday, December Dist, gives the
following from the Boer head-laager,
dated Tuesday December 18th.
The British naval guns at Colenso
have been cannonading Bulwer bridge,
over the Tugela river, with view TO
smashing it.
"rhe bombardment Of Ladysmith is
proceeding slowly. General Joubert has
arrived here, and been accorded a hearty
welcome. He addressed the Burghers on
December 18th.
MORE BRITISH PRISONERS.
more British prisoners have been sent
TO Pretoria. including Colonel Bullock.
Major Walters. Major Bailwark. Major
Foster, Captain Dick, Captain Northern,
Captain Fitzherbert, Captain Ford, Cap
tain Hutchinson. Lieutenant Bonham.
Lieutenant smythers. Lieutenant
ThOurne, Lieutenant O'Conneyghy. Lieu
tenant Kunbauld. Lieutenant Christian
Lieutenant Bngg. Lieutenant Birch,
Lieutenant Halford, Lieutenant Tarbul
and Lieutenant Jones"
A dispatch 10 the Daily News from
Ladysmith, dated Friday, December 18th.
b. Photograph. says:
ANOTHER SORTIE
Another sorte last night General
Hunter with 80 volunteers. destroyed
one 6-inch CreusOt gun, one hOwitzer, and
one Maxim. one Briton killed. The
Boer gunners fled"
There is an idea in some quarters here
that General Buffers destruction Of the
Tugela bridge herllds an attempt to cut
off the Beers now south OF the river but
the general opinion is that the British
will not make any serious move pending
the arrival Of Lord Roberts.
DUTCH DISAFFECTION.
Dispatches from various points indicate
the steady growth " Dutch disanection.
The Cape Town correspondent OF the
Daily Chronicle reports the discovery Of
a plot 10 conniye at the escape OF Boer
prisoners
The Times advises stern treatment Of
the disaffected Dutch cOiOnists and the
enforcement Of the penalties Of treason
against persons and property.
The Sixteenth Lancers will 80 to South
Africa from India, at the special request
Of Lord Roberts. even after the govern
should be Withdrawn from India
The War Office has nominated Sir Will
liam Stokes as consulting surgeon to the
South African forces. He will leave
Dublin for the Cape i'm "a few days.
SEIZURE OF LOURENZO MARQU Els.
Lord Somerset writes 30 the Times, uTg-
ing the seizure of LOurerzo Marques, ana
its retention. if necessary. until the end
of the war. i'm order TO prevent the land
Ing of war material for the Beers.
The transport TantallOn Castle has ar
rived at Cape Town, with number or
howitzers and quick-ire guns, which Cen
erll Butler urgently needs.
dispatch from Modder river dated
Thursday. December 2lst, reports that in
teruittent firing was continued on both
sides. although the Boer shells fell short
4 number Of Free state Burghers had
surrendered There Is am unconiirmed Zee
port that Canadian picket was cut OF
near Belmont. 10 is also asserted that
fever is rag.ng among the Beers.
WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.
The tests of wireless biography at Mod
der river have been highly successful
communication over distance OF seventy
miles being perfectly established. Six
Aarcom Instruments intended for The
Beers. have been seized at cape Town
4 dispatch from ChieVeley camp dated
Thursday. December 2lst, says:
.INddue shells are daily thrown into
the Boer camp 90 prevent them from
working at the trenches. The hrins or
big guns is heard daily from the direc-
ton of Iadysmith."
Commandant Demellon, who was cap
tured at Elandslaagte and brought 10
Cane Town. and who succeeded in max
ing his escape from the British cruiser
Penelope has been recaptured.
SITUATION AT THE MODDER.
MODDER RIVER. CAPE COLONY,
Wednesday. December 20-The British ma
val guns command the whole BOer posi-
ton. and posses the exact range OF every
stone and bush. They frequently plant
shells with good advantage in the midst
OF groups Of Beers.
The Burghers are reported 10 be return
ing home for Christmas
Recent arrivals from Jacobsdal report /
that. Notwithstanding the Boer successes, |
the Free Staters do not expect ultimate
victory. They complain of The oyerbear- /
ire conduct OF General Comics men. who |
are alleged TO be- better fed, and 10 be I
posted i'm the safest positions.
The Transvaalers do not conceal their /
suspicious of the possible detection /
of the Free Staters. and threaten 10 shoot |
them az the least sign of wavering.
The Free Staters are said 10 regard |
subsection to the Transyaal as more 10 |
be feared than subsection 10 Great Bril- /
tain.
METHUEN WE'LL ENTRENCHED.
LONDON. December 26-The War Office |
has received the following dispatch from |
Cane Town dated December 9th, saying: |
'.There is no change in the situation al /
AIodder River. General Methuen IS we'll |
entrenched. and the Beers have not dis |
turbed him.
General Gatacre reports that a force |
Of $50 police has occupied Dordrecht, the |
Beers retreating. with no loss
CHAMBERS AMONG MULES.
LONDON. December pa cable dis
mich from Cape Town. dated Wednesday. |
December 10th. says that CHAMBERS has
broken out among the American mules
IF which there are 100 AT the Stellen-
bosch Remount farm. Twenty-siX OF the
mules have been destroyed and seventy
eight have been isolated.
SEDITION SPREADING.
The dispatch says sedition Is spreading
l., cane Col6nv Three members or the |