The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-12-09
British and Boer Forces Meet
Once More Near Modder
River.
n'his News Comes in a Very
Brief Bulletin From
Pretoria.
Beers Have Mounted a Dynamite
Gun on UmbulWana
Hill.

PRETORIA. Wednesday. Dec. g.
Fighting commenced near Modder river
at + o'clock this morning.
LONDON. Dec. 9.-6:52 p. m.-The
war Office has just issued the following:
NO further new has arrived from
General Methuen. but the following
has been received from Orange River
station:
a railroad culvert was blown up
near Gras Pan. Telegraph wires also
cut. The guides report heavy firing Of
guns toward the NORTH"
The foregoing implies that the Beers
have cut the line of communication be.
hind General Methuen, who apparently
is now fighting.
LONDON, Dec. 9.-While nothing in
the latest message from the British
camp at the Modder river indicated an
immediate advance, it appears that
Pretoria has news that fighting was
resumed Wednesday. 1t is not shown,
however. whether General Methuen
has advanced on the new position taken
up by the Beers or has merely engaged
in a reconnaissance in force. Reports
were again current at Orange River
Tuesday. Dec. 5. that Mafeking had
been relieved. 1t is known through
dispatches from Magalapye that prep
preparations were completed there to
advance in force Nov. Is, from Rhode
STA. for the purpose Of repairing the
railroad line and restoring communica-
ton with Colonel Baden Powell. The
Beers, however, were strongly en-.
trenched near Gaborones. midway be-
tween Magalapye and Mafeking.
Reinforcements are rapidly arriving
at Sterkstroom to strengthen General
Gatacre, including the much needed ar
tillery. The authorities expect speedy
news that Gen. Gatacre has taken the
offensive, thus diverting a portion of
the Orange Free State forces now OBJ
structing the advance Of General Me-
thuen.
\ detachment Of Cape police had a
skirmish with the Beers Thursday, Dec.
:, near Indwe, while General French
ANPOAlo AA4poAtulAl CSoLhlOltcIluSS
Wednesday, Dec. g., from Naauwpoort,
showing preparations to attempt the re-
capture of some of the British towns
occupied by the burghers.
A war Office dispatch from General
Butler confirms the statement that
photographic communication has been
fully established with Ladysmith. and
that General Butler and General White
have been comforting as to their future
movements.
Beers Have . Dynamite Gun.
The latest advices from Freere camp
show that the bombardhent Of Lady,
smith was continued Thursday, Dec. :.
a pneumatic dynamite gun on Umbul-
wana hill commenced the work.
The Tugela river is low.
Free Staters are reported to be loot
Ing Acton Holmes. on the way back to
the Free State border.
According to a special dispatch from
Pretoria, General Joubert recently pro-
posed an exchange of prisoners. espe.
cially Lady Sarah Wilson. for a Boer
lady taken prisoner at Mafeking.
Lady Wilson is an aunt Of Winston
Churchill, and the wife of Captain c.
c. Wilson of the Royal Horse Guards.
This was the first definite news that
she was a prisoner. Lady Wilson has
been acting in the double capacity Of
newspaper correspondent and Red Cross
nurse. and there had been much anx-
iety about her. When last heard from
Lady Wilson had left Mafeking on
horseback with her maid as her sole
companion. She was reported to have
reached Setlapoli.