Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-12-29
CAPTURE
TWO FORTS
And Build Railroad Connection
Around LadysmIth, Do
The Beers.
INDwE-COLL'Y LINE WORKING
Baden Powell Trying to Scare
Beers With Statement That
u s. Would Help England

Pietermaritzburg, Dec. PA dis
patch from Ladysmith dated 22d says:
The Beers mounted another Howit-
zer on Surprise Hill replacing the
gun captured in the sortie Of the
rifle brigade. While they watch us
nightly with a searchlight and bonn
bard the place daily they show no
signs of assaulting the town. They
probably think they can starve us
cut but we have plenty of provisions.
Total casualties since the siege be-
gan are 20 men killed. 276 wounded.
Pretoria, Dec. 25.-General Schalk-
burger reports under date of De-
cember 2S, trains are now running to
Colenso, indicating that the Beers
built a connection around Ladysmith.
General Cronje reports from Modder
River, December "a that the Beers
nave CdplulCQ lNO DilJibu lOilS dl
Kuruman, December II. 1t is ru-
mored that General Methuen's big
naval gun exploded.
The Transvaal government has pro-
mulgated new gold tax law by
which individuals and companies
working their own mines are taxed
80 per cent of the output, while mines
worked by the government pay so
per cent. Suspended mines will pay
30 per cent on their probable output
calculated on three months workings.
Reducing works will pay 80 per cent
of their net profits. The law Is re-
troactive to October 10.
London, Dec. 29-A dispatch from
ali parts of South Africa emphasize
great enthusiasm among the troops
and public occasioned by appoint1
ments of General Roberts and Kit
chener. The announcement that the
former will have supreme command |
and the latter will be chief of staff |
largely dispelled the depression of |
Cape Colony caused by recent re-
verses.
.Advices from Cape Town dated De
cember "a, say investigation shows
reported disaffection among the
Dutch in Victoria district have been
overdrawn. Farmers, it is pointed
out, are mostly land owners who will
not risk the loss of their farms by
rising.
A dispatch from Lourenzo Marques.
dated December 29, says curious
story is current emanating from Boer
sources that Matt Steyn, brother of
the president of the Orange F:ce
State and 500 Free Staters definitely
refused to continue war, Matt Steyn
acting as spokesman is reported
20 have told the president that lie
was only authorized to intervene in
the interest of peace and the Burghers
did not feel that they were bound by
mis- unwarrantable conduct, especially
as they ran the risk of confiscation of
their property and they simply desir-
ed to be permitted to farm in peace
fld proposed to Immediately return
to their farms.
London, Dec. 29-The text of Col
onel Baden-Powelrs proclamation to
the Burghers besieging Mafeking, the
gist of which has already been cabled,
comes from Lourenzo Marques today.
After asserting that the republics
cannot hope for foreign intervention
and pretending to relate the exact at
titude of all the European powers,
including Emperor William, who the
colonel said fully sympathizes with
England" Baden Powell makes the
extraordinary statement: "The Ameri
can government has warned the
others of her intention to side with
English should any of them interfere
Cape Town, Dec ga dispatch
from Cradock reports heavy firing il
the direction of Stormberg. 1t /:
supposed that this is connected witt
General Gatacres attempt to re-oper
communication with Indwe Golfers
London, Dec. 29-War Office receiy
Cd the following dispatch: Cape Town
2S-The Indwe colliery line is nov
working again.
London, Dec. 29-Sir Charles How
ard Vincent, member of parliamen
for the central division of Sheffield
and colonel in the Queens Westmins
ter volunteers, has been appointed t,
command the infantry division of tn,
City of London Imperial regiment.
Plague at Honolulu.
Washington, Dec 29-The follow
ing telegram was received by tn
supervising surgeon general of tn
United States Marine hospital SER
vice from Surgeon Carmichael n