Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-12-26
Beers Celebrate Day of Thanks
giving for the Victories Over
Their Adversaries.
FREE STATE DETECTION TALK
But Cape Burehers Seem to be
Lendlne.Some Aid-Glanders
Knocking Out the Great
Missouri Mule.


dispatches from South Africa shows
the situation at the front is practical
ly unchanged. With the exception of
desultory artillery practice to which
the Beers do not reply the British
continue to mark time. The Beers
heavily bombarded Ladysmith for q
couple of hours on December 16, but
done little damage. They killed one
man, wounded two men of the garri-
son. Advices from Cape Town say
that the New Zealanders, with Gen
eral French, at Maauwpoort. were in
tight corner December 1S. They
were nearly surrounded by Beers but
retired under a hail of bullets fired
at short range but sustained only little
loss. Among the Beers killed at
Stormberg were many of that locality
who joined the Orange Free State
forces.
Several newspaper correspondents
returned to Cape Town from Modder
River apparently confirm the belief
that an immediate advance of the
British is projected.
Pretoria, Dec. 1S-GenerN Joubert
has recovered and returned to the
front today.
There were special services yester-
day at the different laagers as Thanks
giving for the victories at Colenso.
Stormberg and Modder River.
Durham, Dec. 19-The Norwegian
bark Regina, from Java loaded with
stretchers and railway sleepers has
been captured near Delagoa Bay and
brought here by the British second
class cruiser Forte.
Modder River, Cape Colony, Dec.
20-British naval guns command the
whole Boer position and possess 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
to be returning home for Christmas,
Recent arrivals from Jacobsdal report
that Notwithstanding Boer success
the Free Staters do not expect an ulti-
mate victory. They complain of the
overbearing conduct of General Cron-
je's men, who are alleged to be better
fed and posted in the safest positions.
Transvaalers do not conceal their sus-
picions of a possible detection of the
Free Staters and threaten to shoot
them at the least sign Of wavering.
The Free Staters are said to regard
subsection to the Transvaal as more
TO be feared than subjection to Great
Britain.
London, Dec. 26-The war Office re
ceived a dispatch from Cape Town
saying there is no change in the situa-
tion at Modder River. General Me-
thuen is we'll entrenched and the
Beers have not disturbed him. Gen.
eral Gatacre reports that $50 police
have occupied Dordrecht, the Beers
retreating with no loss.
London, Dec. 26-The war Office re-
ceived dispatch from Pietermaritz-
burg, Natal, dated December Oath, an
nouncing that in an engagement at
Ladysmith December 22d Major A.
C. King, Captains Wathens and Oaks
and Lieut.. Coils. Hulz and Fawcett
were wounded and nine non-commis-
stoned officers and men killed and ten
wounded This battle had not been
recorded before.
London, Dec. ga cable from
Cape Town, dated December goth.
says glanders has broken out among
the American mules of which there
are LOO at Stellenberch Remount
farm. Thirty-six mules have been de.
stroyed and 7S isolated. The disease
is spreading.
Three members of the Cape parlia-
ment are alleged to be implicated,
and one of them is said to have pre-
sented a Free State flag to the Boer
commander, at same time expressing
the hope that he would carry it to
glory and victory. Another member
of parliament is said to be recruiting
for Beers. In addition wealthy farm
ers are now aiding the invaders.
Gibraltar. Dec. 26-General Lord
Kitchener arrived here from Egypt.
London, Dec. 26.-Lord Stanley
eldest son Of Earl of Derby and mem
Der for west Houghton division Lam
cashire has been ordered to join Lord