Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-28
FAITH IN GEN. BULLER.
His Soldiers Are Determined to
Vindicate Him.
THE DOER POSITION VERY STRONG.
So Described by Winston Churchill, whc
Reached Cheivcley Cainp--Auothcr MS
patch Told of His Remarkable Eseap,

LONDON, Dec. 2S.-..Tbo war Office here
received dispatch from Cape Town,
dated Dec. 26, which contained tho FOL.
lowing:
"yhere is no change in the situation.
Jcthucn reports that the enemy's force
has increased and is engaged in cu.
trelching three and 2 half miles from
his outlying pickets.
"Methuen reconnoitered with Two
squadrons of mounted infantry for two
miles along the line and dycw the fire OF
-four gans AMI two Vickcrs machine
guns. Four horses were hit.
1.-The queens Christmas message was
received with enthusiasm.
"Gatacre is endoavoring to reopen
communication with tho Indwe collier
les"
GIBRALTAR, Dec. 28.--,1he British
steamer Dunottar Castle, having on
board General Lord Roberts Of Kanda.
har, COMMUNICATIVE chief OF the British
forces in South Africa, arrived here
General Sir H. Kitchener, who came
came from Egypt to join General Rob.
erts as his chief. of staff, embarked on
board the Dunottar Castle and the yes.
sci sailed for Cape Town.
LONDON, Dec. aS.--The Morning Post
received the following from Mr. Church.
i'll, under date of Dec. 20, telegraphed
from Chieveley camp, where he has ar.
rived: "All ranks have confidence In
Sir Redvers Butler, and there is q stern
determination to succeed next time at
all costs. A painful impression was
caused by the announcement of the
change of commanders. in chief and
the soldiers here are resolved to vindi-
cate their trusted leader.
"The situation, nevertheless, is diff
cult, the Boer position being one of ez.
traordinary strength, with high hills,
lined tier on tier with trenches and gal.
leries. rising from an almost unfordable
river and with smooth plain M front
''The enemy have all the ranger
marked and many powerful guns doml-
nate the various points of the river,
while the drifts are commanded by con.
verging musketry fire from probably
10000 Beers. There are 10 miles OF
wild. broken country before reaching
Ladysmith. which demands carly re-.
lief.'
The Morning Post published dis.
patch from Winston Spencer Churchill,
who went to Durham, describing his es-
cape from Pretoria, where he was
prisoner Of the Beers. The dispatcn,
which was dated Lourenzo Marques,
Dec. II, contained the following:
"On the afternoon of Dec. i2 the
Transvaal's secretary of war informed
me that there was little chance of my
release. therefore resolved to escape,
aud the same night l left tho State
school prison in Pretoria by climbing the
wall when the sentries' backs were
eurned momentarily. walked through
the streets of the town without disguiso,
meeting many Burghers. but was not
challenged in the crowd. got through
the pickets OF the town guards and
struck the Delagoa bay railroad.
walked along it, evading the watchers
ut the bridges and culverts and waited
for q train beyond the first station. The
11:20 goods train from Pretoria had ar.
rived before reached the plnce and
was moving at full speed. boarded is
with great difficulty and hid under coal
sacks. l jumped from the train before
dawn ana was sheltered during the day
IN small wood, in company with "a
huge vulture, who displayed lively in.
tereat in me.
81 walked on at dusk. There were no
more traits that night, The danger of
mssting tho guards u. the line contin-
ued, put was obliged to follow II us l
had neither compass nor map. i had to
make wido detouis 70 avoid bridges,
stations and huts, and 30 my progress