The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-12-26
THE WAR In SOUTH AFRICA


. This May Mean n Considerable Prolong
alton of Hostilities-Evidemco Tha
Butler Is Now Acting ON the Defensive
-Ladysmith Under Two Hours
Bombn nrdment-Repo That the City
Cam Hold Out Indefinitely -Superiori'
ty of the BOer Artillery.
London, Dec $3.50 a. NIP tc
this hour nothing has arrived from
change in the military situation there
The war office is issuing lists of further
deaths and wounded, as well as ac-
counts of sickness. The most serious
report of the last class is that horse
sickness has broken out In both Brit
ish and Boer camps in Natal. -Four
hundred British cavalry horses, 1t Is
said, have already been shot owing to
the occurrence of CHAMBERS The dis
ease is likely to spread with much
greater raptdity among the British
horses than among the hardy Roer po-
nies and this may mean a considerable
prolongation of the campaign.
dispatch from Chieveley dated
Tuesday, December 10, says: The
British naval guns have destroyed the
Colenso footbridge, thus preventing the
Beers holding any position south of the
Tuegla river. The enemy are taking up
| fresh positions on the eastern side near
the British camp. The British position
at Frere is being strengthened The
Tugela river is rising and there is a
prospect of heavy rains. two hour
bombardment of Ladysmith has been
heard from here. According to reliable
native reports, the Beers had 200 killed
| in the fight at Colenso."
The news that the Colenso footbridge
has been destroyed seems to show that
General Butler is more anxious to keep
| the enemy at bay than to attempt IA
| further advance.
| Despite the severity of the censor
ship hints are being continually receiv-
ed of the serious spread OF Dutch dis
affection in both the Queenstown dis
trict of Cape Colony and Natal cor
respondent of the Daily Mail at Pieter-
maritzburg says: THE extent OF Dutch
disaffection should make the imperial
authorities realize the magnitude of the
task before them.
There are unconfirmed reports from
Cape Town that General Sir Charles
Warren commanding the Fifth division
has returned there. Commandant De-
mellon, who was taken prisoner at
EIandslaagte and brought to Simons
town, where he was confined on the
British cruiser Penelope, has succeed
ed in making his escape.
The Times this morning says: "We
are informed that the government has
decided that it is not desirable to make
further demands upon the European
garrison in India unless unforeseen diff
ficulties arise"
An undated photographic message
from Ladysmith by way of Pietermar-
itzburg represents the garrison as in no
way daunted by General Buffers re-
verse at Colenso and as confident of
being able to hold out indefinitely. The
mails are just arriving from Lady
smith. All the correspondents COM
ment bitterly upon the superiority of
the Boer artillery. The Times corre-
spondent says: "It is impossible to
evade the opinion that, If British gun
ners were in the Boer positions. the loss
of life and damage to property in Lady
smith would be ten times greater
The holidays have brought no de-
crease in the recruiting activity. Lord
Alwyne Frederick Tomson, Unionist |
member of parliament for Biggleswade |
division of Bedfordshire, will raise
corps of mounted men, Lord Sails
bury's private secretary, Mr.. Schom-
berg Mcdonnell, who is a volunteer Of |
ficer, has volunteered for service.
The action of the United States gov
ernment causes considerable discussion
regarding the contraband question as
affecting Delagoa Bay and Portugal
Widely diversified opinions are ex-
pressed. The Daily Graphic in an edi-
torial on the subject says: 1--WE believe
that every provision has been made in
British treaties with the United States
for dealing with this matter. In the
special circumstances of the present
war the government is bound to regard
food as contraband. No doubt the
question can be satisfactorily settled by
paying compensation for the seizures
of American -four. The question of
neuCfallty, however, Is more Serious
and Great Brtain's duty is to have the
Lorenzo Marquee Transvaal railway
watched by capable agents and to warn
that she will be held liable in
damages for assistance to the Beers by
means of the railway"
The Morning Post on the contrary ar
CUES that the government would be
glad to treat food as contra band as
such action would play into the hands
IF all possible future enemies Of Great
Britain 5" IT admits, however, that
steps should be taken and money ex-
pended to search vessels and to prevent
of war entering into Trans
Taal by way of Portuguese territory
The Standard says: I'VE do not doubt
hat this matter is receiving the gov
serious attention. AS the
develops it may become nee
ssary to seize the railway at Komati
2oUIt."
The first batch of Boer prisoners has [
arrived in England. 1t is announced
hat the government has accepted
mother offer of a squadron of Cana
liam rough riders.
BOER STORY OF TUGEL4 RIVER.
pnIy Thirty Killed or WOunded-H0w ,
British Were Surprised.