Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-29

tatlVely dSceftdlHeu
London, Dec 29-440 A. M.-Durine
the continued lul in the military OPP
erations in South Africa, the papers
are filed with letters and articles crit
icising the government and the cam
paign and suggesting remedies, i'm
provements. alterations in the plans
and the like. The Times complains OF
needless censorship and concealment.
II cites that fact that nothing has yet
transpired to show how Gen. Gatacre
come TO lose 900 men at Stormberg.
The dispatches from the front all
represent the Beers as in a nervous
condition and constant dread OF the
British advance, but this is probably
an exaggeration.
The Modder River correspondent of the
Daily Chronicle gives an explanation Of
a sudden rifle fire from the Boer
trenches which had seemed ineXplicable
to the British. He says: The Beers
have wires stretched along the ground IN
front of the trenches and connected with
lamps II a wire be touched lamp is
extinguished. thus giving warning. one
night the wind eXtnguiShed 4 lamp,
which resulted in false warning. The
fire ceased when the Beers discovered
that the alarm was false.
A correspondent of the Daily News at
F'rere Camp announces that tramWay Is
being constructed from the railway 10
hill commanding the Boer position ana
that along this the British Will convey
heavy guns.
According to dispatch from Lady
smith dated Wednesday, Dec. %, the
heat was then intense. being lU4 degrees
in the shade. There We're many cases of
enterc fever in the town at that time,
but not enough to cause alarm. ON the
other hand, reports from ROtr sources
on the continent assert that typhoid fever
Is epidemic In I.adysmith.
The Transvaal government, according
to information supplied by Buer sympa-
thizers. threatens TO reduce the ratiuns
OF British prisoners if Great Britain stops
the entry OF food by Delagoa bay
The British government now evinceS
marked change from its attitude in the
early stages of the war ana shows a dis
noeifion 10 accept assistance from any
quarter. The imperial yeomanry commit
tee has issued statement 10 the effect
that the government considers the fUrm1-
ton and dispatch Of NeumanIy as one oG
the most pressing needs of the situation
and has intimated that it is now prepared
to accept from 5000 to lu,Uu yeumanry IN
stead Of the 300 originally asked for. 1t
is expected that the nrSt contingent 81
1900 will sail about the middle Of Jan
uary.
The government has announced that it
will accept the services Of battery from
the Honorable Artillery Corps When
services were first offered they Were de-
clined on the ground that the corps was
not affiliated with any regiment 81 regu-
lars. 1t will now he attached to the city
Imperial Corps. Lady Gresham and Lady
Ceorgidnna CUrZIn have issued an appeal
for public funds to establish field hos
pital for the NcomanrN
cape Town dispatches complain If the
of the hospital arrangements.
II is now estimated that tnv war viii
cost 1T least EGp.nntVou ana il IS suggest
ed that the sinking fund Of the national
debt should ne suspended for tive or SIX
in order to uBirHN the cost.
Chieveley Camp, Natal. Dee. 2S.-A
heavy Boar gun on BulWhana Hill fired
steadily upon Ladysmith, throughout
the morning. LIdysmith did not re
spond.
The. enemy having been again de-
tected attempting to improve their
trenches facing Gen. Butler the British
heavy guns opened upon them ana the
Beers scampcred back to the hills.
The British patrols sighted the en-
envy on our extreme left. Nine Beers
were killed in a skirmish that followed
and six Boer wagons We're captured.
London, Dec. 2S.-The war Office has
received the following from Cape
Town Town, dated Wednesday, Dec
21th:
Methuen reports as follows: AT $50
Yesterday evening. the Beers on the
south side Of the Magersfontein opened
a very heavy fire for some time. This
morning, the naval brigade fired at the
enemy at the west part of Magersfon-
TEN. The cavalry brigade is recon-
motoring in a northeasterly direction.
Lieut. Masters has made an extend
de reconnaissance westward and north
ward OF Ensin ana reports all well.
The farmers We're glad to see our men.
They We're suffering from want of food.
II have established a market here,
where | can purchase fresh milk and
vegetables, selling the farmers tea and
other articles which they cannot other
wise purchase. Heavy rain fen. last
night Gatacre ana French report ~
change in the situation. Baden-PoWell
reports all Well. Dec. 12th.'
There is nothing in the official or best
Independent reports to indicate that the
heleagured garrisons are in any SPEC
ial straits calling for Immediate relief
The latest advices from kimberley,
where a shortage of food is most fear
ed. report plenty of food.
An interesting feature Of todays
news is the patriotic offers Of service
from Indian princes. The niZam of
Hyderabad, replying to a toast prOpos-
ed by Lord CurzOn. the VicerOy. at a
banquet in Calcutta. yesterday evening.
said the proudest title he possessed was
that Of being the Queens faithful ally,
adding that his purse. his army and his
own sword were ever ut her disposal.
The maharajah of Cavalier has asked
permission to serve on General Rob
ert's staff and has offered To send
troops, horses and a transport to South
Africa.
The government Of France has APP
pointed Captain Demange military at
tache at the Boer headquarters.
Many Cretans in Athens are offering
their services to the British consul for
the war in South Africa.
The latest independent news from
Ladysmith says: The field fortified
tionS would now withstand any organ
lied attack the enemy is likely to de-
liver. There are sufficient food stuffs
for two months. The question Of for
age might be troublesome. but since
the rains there has been some grazing
within the British lines There is no
horse sickness.
The casualties caused by our shell
4, I