Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-12-25

London, Dec. ZZ.-In6f0 is SClll uO
definite news regarding military oper-
atoms in south Africa, probably be-
cause the only cable working is choked
/ with official business. General Bull
Iler's casualty list at Colenso just pub
lished, shows 146 killed, 764 wounded,
and 227 described as missing. OF
these about 40 are known to be pris-
oners in the hands of the beers. This
makes The total larger than Gen. Bull
Iler's estimate. Royal letters, signed
by the queen, are being circulated by
the archbishop to the bishops Of the
various diOceses authorizing the col
lection in churches throughout Eng
land Jan. Z, in aid of the fund for
sick and wounded soldiers and their
! families. Interest centers for the mo-
me- Mt in preparations to send out rein
| forcements. Various city guilds have
given an additional 10000 pounds for
the expenses of the imperial volun-
teers besides gifts of horses, ambu-
lances and other paraphernalla.
The latest notable volunteers
include two nephews of Lord Roberts,
Major Charles Sherston and Major
Maxwell Sherston. Their brother was
killed at Glencoe. The admiralty has
| decided to dispatch another naval
brigade of 700 men to south Africa. 1t
! is believed that in the mobilization OF
the eighth division the war office will
have recourse to some extent to the
militia, it being deemed inadvisable to
denude the home garrisons overmuch of
regulars. The chancellor of the ex-
chequer, Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, has
issued a formal denial that any differ
ences exist in the cabinet regarding
war expenditures. According to dis
patch from Capetown, there is good
/ deal of distress in the Orange Free
state owing to scarcity of grain.
Side Lights of Past Fights.
London, Dec 22.-Letters from Brit
ish officers and soldiers fighting in the
Transvaal TEEN with thrilling and pa
thetic incidents. The Times CORES
pondent gives a graphic account and
explanation of the British disaster
and surrender at NichOlsons Mex:
1.-TWO hours before daybreak," says the
correspondent, while the column was
in the enclosed country, either shot
was fired or boulder rolled into the
battery. The mules stampeded and
easily broke away from the half asleep
drivers. They came back upon the
Worcestershire regiment, the advance
party of which fired into the mass, be-
lieving in the darkness that it was an
attack. This added to the chaos and
the frenzied animals dashed through
the ranks Of the rear guard, carrying
the first and second reserve ammuni-
ton animals with them. 1t became
hopeless panic. The animals tore
away into the darkness, the last heard
Of them being the sound OF
ammunition boxes as they splin-
tered against the bOulders.
The officers were forced toStake advan-
tage of the first kopje as the beers
were all around them, and the day was
ushered in with desultOry firing. 1t
was a sorry position they had chosen,
and the men were in sorry plight.
All their reserve ammunition was
gone, and though they had saved pieces
of screw guns, they were not able to
patch up single mounting" cor
respondent at Ladysmith, describing
the battle field of Elandslaagte, writes:
The battlefield, as it stood on Sun
day. conveyed a sufficient proof of the
severity of the fire. The wounded had
been removed by daylight, but buriaI
parties had not arrived to perform the
last duties to the dead. Men lay there
as they had fallen, a sad, pathetic trib-
ute to the courage of the British sol
der. We followed this tragic trail Of
the highlanders, the Manchesters and
mounted volunteers as they were in
discriminatory grouped. Solitary
figures under stones showed how little
the cover had availed them"
Ladysmith Can Hold Out.
London, Dec 22.-The Daily Mail
says: 1--WE understand news has ar
rived from Gen. White to the effect |
that Ladysmith is well supplied with !