Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-06
Garrison at Ladysmith Suffering
From Many Inconvenienees.
BOER FIRE BECOMING EFFECTIVE
Council Of War to Consider Ques-
ton of an Assault.
MILITIA FOR GEN. BULLER

| LONDON. December Ga budget of
| news from Ladysmith which arrived to-
| day, brings the history of the beleaguered
garrison up to November -. In spite of
| the rumors of retrograde movement upon
the part of the Beers, the stories Just re-
| ceived show that the garrison. although
| still strong. suffering from confine-
| ment. restricted diet and the increasing
| volume of the Boer artillery fire, especially
| that of an additional heavy-caliber gun
| placed in position 5000 yards from the
| western defenses. The dispatches relate
| that the Beers had discovered the most
| vulnerable points of the garrison and that
sheling was becoming disagreeaby effec-
| tive. The rations had been reduced, and
there was 4 great deal of sickness. Never
thelcSs. the troops of the garrison were in
every way preparing to meet the assault
which ii was anticipated the Beers would
carry out in n final effort to reduce the
city. The belief was current in Ladysmith
that the Beers were preparing for retro
grade movement after another attack
Several bodies of burghers We're reported
to have been seen November 2S moving in
the direction OF the Drakensburg range
while. November ~ detachments were OBJ
served journeying nOrthward with wagons
Dlscord between the Transvaalers and Free.
Staters was also reported There was no
indication. however. that the Beers wers
preparing to dismantle their gun positions
but the idea was prevalent in some quarters
of Ladysmith that the continued shelIing
of the place was intended to cover the re-
tirement of other Boer forces toward the
Transvaa frontiers.
Beers Plan to Renew Attack
The Pretoria dispatch (of Saturday, De-
cember ,, via Lourenzo Marques, Monday.
December a. however announced that a
Boer council of war December was plan
ming renewed assault on Ladysmith
A dispatch from Frere, dated Sunday, De
cember 3, reports that in Colonel Lord Dun
ddnalds reconnaissance near Colenso fif-
teen Beers were killed and many wounded
The road bridge across the Tugeia river is
intact.
The same message reports that Presi-
dent Kruger is anxious that the burghers
leave Ladysmith in order to oppose the
British marching in the direction of Pre-
toria from the west.
Advices from Putters kraal, the head
quarters of General Gatacre's division,
dated Saturday, December . say the Beers
entered Dordrecht that morning. This it
Is added, is probably Grobler's force of
1900 men from Stormberg.
The war office has received the list of
casualties during the sortie from Kimber-
ley November %, as follows:
Killed-Major Scott-Turner of the Bizck-
watch, Lieutenant C. w. Wright If the
Kimberley Light -;Horse and twer.ty nom
commissioned officers and men. Wounded
Captain Walleck, Lieutenants Clifford
and Watson and twenty-eght non-commis-
stoned officers and men.
Militia to Reinforce Butler.
There is a possibility, if Gen. Butler
asks for further renforcements, that bri-
gade of militia will be sent to South Africa,
with the view of conciliating the militia
men, who think that branch of the service
has been sighted in favor of the reserv-
lists.
In compliance with a requisition signed
by Messrs. w. Redmond, John Clancy and
others. the acting lord mayor of Dublin has
called meeting Of the corporation for De-
cember IL to dispose of motion in which
the corporation will deplore the "infictson
the South African republics of this la
mentable, cruel and unnecessary war" and
protest against policy involving loss of
life and enormous expenditure
Butler on BOer Losses.
The war office has received the following
from Gen. Butler:
"PIETERMARITZBUR Tuesday, De-
ccmber Sit is very difficult to make any
statement in regard to the enemy's loss.
For instance, at Belmont 81 of their dead
were accounted for. The enemy gave Is as
the number Of killed. There is every rea-
son to believe that the enemy's loss in the
fight at Ladysmith, November 8, was over
800 killed and wounded. Information from
a trustworthy Boer source shows that at
Hildyard's fight, November 23 the enemy
lest so killed and 100 wounded. 1t is I'M
possible to say how far these numbers are
correct, but it is evident the enemy does
not admit a tenth of the losses suffered.
Intercepted dispatches to Joubert from
commander show that even the official dis
patches contain decidedly inaccurate in
formation in this respect"
Gen. Joubert Indisposed.
PRETORIA, Saturday, December ., via
Lourenzo Marquee, Monday, December A.
Gen. Joubert is indisposed, and has arrived
at Volksrust, across the Transvaal border,
for medical treatment.
A dispatch from the Head Lager, where
Gen. Schalkburger is in supreme command
during the absence of Gen. Joubert. an
nounces that council of was held
December 9, with reference to assaulting
Ladysmith. The state attorney has
rived at the camp to advise the Boer com
manders.
Everything is quiet at Ladysmith.
Dispatches from the west report that
there was heavy artillery duel at Mafe-
king during the morning of December 2.
All is quiet at Kimberley.
Comfortable wood and iron houses have
been erected at Waterfall, a few miles
from Pretoria, for the rank and file of the
British prisoners.
Count Deville LIE Blois, colonel in the
French army, has Joined the Transvaal
rpt1ita ha
Naval Orders.
Commander F. H. Delano has been de-
tac from, dIt oficar ut