St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-11-15
WAR IN THE TRANSVAAL.

London, Nov 14.-Though the brief
news received from the seat of war is
encouraging to the more enthusiastic
persons, 1t Is nevertheless received with
out excitement by conservative folk.
They refer one to the experiences of the
past, urging the idea that one should not
Jump at conclusions from the meagre
details supplied.
Dispatches say that heliograph COM
munication has been established with
Ladysmith, but SO far no news has been
received, the latest date being Nov. 6,
Which shows that the occupants of
Ladysmith had no news of the outside
world since General French reached
Pietermaritzburg, and that they were
puzzled at the inactivity Of the Beers
Everyone was confident and cheerful
but all were suffering the inconven-
fences Of the siege, bread selling at 3
shillings per loaf.
Colonel Baden-Powell's dashing sor-
ties at Mafeking encourage the hope
that the British garrisons along the west
ern border are we'll able to hold out.
Cecil Rhodes is employing 5000 men,
white and black, at Kimberley in road
making as remedy for restitution.
According 10 dispatch from De Aar
the Beers at Kimberley have got the ex-
act range of the mines and are con-
stantly throwing shells at the dynamite
huts. Several Of the, latter have been
blown up; and the damage done to the
mines already amounts to many thou
sand pounds.
A dispatch from Lorenzo MARQUEE
says that Father Matthews, chaplain of
the Irish fusiliers, who was captured at
Nicholson's Mex, complains that though
General Joubert promised to How him to
return to the British camp, he was
taken to Pretoria. The secretary Of war
released him two days after his arrival,
and he was permitted to leave. He ad-
mits that the British prisoners are we'll
cared for.
Father Matthews says, with reference
to the surrender of the Irish fusliers
and the Worcestershire troops at Nichol-
sons Mex, that after the mules STAN
peded the force got hard pressed by the
enemy. They would have held out, how
ever, but some subordinate, without in
structions hoisted flag of truce on his
own responsibility. Nothing then re-
manned but to surrender.
I'VE were sent out" says Father
Matthews, ito occupy a position with
the object of preventing two Boer forces
from joining. We started at $3.50 Sum
day evening, marched 10 miles and got
to the hill about o'clock Monday morn
ing.
The first mishap was that the noun
tain battery stampeded and scattered
the whole lot Of mules. We formed UP
again and gained the top of the hill. The
guns were gone, but not all the ammu-
milton. do not know what stampeded
the mules. 1t was pitch dark.
we had one hour sleep. The firing
began just after daybreak being some-
what slack for time. But finally the
Beers crept round and then the firing be-
came furious. Our men made breast
work of stones.
Soon after IL o'clock noon there was
a general cry Of cease fire, but our fell
lows would not stop firing. Major Adye
came up and confirmed the order, and
then the bugle sounded, Cease fire.
LII Jul lOCdllly there was d tndl
a white flag was raised by young Of
ficer who thought his batch of 10 men
were the sole survivors: but we We're 900
alive, having started with perhaps 1000.
think many of the battery men escaped.
Our officers and men were furious at
the surrender. The Beers did not seem
to be in great numbers on the spot; but
l heard their main body had galloped off.
Our men had to give up their arms, and
the officers were sent to Commandant
Steenkamp. The officers then ordered
the men to fall in.
The officers were taken away from
the men and sent to General Joubert the
same day, travelling in mule wagons and
sleeping that night in some store on the
way. The next morning they took
train at Waschbank for Pretoria. They
are very we'll treated, and so, have
heard, are the men.
There has been no unpleasantness in
Pretoria. The officers are in a school
building and are allowed to walk as they
please in the grounds.
THE surrender, in my judgment, was
a great bunder caused by misunder-
standing. Major Adye was much put
out. The white flag was not hoisted by
the Irish fusiliers."
MldQ'ey Deeply In Deb.