Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-29
THE LULL IN THE WAR
London Papers Full Of Criticisms
Of the Government
NEEDLESS CENSORSHIP, "
This a Complaint from The Thun-
defer."
HEAT At LADYsMITH INTENSE.
Thermometer Registering 1Of De-
grees In the Sbade-Many Cases of
Fever i'm the Town-BOer Position
at COIenso Very strong Indeed.
HEAT At LADYsMITH INTENSE.
at CoIenso Very strong Indeed.

LONDON. December 29.-l:4o A. M
During the continued AL in the military
operations in South Africa, the papers
are filed with letters and articles criti-
cising the government and the campaign,
and suggesting remedies. improvements,
alterations in the plans, and the like.
The Times complains of needless CEN
sorship and concealment.' 1T cites the
fact that nothing has yet ;rsnspired to
show how General Gatacre came TO lose
60 men AT Stormberg.
The dispatches from the front all rep
resent the Beers as I'm nervous condition,
and constant dread of the British adj
vance. but this is PROBABLY an ex. ggera-
ton.
The Modder river CORE sp0ndent OF the
Daily Chronicle gives an explanation Of
a sudden rifle FIRE inexplicably opened
from the Boer trenches. Tie says:
WIRES AND LAMPS.
"The Beers have wires stretched along
the ground in front of the trenches and
connected with lamps. II wire be
touched a lamp is eXtinguished thus
giving warming one Right d high wind
eXtinguished 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
Frere Camp announces that a tramway
is being constructed from the railway
to the hill commanding the Boer position,
and that along this the British will con-
vey heavy guns.
According to a dispatch from Lady
smith dated Wednesday, December 10Th.
the heat was intense, being l0i degrees.
Fahrenheit in the shade. There were
many cases Of enteric-fever I'm he town
at that time, but not enough to cause
alarm. ON the other hand. reports from
Boer sources, on the contrary, assert that
fever is epidemic I'm Ladysmith.
-BOER FOOD THREAT.
The Ttansvaal Government, according
to information supplied by Boer sym
pathizers. threatens TO reduce the IA
tions of British prisoners, if Great Bril-
tain stops the entry of food by Delagoa
Bay"
1t is now estimated that the war will
cost at least eC0o0OOO) (S3OOO0O0O0 and it
is suggested that the sinking fund of
the national debt should be suspended FOR
five or six years, in order TO defray the
cost.
OPERATIONS AT CHIEVELEY.
CHIEVELEY CAMP. NATAL, Wednes-
day. December PA heavy Boer gun on
Buluwana Hill fired steadily upon Lady
smith throughout the morning. Lady
smith did not respond.
The enemy having been again detect
ed i'm an attempt 10 improve lhelr
trenches facing General Butler the Bri-
fish heavy guns opened upon them ana
the Beers scampered back into the NILS
The British patrols sighted the enemy
I'm force on the extreme left. Nine Beers
were killed in a skirmish that followed
and six BOer wagons were captured
ALLEGED BOER AIDERs.
DURBAN. NATAL. Wednesday, Deem
Der IA German farmer named Stucke'
and the Rev. Mr. Hartes. director Of the
Hanoverian Missions in Natal. have been
arrested and imprisoned at Estcourt on
the charge of aiding the Beers. They
both claim the protection of Germany.
REPORT FROM METHUEN.
LONDON. December 2S-The War Office
has received the following from Cape
Town. dated Wednesday. December 2th:
"Methuen reports as follows:
"At $3.50 yesterday evening the Beers ON
the south side of MagersiOntein opened
very heavy FIRE which lasted for some
time. This morning the Naval Brigade
fred at the enemy at the west part OF
Wagersfontein. The cavalry brigade IS
accommodating In a nOrtherly direction.
EXTENDED RECONNAISSANCE.
Lieutenant Masters has made an ex-
tended reconnaissance westward and
northward Of Enslein. and reports all well
The farmers were glaG 10 see our men.
They were suffering from want Of food.
81 have established a market here
where l can purchase fresh milk and veg
etables. selling to the farmers tea and
other articles. which they cannot other
wise purchase
Heavy rain fell last night.
GATACRE AND FRENCH.
"Gatacre and French report no change
in the situation.
ALL WELL AT MAFEKING.
"Baden-Powel reports all well Deem
Der 18th"
LATEST FROM LADYSMITH.
LONDON, December 2S.-The latest In
dependent news from Ladysmith says
s'The field fortihcatiOns would now with
stand any organized attack the enemy IS
likely TO deliver There are sufficient
food-sunfs for two months. The ques-
tion of forage might be- troublesome. but
since the rains there has been some
grazing within the British lines. There
is no horse-sickness
.''rhe casualties caused by our shell-iire
are increasing and the Beers are re-
pOrted to be becoming nervous. IheN
fear night sorties and constantly open
heavy fusillade on any imaginary attack
GERMANS STOP RECRUITING.
The German officials have promptly
stopped the Beers from recruiting I'm pa
MARYLAND. Neither men nor horses are
narmitted TO cross the border.
FOR 4 MILITARY MINISTER.
LONDON. December @.-Mr. Henry
snencer Wilkinson, the Morning Posts
military expert, I'm his review OF the SIT
uation to-day, says;
'Srh. time has apparently arrived Tor
the nation to insist. If not upon military
dictatorship. at least upon the admission
into the Cabinet of a military minister
empowered TO veto any proposals detri-
mental 10 the successful prosecution OF
The war. and also that the administration
NJ the army should be placed wholly III
the hands of tried military ADMINS
ROER AGENT AT DELAGOA.
LONDON. December 29.-A corrtsPolu
ont of the Standard at Lourenzo ""ifue9
says: -. ~ trorr