The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-08
BAT TIE EXPECTED
At SPYTFONTE|N
-----
The Beers are Massing and
Entrenching There.
FACING GEN. METHUEN
BoERS CONCENTRATING TO
STEM HIS ADVANCE.
CAPE COLONY BoERs WELCOME INVADERS
Annexation Of British Territory Proceeds Daily
Reported Boer Successes Have Made
Great Impression on the Hasutos.
Methuen Resumed Command.

London, Dee. IA special dispatch
from lModder River says everything
points to the fact tina. great engage
lnent will be fought at Spyfonteln. Thn
Beers are massing ON the hills there. are
vigorously building stone defenses and
are digging rifle pits in every direction.
The Beers redoubts on Lazaretto Ridge,
west of Kimberley, are also being eX-
tended and strengthened. showing that
the rulnors of the intentions of the Beers
TO abandon the attempt to stem Gener-
al AIethuens advance are unfounded.
The British have shifted their camp a
few hundred yards away from the bat
tlefield and are settling down for a
week. There are some cases of fever
among the troops. Much depends on
General Gatacre's advance. There is
undoubtedly a large concentration of
Beers ahead of General Methuen. Prac-
tically the whole of their Matching forces
have joined the Kimberley besiegers.
A dispatch from Colonel Kekewich,
dated December Bird and 18th, says the
Beers were increasing in numbers around
Kimberley
The Beer advance in the northeastern
pitt vi 1UIt SOlOHty IL DtNOliAliiS "
markable The local farmers are flock
ing to the Boer laagers, the townspeople.
in many instances. welcoming the invad-
crs with every demonstration of JOY.
The annexation of British territory pro
ceeds daily. The reported Boer sue
cesses have made great impression
among the Basutos.
NIETHUEN IN COMMAND.
London. Dec THE War Office hero
has received the following message from
General FORESTER Walker. the British
commander at Cape Town:
"wednesday. December General
Methuen wires today that he has reslrrD-
ed command and is nightly in comman-
cation with Kimberley. The health OF
the troops is excellent"
STlEYN JOINS TILE TROOPS.
London, Dec. THE announcement
is made in a special dispatch from Bloem-
fonteiI, dated Sunday. December ;Srd
that President Steyn of the Orange Free
State, has Joined the Boer forces Mt the
Modder River. His appearance, the dis
patch says, caused great enthusiasm
among the Beers.
COMMANDMENT CONTINUES.
Frere Camp, Natal Wednesday, De-
cember Ga runner from Ladysmitn
today reports all well. The lombard
ment, the messenger adds. continues. but
is ineffective. the Boer shells only Int
ring the houses.
BOERS CAPTURE CATTLE.
kimberley, Monday, Dec 4th.-Nia
Modder Riyer.-Eyerytning has been
1...ss1 1.v......~ 49, 49,
The theatre and the convent have been
fitted up as hospitals. 4 number of our
cattle have been captured by the enemy
BULLER STARTS FOR SCENE.
Pieterlnaritzhurg Tuesday, December
5tlf.--General Butler and his staff have
starred for the front.
KIMBERLEY WE'LL SUPPLIED.
Modder River, Monday, Dec. IA
searchlight message from Colonel
Kelewich, of Kimberley. says the town
is provsioned for forty days with forage
for thirty days and has Plentiful water
supply.
READY TO AID LADYSAIITH.
General Buffers arrival at Frere is held
10 indicate that all the preparations for
All advance to the relief OF I4adysmith
are complete and that stirring news will
soon be received The fact that Lord
Methuen is announced as resiuming his
command at almost the same moment Is
interpreted in some quarters to mean
that battles viii be fought Simultaneous
~ in Natal and at Spytfontein. 1t APP
pears doubtful, however, whether Gem
eral Metfluen's force is yet ready for
what will eventually DE heavy en-
counter.
rThe construction Of the temporary
bridge across Modder River has entailcd
enormous labor: and even now the strue
x7lre is liable to be washed away should
a heavy storm come. General Methlien
mas been obliged to move his camp a
mile north in consequence Of the nnsan
itary state of the stream, due to the pre-
sence of the bodies of dead Beers AZ
the railway bridge was completely de-
stroyed he was compelled to leave a
considerable force to protect his COM
mqlrications A special correspondent
sends the interesting information re-
garding Boer tactics that Commandant
General Joubert has given general or
xlers to reserve fire until the British are
within the close range Of 400 yards. At
the Modder River battle the Free State
burghers became nervous, opened fire
prematurely, thus revealing their posi-
lions. and frustrated the Boer plans
The Government has decided to dis
patch to South Africa at the earliest pos
sible moment, cavalry brigade OF about
1900 men.