The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-26
SERIOUS SPREAD
OF DUTCH
DISAFFECTION
Which Should Impress Authorities
With Magnitude Of the Task
Before Them.
HELIOGRAPH FROM LADYSMlTH
The DelagOa Bay and Neutrality
Questions to Receive

LONDON, Dec. 26.=-4iSQ a. n1.-Up to
this hour nothing has arrived from
South Africa that would indicate any
change in the military situation there.
The war ONCE is issuing lists of further
deaths and wounds, as well as 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
Five hundred British cavalry horses,
it is said. have already been shot ow-
ing to the occurrence of glanders. The
disease is likely to spread with much
greater rapidIty among the British
horses than among the hardy Boer
ponies, and this may mean a consider
able proIongatlon of the campaign.
A dispatch from Chleveley. dated
Tuesday, December 1s, says:
1.-THE British naval guns have de-
stroyed ths colenso foot bridge. thus
preventing the Beers holding any po-
sltlon south of the Tugela river The
enemy are taking up fresh positions on
the eastern side. near the British camp.
1.-THE British position at Frere is
being strengthened. The Tugela river
Is rising, and there is prospect of
heavy rains.
"a two-hour bombardment Of Lady
smith has been heard from here.
According to reliable native reports
the Beers had two hundred killed In
the tight at colenso.'
The news that the Colenso footbrIdge
has been destroyed seems to show that
General Butler Is more anxious to
keep the enemy at bay than to attempt
a further advance.
Despite the severity Of the censor
ship. hints are being continually re-
ceived OF the serious spread Of Dutch
dlsafectlon in both the Queenstown
department of Cape Colony and Natal.
A correspondent of the Daily Mail at
PietermaritSburg says:
'"The extent Of Dutch disafection
should make the imperial authorities
realize the magnitude OF the task be-
fore them"
There are unconhrmed reports from
Cape Town that General Sir Charles
Warren, commanding the Fifth divts-
ion, has returned there.
Commandant Demelllon, who was
taken prisoner at Elandslaagte and
brought to slmonston. where he was
confined on the British cruiser Pene-
lope, has succeeded In making his es-
cape.
The Times this morning makes the
following announcement:
I'VE are informed that the govern
ment has decided that 1t is not desIr-
able to make further demands upon
the European garrison in India, unless
unforeseen difficulties arise
An undated heliograph message from
Ladysmlth. by way of PIetermaritz-
burg, reports the garrison as in no way
daunted by General Buffers reverse at
Colenso. and as confident OF beIng able
to hold out Indefinitely.
The mails are just arriving from
Ladysmlth, All the correspondents
comment bitterly upon the superiority
Of the Boer artillery.
The Times correspondent says
1T Is impossible to evade the opln-
ion that II British gunners were in
the Boer possessions the loss of life and
damage to property in Ladysmith
would be ten times greater"
The holidays have brought no sur
cease Of recruiting activity. Lord Al
wyne Frederick Compton. UnIonist
member Of parliament for the DlggIes-
wade division of Bcdfordshlre. will
raise corps OF mounted men. Lord
saIisbury's private secretary. Mr.
schombcrg Mcdonnell, who is a vol
unteer officer has volunteered for SER
vice.
The action Of the United States gov
ernment causes considerable discus
sion regarding the contraband Ques-
ton as affecting Delagoa Bay and Por-
tugal. Widely divergent opinions are
expressed The Daily Graphic. in an
editorial on the subject, says:
We believe that every provision has
been made in British treaties with the
UaI,ed States for dealing with this
matter. In the special circumstances
Of the present war the government Is
bound to regard food as contraband.
No doubt the question can be satisfae-
tarily settled by paying concentrate
ly FOR the seizure Of American iour'
The question OF neutrality is more
serious. and Great Bri,aln's duty Is to
have tho Lorenzo Marqucz- -Transvaal
Railway watched by capable agents,
and to warn Portugal that she viii DO
held liable In damages for assistance
to the Boers by means Of the railway"
The Morning Post on the contrary
argues that the government would be
mad to treat food HB contraband. as
such action would play into the hands
Of all possible future enemies OF Great
Britain"
It admits, however, that steps should
DO taken and money expended to
search vessels and to prevent muni-
Tons Of war entering the Transvnal by
way Of Portuguese territory
The Standard says:
We do not doubt that this mattcrls
receiving the governments serious at