The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-28
RELIEF Is NEEDED.
Winston Churchill Has Reached Gen.
eral Buffers Camp.
B0ERS ARE IN GOOD POSITION
And Have All Ranges Marked with
Guns,
WHILE THEY REST THE HILLS.
~
LadySmith Garrison Eyidein,,.g j., e ).
Straits and Needs Help. e u q
Ladysmith Garrison Evidenn,.g y.
Straits and Needs Help. 2
THE DUTCH DlSAFfECTION is SERIOUS
In Some Towns the Entire POpula-
ton Has Joined the BOers- Far
mcrs Go About Armed.

London. December 2S.-The Morn
ing Post has received the following
from Winston ChurchiIl, under dnts
of December 20. telegrnphcd from
ChieveIey camp, where he has AR
rived, "AII ranks have complete
confidence in Sir Redvers Butler and
there is n stern determination to
succeed next time Mt NIL costs. 4
painful Impression was caused by
comma ndcr in chief and the soldiers
here IRE resolved to yindicnte their
trusted lender. The situation
the1ess is difficult. the Boer position
being one of extraordinary strength.
with high hills lined tier on tier
with trenches and with galleries,
rising from an almost unfordabIe
river and with n smooth plain in
ranges marked and many powerful
guns dominate the various points OF
the river. while the drifts are COM
mnnded by cOnvcrginG musietry fire
from probably 10000 Beers. There
arc sixteen miles of wild broken
country before reaching Lndysmith.
which demands early relief"
London, December 2S 4:3O a. m.-win-.
ston Churchill's new arrival at Chieveley
camp is perhaps responsible for some
overlooking of the gravity of the situa-
ton, but all today's news conveys the
impression that Butler may be intending
another attack upon the Boer position
Certainly the Beers are not inactive. AT
both Modder river and TugeIa they are
said to be Strengthening their forces and
extending defense works. which in both
cases are seemingly almost impregnable.
AS showing the difficulty to obtain ac-
,urate information correspondent OF
the Daily News al Capetown. under date
of December 21 announces that General
Butler is coming to Capetown to meet Sir
Charles Warren and then both will go to
Modder river AS five battalions OF
General Warren's Fifth division are said
to have gone to Natal. his arrival at Pet
seemed natural.
Dispatches from Chieveley indicate that
General Buffers forces will remobilize at
Irere before attempting another advance.
Doubtless he would be glad to retrieve the
Colenso reverse before the arrival of Lord
yet he is hardly likely to at
tempt another frontal attack. 1t is more
likely that he is preparing to strike should
the Beers make any offensive movement.
Mr.. Churchll's reference to Ladysmith
may imply that the situation of the garri-
son is more desperate than had been sup
posed. The Beers continue terrifying the
hills commanding the town. General
White, however, photographed that all
was we'll in Ladysmith December 26.
Competent military critics in London
regard the campaign as deadlock for the
present owing to the dispersal of the
British forces and the lack OF adequate
They believe it will be many
weeks before Lord Roberts is able to
and to make an effectual
move. The Boer trench work is so good
that IL enables the enemy to hold long
line with very few men and to travel the
distances under perfect cover so as to
rapidly reinforce any point attacked.
The Times. which comments editorially
upon the severe strain, says: 1T is diff
ficult to avoid the conclusion that our
troubles are due to the unreality of the
practical lessons given in the
at Aldershot.
Dispatches from Modder river report
Dutch disaffection in Griqualand West
as growing very serious. In some towns
the entire Dutch population has Joined
The Beers. The rebels have formed a
Eager at point about thirty miles west |
)f Modder river camp.
1t is also announced that the Beers