The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-30
And May BE Planning to Concentrate
Their Whole Force Against
whites BeIeaguered Garrison.
JoUBERT IN COMMAND AGAIN
KAFFIRs BEATEN IN A FIGHT WITH
KRUGER's TRANsvAALERs.
Situation at Kimberley, Modder River
and Mafekfng-Lady Sarah Will
sons Adventures.

LONDON, Dec. 30, a. m.-The latest
special dispatches from Chievely Camp
hint darkly at some important movement
as imminent. This Is interpreted, with
some rlisgivings, to mean that General
Butler contemplates a renewal OF his at
tempt to relieve Ladysmith. 1t Is reported
by the same dispatches that the Beers
have now retired to the north bank of the
Tugela, being afraid that the swollen
stream may bar their retreat. They are
also moving their laagers nearer Lady
smith. probably with the intention of put
ting further pressure on the garrison,
which now seems to be suffering pretty
heavily from bombardment. 1t is difficult,
however, to conceive that General Butler
would make another frontal attack. espe-
cially now that the river Is rising, and ad-
ditional indication that this is not his pur-
pose Is the fact that he has removed his
headquarters back to Frere. The Boer
movement northward from the Tugela is
quite Ia keeping with the enemy's usual
plan of securing a safe line of retreat. 1t
Is known that further artillery is Cue to
arrive for General Butler, but the belief
here is that his forces even then will be too
weak He may. however, be animated by
a desire to accomplish something before
the arrival Of Lord Roberts and to satisfy
the keenness of his men TO retrieve their
defeat.
The Times publishes the following dis
patch from Chievely Camp. dated Dec. "a:
Parties OF Beers approached to-day with
I'm three miles OF Chieveiy Camp. threaten
ing our watering parties, who are COM
PEELED to go some two miles, owing to the
scarcity Of water. 1t Is reported that the
Ladysmith garrison made a sortie on
Thursday and captured e hill"
JOUBERT IN COMMAND.
dispatch from Ladysmith. dated Dec.
a. via Pietermaritzburg. says: General
White has had a slight attack of fever. but
he is now convalescent. The Boer shell fire
has been very damaging recently. On Fri
day one shell killed six men and wounded
nine. The same missile killed fourteen
horses. Another Just missed the Fifth
Lancers' lines. slightly wounding six offi-
GERS Several shells have fallen close to
General Whites house, compelling the re-
moval OF headquarters to another point. II
Is reported that General Joubert is again in
command Of the Beers here. The military
authorities appear confident, but they are
very reticent. Beers have been observed
moving northward and westward in large
numbers.
The Beers have mounted another how
itzer on Surprise hill. replacing the gun
captured In the sortie of the rifle brigade
While they watch US nightly with search
light and lombard the place daily. they
show no signs of assaulting the town. They
probably think they can starve us out but
we have plenty Of provisions.
The total casualties since the siege be.
gan are seventy men killed and 23e
wounded"
The reported engagement with Kaff1rs is
very vague, and cannot be explained, pend.
ing the arrival OF later dispatches.
Tne Modder river correspondent of the
Times. referring to the scare-firins NJ the
Beers. says: Their nervousness causes
much amusement among the British II is
quite certain that half the Boer force ;s
employed watching by day and the other
half by night Probably the conseouen,
WEAKNESS, with the scarcity of water and
the presence OF typhoid, will render tbe
boer position intolerable Their presen,
action is due either to a scare or n a u,.h
10 cover retirement to Spytfontein
COLONIALS IN BOER ARMY
Inc cape Town correspondent of the
Oahy news says; "A leading resident OF
'ryourg who was released by the Beers
saw 2,ooo colonials from Griqualand West
He says colonial faces are to be seer
everywhere In the Boer ranks"
The War Office has received the follow.
Ing dispatch from Cape Town. dated Dee
Is: THE Indwe colliery line is now work
Ing again. There is no change in the sItua.
uon so far as Generals Gatacre and French
are concerned"
The text OF Col. Baden-Powelis procla.
nation to the ourghers besieging Mafeking
the gist OF which has been already cabled
comes from Lourenzo Marques to-day
After asserting that the republics canno,
hope for foreign Intervention and pre
tending TO relate the exact attitude n,
all the European powers, including EN-.
peror William. who. the co,one, said
Fully sympathizes with England" BADEN,
Foweii makes the extraordinary state
ment that the American government ha.
warned the others OF its intention to side
with England, should any of them inter.
fere.
The Earl OF Mount Edgcumbe, brother.
in-law of Lord Lansdowne, says the British
War ONCE would countenance a scheme to
enroll volunteers In sort of preparatory
stage In ofd-, - learn drills and the like.
The number or members OF the House
Of Commons who have volunteered for the
front threatens seriously TO reduce the
governments majority when Parliamen,
reassembles
The Rothschilds have donated ea.ooo "a
the Eucknghamshire volunteer fund. 1t Is