Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-12-09
FROM SOUTH AFRICA
A SUMMARY OF THE TRANsvAAL
WAR NEWS.
Although the Reports Would Indicate
The Success of the English Cause,
Yet 1t Must Be Remembered That
the News Is From English Sources.

ttG NEWS 10 t0th St9RoH 00N'~~'
It is believed in London that if Gen.
Butler asks for reinforcements a bri-
gade of the militia will be sent to
South Africa, with view of conciliat-
ing militiamen.
A cablegram from London, Thurs
day, Dec Z, says there is complete
lull in the news from the seat of war
Ladysmith has established hello
graphic communication with Frere, and
all was well up TO Sunday.
Modder River dispatches say that
the Beers are encamped amid the
hills half way to Kimberley; but it is
also asserted that large body of the
enemy has gone in the direction of
Jacobsdal Lord Methuen is still wait
ing at Modder River for stores, guns
and ammunition.
The first batch of wounded soldiers
from South Africa, numbering 1873
men, arrived in London Dec. on the
transport Sumatra, which left Table
Bay about Nov. Is.
Comfortable wood and iron houses
have been erected at Waterfall, few
miles from Pretoria, for the rank and
file of the British prisoners.
Although the repairing of the cable
between Alden and Zanzibar has re-
stored the route to South Africa, there
is nothing at hand in London throw
ing any light on Gen. Buffers prepare
tions for the relief of Ladysmith or
the movements of the other British
columns.
A despatch from Durham says the
Beers lost 800 men in the battle OF
Glencoe, in Natal Colony.
The sum of $4,000 has been sub
scribed at Chicago by British resi-
dents for the relief of widows and or
phans of British soldiers who fell in
the Transvaal.
The report of the abandonment of
| the seige of Mafeking by the Beers
are not confirmed in London. Appar
emily Gen. Cronje left there force
sufficient to hold the garrison in
| check.
| The Canadian contingent of troops
| for service in South Africa were given
an enthusiastic reception on their ar
rival at Cape Town. The British
transport Hurona. from New Orleans,
| and transport Canning. from London
have also arrived with the first bat
| terry of Howitzers.
The detailed report of the British
| Boer battle at Modder River shows
| that the fight was more desperate
| than had previously been indicated.
/ For fourteen hours the battle ragged,
| and at night the Beers retired across
| the river, the British subsequently
| getting their forces over the stream,
| when hostilities ceased Gallant
charges of British infantry were made
in the face of the terrible hail of bull
| lets. Lord Methuens forces lost heav-
! lily, and there was great havoc among
! the Beers, who are said to have num-
| bered IL 900.
| There has been preliminary Skin
mish between Gen. Hilyard's troops
I and the Beers near Colenso, in Natal
/ Colony, near where the next great
battle, in which some 10000 men will
/ be engaged, will be fought.
The Duchess of Uzes at Paris has
denied the report that he is paying
the expenses of an alleged pro-Boer
volunteer corps said to be forming in
New York
! The President has designated Abel
| bert F. Hay, a son of the Secretary OF
| State, to take the place of Charles Ma
crum, Consul at Pretoria, who has
been granted permission to leave his
post at once.
! 1t is believed in London that Lord
| Methuen has been reinforced by half
battalion OF the Gordon Highlanders,
regiment of cavalry and battery of
artillery, and that De Aar is being
daily reinforced by troops to hold the
I lines of communication in Cape Col
ony.
| 1t is said that the Natal advance has
! been delayed by the necessity of get
| ting supplies to Pietermaritzburg but
not word eminates from any of the
various commands in that colony.
The opposing armies, each about
10000 strong. in Natal Colony, are
supposed to be massed about Frere,
between Colenso and Estcourt and re-
ports of great battle are daily ex.
pected
A despatch to the London Chronicle
from Cape Town, dated Nov. n, says
that the prsss is angrily commenting
on the censoring of letters between
neighboring districts 1t adds that the
Hon. George Peel. while wandering
beyond Gen Methuen's camp, found
himself in the presence of Boer, who
presented him with a Bible open at
Revelations and then fed. Mr.. Peel,
who is brown ana bearded, and who
was dressed in khaki, was immediate
ly afterward seized by three Grena-
diers, who hauled him before Gen. Me-
thuen and accused him of being a spy.
Late arrivals from Pretoria esti-
mate the Boer war casualties at one
thousand men, half OF whom were
killed The race course there is being
prepared for laager, in the event of
siege, and the guns of the fort are
trained on it In case the prisoners at
tempt to escape.