The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-15

SnelIS were occasionally DONG mucn
mischief. The garrison was evidently
casting anxious eyes southwark. The
| Central News also has a report from a
runner that the cannonading has been
incessant at Ladysmith and that shells
| are constantly dropping inside the Brit
ish lines with an increased number of
casualties. The British guns are re-
plying steadily. a reassuring sign that
the ammunition is holding out.
Military men who have assumed
that the condition Of the garrison was
more critical than the authorities
have cared to admit find confirmation
| for their fears in mail letters describ-
ing General Whites battle at Lom-
bard's kapje the day before the town
| was cut off from the coast. General
White was evidently defeated in that
| attack and his force was driven back
| into the town. His troops were in no
| condition to rescue Carleton's bat
talions and the town might easily
| have been captured.
| The siege begun under the humiliat-
| ing sense of a reverse to the British
| side ought now, the military croakers
| say, to be broken up with the least
possible delay. General Butler evil
| IDENTIFY appreciated the necessity for
| prompt action when he proclaimed the
| advance of General Methuen on Kim
| berley in order to draw off the Free
| State forces from Natal. These tactics
| succeeded. for General Cronje was
| heavily reinforced from the east be-
| fore the battle of Modder river was
| fought 1t is reasonable to SurmiSe
| that Sir Redvers wants General Me-
| thuen to hold Cronje's army there un-
| til General Clery is ready for decisive
| action.
| BOER FIRE AT MODDER RIVER.
| LONDON, Dec. 6.-According to the
| latest accounts from the battle of Mod
| der river the Boer fire was the hottest
|! on record and will revolutioniZe eX-
listing theories. 1t was effective up to
| 1900 yards, but the casualties among
| the prone troops was trifiing. 1t was
| found impossible to bring the British
ammunition reserves to the firing line.
! Many Beers wearing Red Cross badges
| were actually employed in serving out
| ammunition.
| In connection with the many accusa-
| tions against the BOer indifference to
| the laws of war, letter published IN
| Cape Town asserts that before the
/ Transvaa1 ultimatum was senL-athe
| Boer leaders discussed the policy OF
| using the white flag, when driven into
| a corner, in order to deceive the Brit
| ish commanders. and this policy was
| generally approved.
| It is reported that the mobilization
| Of seventh division will be ordered
| at AlderShOt as preparation 1of
| emergencies.
| The Morning Post complains chat
there are plenty of cavalry men avail
able at home, but that parismOny pre-
vents their being sent to South Africa,
where they are urgently needed.
| JOUBERT TAKES A VACATION.
| PRETORIA, (via Lourenzo Marques,
| Monday, Dec. 4.-General Joubert is
indisposed and has arrived at Vols
| ust. across the Transvaal border, for
medical treatment.
| A dispatch from the head laager
where General Schalkberger is in su-
preme command during the absence of
| General Joubert, announces that a
| council of war was held on December
| 2 with reference to assaulting Lady
| smith. The State Attorney has ar
rived at the camp to advise the Boer
commanders. Everything is quiet at
| Ladysmith.
| Dispatches from the west report
| that there was a heavy artillery fire
! during the afternoon of December 2.
All is quiet at Kimberley.
| Comfortable houses have been erect
| ed at Waterfall, few miles from Pre-
| toria, for the rank and file of the Brit
| ish prisoners. Count Deville le Bios,
| a colonel in the French army, has join
| ed the Transvaal forces as an author
| lied military attache.
MACRUMs GRAPHIC PICTURES.
EAST LIVERPOOL, O., Dec. g.
| Letters received this week from Chas.
E. Macrum, United States Consul
| at Pretoria, who has resigned his posi-
zion, by friends in this city, his home,
| are of interest, in view of the recent
| dispatches from Washington regarding
| his experience in the Transvaal as our
representative during the war.
Letters from his wife also give a
graphic picture of the condition of af-
fairs in Kruger's capital Consul Ma
crum writes:
I'VE are in the midst Of it. The
| shooting has commenced. General
Cronje has taken the railroad TO Mafe-
king, blown up some trains and taken
some prisoners, ammunition, etc. The
| Beers want to make a good fight of
it. This will be a mighty hard lot to
beat.
The British, who have not been
granted permits to stay here, have
been ordered out by Wednesday, and
the Lord help those who are not gone
at that time I suppose they will all
go on time. The Government has pro-
vided for their transportation, if they
arc unable to pay. We will be cared
for. so you need not worry. The Gov
ernment is more friendly to me now
than before, even since | took over the
British interests"
Mrs. Macrum says: You thought it
terrible during the Spanish-American
u-o- We'll Won know not hing about