The Indianapolis journal., 1899-12-28
Dfsa6ectfon OF the Dutch in Cape Col
ony and Other British Territory
Increasing Rapidly.
LADY SARAH WILSON FREE
EXCHANGED BY BOERs FOR A NO.
TORIoUS HORsETHIEF.
Immense Stores of Food at Pretoria
ProcIan alton by Queen Victoria
How Churchill Escaped.

LONDON, Dec. %, 4:30 a. m.-Winston
Churchilrs arrival at Chievely Camp is
perhaps responsible for some overcolorins
OF the gravity of the situation, but all TO-
days news conveys the impression that
Butler may be intending another attack
upon the Boer position. Certainly the Beers
are not inactive. At both Modder river and
the Tugela they are said to be strengthen
ing their forces and extending defense
works which in both cases are seemingly
almost impregnable.
As showing the difficulty of obtaining ac-
curate information, a correspondent of the
Daily News at Cape Town, under date Of
Dec. o. announces that General Butler Is
coming to Cape Town to meet Sir Charles
Warren and then both will go to Modder
river" AS five battalions OF General Sir
Charles Warren's fifth division are said to
have gone to Natal, his arrival at PETER
maritzburg on Dec. 25 seemed natural. He
IS now at the front with his staff.
Dispatches from Chievely indicate that
General Buffers forces will remobilize at
Frere before attempting another advance.
Doubtless he would be glad to retrieve the
Colenso reverse before the arrival of Lord
Roberts, yet he is hardly likely to attempt
that he is preparing for defense should the
Beers make an advance movement Mr.
Churchilrs reference to Ladysmith may
imply that the situation of the garrison is
more desperate than had been supposed
The Beers continue fortifying the hills
commanding the town. General White,
however. photographed that all was well in
Ladysmith on Dec. 26.
A DEADLOCK
Competent military critics in London re-
gard the campaign as at a complete dead
lock at the present, owing to the dispersal
OF the British forces and the lack of ade-
quate transport. They believe it will be
many weeks before Lord Roberts is able to
reorganize and to make an effective move
ment. The Boer trench work is so good
that it enables the enemy to hold long
line with very few men, and to travel great
distances under perfect cover so as rapidly
TO reinforce any point attacked.
The Times. which comments editorially
on the severe strain, says: TT is difficult
to avoid the conclusion that our troubles
are due to the unreality of the presumably
practical lessons given in the maneuvers at
Aldershot."
Dispatches from Modder river represent
Dutch disaffection in West Griauiland as
growing very serious. In some towns the
entire Dutch population has joined the
Beers. The rebels have formed laager
at point about thirty miles west OF Mod
der river camp. 1t is also announced that
the Beers have raised the siege Of Kuru-
man, and have all withdrawn to Magers-
fontein.
The Cape Town correspondent Of the
Times, under date of Friday. Dec. %, says:
Anxiety regarding the attitude of the CO.
lonial Dutch is steadily growing. They
make no effort to conceal their sympathy
with the two republics, and the only ques-
ton now is whether, If the military situa-
ton Is not changed, they will keep from
open rebellion. Even in districts that have
not been Visited by the Beers in the east
ern part Of the province the Dutch farmers
are riding about armed. Inis Is the case
also In districts only fifty miles from Cape
Town, where seditious movement is
busily propagated. The British forces are
inadequate to guard one thousand miles Of
communications"
EXCHANGED FOR A CONVICT.
dispatch TO the Times from Mafeking,
dated Monday, Dec. IL. by way Of Mochudi.
Tuesday, Dec. 10. says that Lady Sarah
Wilson, aunt OF the Duke Of Marlborough,
who was captured by the Beers while act
ing as correspondent for a London paper.
has arrived there, having been exchanged
for vilJoen. a notorious horsethief and
convict
The Daily Chronicle publishes the follow
Ing from Cape Town: Herr Schlesinger,
an agent of the New York Equitable As
surance Society. who has arrived here
from Pretoria, says the Beers possess i'm
mense stores OF food imported by specula-
tive capitalists under belief that mining
would be allowed during the war. He says
also that there were thousands OF specta-
tors at the Pretoria railway station when
the British who were captured at Nichoi-
sons Mex detrained. The people were or
dered by the Boer commandant to bare
their heads and they did So The British
astonished. returned the salute"
a dispatch to the Times from R1eSes-