The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-27
ShoW Little or No Change In the Situation
at Seat Of Hostl|ities.
General Opinion That General Bull
Ter Will Not Make Amy Serious
Move Pending the Arrival Of
Lord Roberts-British Suffer
Loss Of q Number of Killed and
Wounded In an Engagement
Near Ladysmith.

@sS>>J -
LONDON, Dec. 26.A:50 a. 'm.-Dis.
patches from South Africa are still
greatly delayed. But they are arriv-
ing more freely, which shows that the
censorship has been relaxed. There
appears to be no great change in the
situation.
A dispatch from Lourenzo Marques
dated Thursday, December list, gives
the following from the Boer heac
lager, dated Tuesday, December 18th
THE British naval guns at Colenso
have been commanding Bulwar bridge
over the Tugela River, with a view OF
smashing it.
THE bombardment of Ladysmith is
proceeding slowly. General Joubert
has arrived here, and has been accord
ed hearty welcome. He addressed
the burghers on December 18th.
More British prisoners have been
sent to Pretoria, including Colonel Bull
Ter, Major Walters, Major Bailwark
Major Foster, Captain Dick, Captain
Nortein, Captain Fitzherbert, Captain
Ford, Captain Hutchinson, Lieutenant
Bonham, Lieutenant Smiters, Lieuten-
ant Thourne, Lieutenant OConneyg-
hey, Lieutenant Kunbauld, Lieutenant
Christian, Lieutenant Brigg, Lieuten-
ant Birch, Lieutenant Halford, Lieu
tenant Tadbull and Lieutenant Jones. y
A dispatch to the Daily News" from
Ladysmith, dated Friday, December
10Th, by Telegraph, says: Another sortie
last night. General Hunter, with soc
volunteers, destroyed one 6-inch Creu-
sot gun, one Howitzer and one Maxim
One Briton killed. The Boer gunners
fed
There is an idea in some quarters
that General Buffers destruction OF
the Tugela bridge heralds an attempt
to cut off the Beers now south of the
river, but the general opinion is that
the British will not make any serious
move pending the arrival Of Lord
Roberts.
Advices from Cape Town say the
New Zealanders with General French
at Naauwpoort were in a tight corner
on December 18th. They were sur
rounded by Beers, and 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 had
joined the Orange Free State forces.
The War Office has received the fol-
lowing dispatch from Cape Town, dat
ed December 25th: There is no change
in the situation at Modder River. Gen.
eral Methuen is we'll entrenched, and
the Beers have not disturbed him.
General Gatacre reports that force
of $50 police have occupied Dordrecht,
the Beers retreating with no loss.''
The War Office has received a dis
patch from Pietermaritzburg, Natal,
Sunday, December Oath, announcing
that in an engagement at Ladysmith
December I'd Major A. c. King, Cap
tains Wathen- and Cakes and Lieuten-
ant Hulse and Lieutenant Colonel Faw-
cett were wounded, and that nine nom
commissioned officers and men were
killed and ten wounded. This battle
had not been recorded before this.
A cable dispatch from Cape Town,
dated Wednesday, December Goth, says
that CHAMBERS has broken out among
the American mules, of which there
are LOO, at the Stellenboch Remount
farm. Twenty-six of the mules have
been destroyed and seventy-eight have
been isloated. The dispatch says the
disease is spreading.
Three members of the Cape Parlia-
ment are alleged to be implicated, and
one of them is said to have presented
a Free State flag to Boer commander,
at the same time expressing the hope
that he would carry it to glory and
victory. Another member of Parlia-
ment is said to be recruiting for the
Beers In addition, the wealthy farm
ers are now aiding the invaders.
Lionel Walthall Rothschilds, Union
list member Of Parliament for Ayles-
bury division of Buckinghamshire, eld-
est son of the first Baron Rothschilds,
and the latter's heirs, has volunteered
for service in South Africa. He was
born in 1868 and is unmarried.
Lord Stanley, eldest son of the Earl
of Derby and member of Parliament
Lancashire has been ordered to join
Lord Roberts staff forthwith.
FREE SKATERS DISCONNECTED.
MODDER RIVER (Cape Colony,
Wednesday, Dec. 20.-The 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 re-
turning home for Christmas.
Recent arrivals from Jacobsdal report
that notwithstanding the Boer success,
the Free Staters do not expect ultimate
victory They complain of the over
bearing conduct of General Cronje's
men, who are alleged to be better fed,
and posted in the safest positions.
The Transvaalers do not conceal their
suspicious of the possible detection of
the Free Staters, and threaten to shoot
them at the least sign of wavering The
Free Staters are said to regard subjec
ton to the Transvaal as more to be
feared than subsection to Graf Britain.
GENERAL JOUBERT GOES TO THE;
FRONT.
PRETORIA, Monday, Dec. 1S.-Gen-
eral Joubert has recovered. and re-
turned to the front to-day. There were
special services yesterday in the differ
ent laagers as Thanksgiving for the