The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-15


Cause Great Fear of n Dutch Uprising
in Cane Coiony-Unfounded Rumor That
I,dysmith Had Been Relieyed--Great
Anxiety for News of Gen. Buffers Column
Fate of the Empire In Ills Camp -
ac,buen Lost s33 Men mt Modder River.
t,,einr cabis Dtspdt:h to THE suS
,,>roS Dec. lJ-The most serious fact OF
.,o roment from the Brtish point OF view is
,h, undoubted great Dutch disanection In
Cane Colony. not only on the borders. out
IN IN, south as far rs King Williams Town
and elsewhere in the neiRhborhood OF East
london. The critics arc impressed by what
,l,s nortcnds. ana demand that moro troops be
sent to South Africa.
Thc Morning Tosrs critic. whose identity is
,c.,I,y revealed he being Henry Spenser
wutiuson. for many years u Volunteer officer,
,r,nta Of the outlook with great gravity. and
,,is,s rho question ot tho desirabllity OF plac-
Co.,, in commission oil the ships OF the Navy
without delay.
rh.r. Is no indication Of the origin OF
,,n rorort that Ladysmith had been relieved.
nor il there the least confirmation OF II.
There is~ager even Painful anxiety Tor news
from Gen Butler. whose advance to tho
,au,for Ialyslnith il widely believed to have
ho,pn ON THURSDAY. when II begins" says
onc critic, the fate of the Empire will DO
centred IN his camp"
The Governments announcement that u
seventh army division will be modified IL
everywhere welcomed 1t will consist OF about
thirteen thousand men. The sixth Division
IL already modified for service in South
Africa
lis understood that preparations have al
70 n n eight
rris.nc sixteen regiments OF infantry and three
NJ cavalry. This will necessitate the summon
inc Of all the remaining reserves OF the regular
army,
supplementary reports from Magersfontein
make 4, clear that but for the disaster to the
Highland Brigade the British loss would have
been comparatively insignificant 1t Is evident
tba, Gen Methurn pushed forward the High
lanlers in the darkness In the hope
of surrris. ng the enemy. who were too wary
or too well informed by their scouts. Tho
failure ls all the more cXasperatinG to the
British because the attack seemed 80 near to
success
The question OF the Boer losses is no nearer
elucdation. One prisoner says the Beers evac-
uatcd the hills and trenches during sunday 5
thcng returning at nightfall
The Chrontcip's correspondents account In
dicatcs that the British withdrawal from their
advanced position on Tuesday was in conse-
purncc Jfthe heavy guns OF the enemy reaching
hem. These opened 10 the morning with n
not shell fire. from which the British had little
cover. and which Gen. Methuen's guns were
unable 10 silence
The Care Town correspondent OF tho Ddilv
N,irs SAYS that the defeat OF Gen. Methuen
following Gen. Gatacre's reverse has had a
mos. depressing effect. Loyalists. whose num-
Der is In uo wise increasing. arc filled
with dark iorebodings. Dutch dsafrcctor
Is rapidly growing. and a large section oil
the inhabitants need little persuading &c
oin the Beers Disturbing reports are re-
ceiyed from the eastern border OF the
colony. fairly large party Of
Dutchmcn PASSED through the Amatola passes
atlHidnight Dec. I. taking observations. Sc
eret meetings are being held in the Victoria
east district. The imperial authorities. in
response 70 repeated requests. have armed the
LOYAL farmers In the Stutterhoim and Reirad
districts.
\ despatch from Cape Town says: 1.-THE
Times. In a leading article. credits Prime Min
lister schreiner with arresting dIsloyalty In
Care Colony. I, says: We are not con-
cerned with tho measures adopted moi
their fitness What We consider is the inten
ton and motive. aud We rejoice. Tho testi'
mony is to the rightncss OF his ain
in dealing with a section OF the colonist'
who are In position OF influence.
The article proceeds: There ia a moral
Never again viii we root In Africa indepen
dent States. With their disappearance dis
loyalty. whether Of Dutch or renegade English
will vanish and the loyal English and Dutcl
will rejoice together and be assured OF libert!
AMI peace.
The recruiting OF rregulnrs proceeds.
NEPHEW Of President Steyn OF the Orange Free
State has olned Brabants Horse"
The Prime Minister OF New South VALE
ha, cabled to Colonial Secretary Chamberlain
Offering to furnish moro troops for service
against The Beers
The correspondent OF the Cape 1orn Arou
a. King Williams Town says there is mucl
dissatisfaction among the Alrikanders In tina
district. Other advlces confirm the reports q
the Unsatisfactory situation on the border
Lieut., TAFT Of the Royal Highlanders lTh
Black WatchN who was wounded In tn
engagement at Magcrsfoutein, IL an eS-cham
Ion Goli player.
METHUEN'S LOSS S33 MEN.