Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-28
But Butler May Be Planning
an Attack. =,
TO RETRIEVE COLENSO
Ladysmith is Not in as Good Condition
as Was Rep rted-The Dutch Are
Becoming Observation-Disclosures of
Churchill. T. )

London. Dec. IS. 4:30 a. m.-WinStOn
Churchilps new arrival at Chieveley
camp is perhaps responsible for SOM
over-coloring of the gravity of the situa-
ton, but all tohay's news conveys the
impression that Butler may be intending
another attack upon the Boer position.
Certainly, the Beers are not inactive. At
both M}odder river and the Tugela river
they are said I'd be strengthening their
forces and extending defense works which
in both cases are seemingly almost i'm
pregnable.
AS showing the difficulty of obtaining
accurate information a correspondent Of
the Daily News at Capetown, under date
Of December u, announces that Gen. Bull
Ter is coming to Capetown to meet Sir
Charles Warren and then both will go to
Modder river. AS five battalions Of Gen.
Warren's fifth division are said to have
gone to Natal, his arrival at Pietermar-
itzburg seemed natural.
Dispatches from Chieveley indicate
that Gen. Buffers forces will re-mobilize
at Frare before attempting another ad-
valscc. Doubtless he would be glad to re
trieve the Colenso reverse before the ar
rival of Lord Robrts, yet he is hardly
likely to attempt another frontal attack.
1t is more likely that he is preparing to
strike should the Beers make any often
siye move. A
Mr.. Churchills reference to L~adysmith
may imply that the situation Of the gar
rison is more desperate thar had been
supposed. The Beers continue fortifying
! {l,, l,;lle 1o.,, =, l,,,o ~, @,,r. Co,
White, however, photographs that all was
we'll DIN Ladysani h on December 26.
Competent military critics in London
regard the campaign as a complete dead
lock for the present owing to the disper-
sal of the British forces and for the lack
of adequate transports. 1t will be made
weeks before Lord Roberts is able to rec
osISize and make an effective movement.
The BOer trench work lis so good that
it enables the enemy to hold a long line
with very few men and to travel great
distances under perfect cover. SO as rap
idly to reinforce any point attacked.
THE Times, which editorially
u1>on the severe strain, says: "It is DIFF
ficult to avoid the conclusion that our
troubles are due to the unhealthy of the
presumably practical lessons given in the
at AldarshOt.'
Dispatches from Modder river repre-
sent Dutch disaffection in Griquiland
West as growing very serious. In some
towns the entire Dutch population has
Joined the Beers. Rebels have laagered
west of Modder river camp. 1t is also an
nounced that the Beers have raised the
siege of kuruman and have all with
drawn to Magersfontein.
A Capetown correspondent of the
Times, unda dgte OF Dec. %, says: "Anx-
lety regarding the attitude Of the colo
nial Dutch MS steadily growing. They
make no effort to conceal their sympathy
with the two republics and the only
question now is whether, if the military
situation is not changed, they will keep
from open rebe lion. Even in districts
that have not been visited by the Beers,
in the eastern nart of the province, the
Dutch farmers are riding about armed.
This rs the case also in districts only fifty
miles from CapatoWn, where a saditious
movement is tbusily propagated.- The
British forces are inadequate 10 guard L.
900 miles of communications"
A dispatch to the Times from Mafe-
king, dated Monday, Dec. II, says that
Lady Frances Wilson, who was captured
by the Beers while acting as correspond
ent for a London paper, has arrived there
having been exchanged for Viljohn. a
notorious thief and convict.