The sun., 1899-12-08
TROUBLE IN SOUTH
AFRICA.

In the absence OF any oficial confirmation.
the story OF the relief OF Ladysmith that has
been published may bs dismissed as without
foundation. So also. IL seems. may the report
OF a Boer repulse after an attempt to carry the
town by assault. As to the movement OF the
Free State commandos to the Westward OF
Ladysmith. they are undoubtedly tho result OF
the discovery OF a turning movement By Gen.
Butler against tho Boer right flank to-
ward the passes OF the Drakensberg by tho
main road from Escourt to the northwest.
The formation OF laaeer at Springfield north
Of the Little Tugela. Is also an indication that
British movement IL eIpectel In that direction.
while a frontal nttack at Colen+o Ia fully pro.
vided against By the complete destruction OF
the railway bridge at that place. II
cannot. however. be long before an ad-
vance on the part OF the British begins.
for apart from the danger that the garrison
OF Ladysmith may be forced TO capitulate,
there Is the tremendous loss OF war material
stored there. reported to be valued at nearly
Ave millions OF dollars. that would DO Incurred
BY . surrender. Part OF the Free Staters who
have left the vicinity OF Ladysmith may also
have gone TO reinforce the corps opposing Gen
Methuen. who Ia reported TO be disauieted
by tho oommandos gathering on his right
flank. In fact, this suppostion 10 partially
River which says that the Free staters In
front OF Gen. Nethuen had been reinforced by
5000 OF their men from Natal This disposss
Of the reports that they had left Ladysmlth be-
cause OF weariness with the war.
Whilo the British at the Modder River arc
preparing for the next forward IN movement and
the garrison Of Kimberley are making almost
daily sortles to distract the enemy. the Boers.
who retired from the Modder River after tho
last night. are busy forti'yinR their newly So
lected positions at Spyttontein on tho range Of
hills through which tho railway to Kim
berley passos. They are also strengthening
their posltion what IL called the
Lazareste ridge. west Of Kimberley. which
guards the right rear OF the main body at Spyt-
fonteIn against an attack from Kim mberley,
while the Beers occupying Schultzs Mex. on
the boundary lne protect tho left flank. A
the opposing forces are about equal. the next
nght will be Of great military interest particu-
larry a. one Of tho British lyddite batteries 10
expected to take part In t.
1t is stated that a considerable portion OF the
force that was Investing Mafeking has been
detached. ard IL now with the Boers near
Kimberley.
In their progress through the northeastern
parts OF the Cape Colony which they have In
vaded the Free Staters appear to be every
whore welcomed by Afrikander population. Dor
drecht and other important points have been
occupied by them. the telegraph lines have been
cut and damage done to tho railways whero IL
could impede the British advance. In the
west. In tho Hopetown district. on the Orange
River. the Dutch population has risen of II.
own voIiton and has organized TO oppose q
British advance 10 the westward OF tho Orange
River bridge by the road leading to Hay or
Gr9uatown. in Griqualand West which has
beed occupied by the Beers. This spreading OF
the insurrcction Is becoming a serious
embarrassment both to the military authori-
ties and the Cape Colony Government. which
may be at any moment superseded by the
proclamation OF martial law throughout the
Colony-a result that has been feared from the
start. when Sir Alfred Miner declared that
when the war was over there would be no
Afrik anderdom left In South Africa.