The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-28
: ENT RENCH|NG At
MODDER RIVER
The Beers Confront Methuen
in Increasing Number.
BRITISH RECONNOlTRE
DRAWING THE FIRE OF SEVER
AL BOER GUNS.
THE BRITISH QUEEN WARNS HER SUBJECTS
Proclamation Gazetted Forbidding Them Giving
Assistance in Any Way to the Trans
vaal Under the Penalty Of
the Law.
BRITISH REC0NN0ITRE
DRAWING THE FIRE OF SEVER
AL BOER GUNS.
THE BRITISH QUEEN WARNS HER SUBJECTS

the Law.
London, Dee. 2I.-Ihe War Office
here has received the following dispatch
from Cape Town dated Tuesday, De
cember Goth:
There is no change in the situation.
Methuen reports that the enemy's force
has increased and is engaged in en-
trenching three and half miles from
his outlying pickets.
''Methuen reconnoitered with two
squadrons of mounted infantry for two
miles along the line and drew the fire
of four guns and two Vicker's machine
guns Four horses were hit.
THE Queens Christmas message was
received with enthusiasm.
.Gatacre is endeayoring to reopen
communication with the Indwe collier
les
CHURCHILL GOES TO DURHAM.
Lourenzo Marques, Dee. 27-Mr
Winston Churchill arrived here late last
night and left for Durham by the steam
er Induna.
ROBERTS AND KITCHENER.
Gibraltar, Dee. 21.-The British
steamer Dunottar Castle, having OF,
board General Lord Roberts, of Kanda-
har, commander-in-chief of the British
forces in South Africa, arrived here
yesterday evening General Sir III.
Kitchener, who came from Egyyt to
join General Roberts as his chief Of
staff, embarked on board the Dunottar
Castle and the vessel sailed early this
morning for Cape Town.
BRITISH SUBJECTS WARNED.
London, Dec 27.-The privy Council
held meeting at Windsor Castle today,
at which Queen Victoria proclaimed
warning to all British subjects not to
assist the inhabitants of the Transyaal
or Orange Free State or to sell or
transport merchandise thereto, under
penalty of the law. The proclamation
was gazetted tonight.
A RED HOT CHRISTMAS DAY.
Chieveley Camp, Natal, Dec. 25.-A-
though the two armies were III sight OF
each other with the temperature 102 De-
grees in the shade, the British today cn
joyed characteristic Christmas cheer.
Gleenfeil aud Kirkwood, Of the South
African Light Horse. left here yester
day to inspect the patrols along the
eastern hills. Their horses returned III
night alone.
Colonel Donald, of the Royal FusilierS.
had his collar bone broken by being
thrown from his horse while on outpost
duty.
The naval guns began shelling the
Ioer position at five o'clock this morn
ing, using lynddite. The shelIing con-
tlnued about two hours.
Ever since the engagement at Colenso
the enemy have been energetically inn
proving their entrenchments. They can
he seen galloping freely from hill to hill.
Ladysmith also had a busy morning
today, shelling the Boer position ON I'm
bulwana Mountain. The business xzfyay
bulwana Mountain. The bursting shells
were plainly visible at Chieveley.
ORDERED TO SOUTH AFRICA.
Halifax. n S.. Dec PA Gable
gram received from England today By
the military authorities here orders the
Ieinster regiment. known as the Royal
Canadians, now doing duty on this sta
tion to sail On January 10th for duty
in South Africa.
RIODESIAN RELIEF FORCE.
London, Dec. 27.-The Rhodesian
Mafeking relief force. according to a
dispatch from Mochudi, Bechuanaland
dated Saturday, December 1Gth was pro
crossing slowly owing to the necessity
Of repairing the bridges, averaging one
per mile.
An intercepted Boer mail bag. it is
added shows that twenty Beers were kill
ed and many wounded during the British
attack on the Sequani laager.
Dispatches from Modder River repre-
sent Dutch disaffection in Griqualand
West as growing very serious. In some
towns the entire Dutch population joined
the Beers
1t is announced that the Beers have
raised the siege of Ku1rman and have
all withdrawn TO Magersfontein.
The Cape Town correspondent Of the
Times, under date Of Friday, December
22nd, says:
Anxiety regarding the attitude Of the
Colonial Dutch is steadily growing. They
make no effort to conceal their sympa
thy with the two republics and the only
question now is whether if the, military
situation is not changed they will keeI
from oren rebellion"
A FEW SHOTS EXCHANGED.
Kimberlog, Dec. % Wednesday,
At 2:3O this morning dctachments under
Colonel Pcakman, with three Maxims