Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-28
Winston Churchill Says This is De-
handed in the Situation.
BuLLER WILL TRY AGAIN.
ao.r Position Well Fortified DI.sp.
poin,mcnt az Butler 1eims super
scdcd-Tbc Fcnian Move.

of the gravity OF the situation. but all
today's news conveys the impression
that Butler may be intending another
attack upon the Boer position.
Certainly. the Eoers are not Inactive.
AT both Modder river and the Tugeia
they are said to be strengthening their
forces and extending defense works.
which In both cases are seemingly al
most lmprcgnable.
As showing the difficulty Of obtaining
accurate Information. a correspondent
Of the Daily News at capotown. under
date Of December 2ist announces that
Gen. Butler Is coming to Capetown to
meet Sir Charles Warren. and then
both will 40 to Modder river. As five
baitalions OF Gen. Warrcns nth ,dlvI-
sion are said to have gone to Natal, his
arrival at Pietermarl,zburg seemed
natural.
Dispatches from Chleveley Indicate
that Gen. Buffers forces viii remobi-
lie at Frere before attempting another
advance. Doubtless, he would be glad
10 retrieve the Colenso reverse before
the arrival OF Lord Roberts. yet he is
hardly likely TO attempt another
frontal attack II Is more likely that
Beers make any offensive movement.
Alr. Churchill's reference to Lady,
smith may imply that the situation OF
the garrison N more desperate than
had been supposed. The Beers continue
forifying the hills commanding the
town. Gen. White. however hello
graphs that all was well in Ladysmlth
on December Goth.
Competent military critlcu In London
regard the campaign as at complete
deadlock for the present owing to the
dispersal u the British forces. and FOR
the lack OF adequate transport. II VIII
be- weeks before Lord Roberts is able to
fecrganize ana make an effective
movement.
The Bocr trench work IL 40 good that
II enables the enemy to hold long line
with very few men, ana to travel great
distances under perfect cover 80 az
rapidly TO reinforce any polnt attacked.
The Times. which comments cdltO-
rally upon the severe strain. says. 1T
j. difficult u avoid the conclusion that
our troubles are due to the unrcailty
Of the presumably practical lessons
given IN the inanpuvers ut Allerahot"
Dispatches from Noddcr river repre-
sent Dutch dlsaffcctlon in Grlqulland
West as growing very serious. In some
towns the entire Dutch population has
Joined the Beers.
The rebels have formed a lnager at
point about thirty miles west OF Mod
Ser river camp.
/, Is also announced tina, the beers
have raised the siege OF i<uruman. and
have all withdrawn to Magersfontein.
CupetOwn correspondent OF the
Times, under date OF Friday. December
:.nd. says; Anxiety regarding the at
iltudc Of the Colonial Dutch Is steadily
growing. They make no effort TO con-
ceal their sympathy with the two re-
publlcs. and the only question now Is
whether II the military situation Is not
bellon.
Even In districts that have not been
vltlted by the Beers In the eastern part
OF III. province the Dutch farmers are
riding about armed. This ~ the case
also In districts only nifty miles from
capeiown, where sedltious movement
IL buslly propagatod. The British forces
communications"
dispatch to the Times from Mafe-
King, dated Monday, December 18th.
By way OF MCchudi, Tuesday. Deccm-
Der 18Th, says that Lady Sarah Wilson.
who was captured by the Beers. while
acting as correspondent, for London
paper has arrived there, having been
exchanged for Viljocn. notorious
horre thief and convict,
The Morning Post has received the
following from Mr.. Churchill. under
date Of December Goth. tecRraphed
rom chlevcley carnp. where he has ar
rived:
IAN ranks have complete confidence
In Sir Rcdvers Butler. and there IL a
Stern determination to succeed next
umo o. all costs. A painful Impression
was caused by the announcement OF
the change OF COMMUNICATIVE chief. and
,he soldiers here are resolved to vindi-
cate their trusted leader.
The situation, nevertheless, Is DIFF
hcult. the Bocr position being one OF
extraordinary strength. with high hills,
hned tier on IL with trenches and
talieries. rising from an almost unford-
able river and with a smooth plain In
front.
The enemy have all the ranges
marked and many powerful guns doni-
nate the various poln,s OF the river.
while the drifts are commanded by
eonverglng musketry fire from prob
ably 1900 Beers. There are sixteen
miles OF wild, unbroken country before
reaching Ladysmlth, which demands
early relief"
The Daily Chronicle publishes the
following from Capetown; Herr Sches-
ilnger, an agent OF the New York
Equitable Assurance society. who has
arrived here from Pretoria, says the
boers possess immense stores OF food
imported by speculative capitalists I'M
ger belief that mining would be al
lowed during the war.
lie says also that there were thou
lands OF spectators at the Pretoria
railway station when the British. who
We're captured at Nicholson's Mex,
.detralned. The psople were ordered by
we Boer commandant to bare their
heads and they did 30. The British. as
tonished, returned the salute"
a special correspondent OF the Daily
chronicle telegraphlng from Strek-
,uom, Cape Colony, Thursday. Decent
Der 2is,, says, strong measures are
necessary TO check the hostile feeling
among the Dutch colonlsts, whose sedi-
uon Is shown In the removal OF railway
bolts, the obstruction OF bridges and
,ulverts and attacks upon solitary
crease, unless immediate reinforce
ments are forthcoming. The loyal Dutch
una British settlers are becoming
hlarmingly inpatient"
dispatch TO the Times from Pieter-
harrisburg, dated Thursday. December
.lst, says: "A strong suspicion exists
mere that the ostsnsbly innocent bills
OF lading furnished by German steam
er In Delagoa bay really conceal con-
trnband, and the local papers are urging
more rigid examination OF cargoes,
~ dispatch from Kimberley, dated
wednesday. December Goth, says: al
hnh-past 2 o'clock this morning mount
ca attachments under Col. Peak man.
WIN three Maxims and three en-
Founders. under Mai, May, reconnoit.
,ied. Leaving the Entertainments, the
british advanced on Toll Pan. The