The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-30
A BRUSH AT KIMBERLY
THE DAILY COMMANDMENT OF
LADYSMITH CONTINUES.
BOERs CAPTURE 2 FORTS, THEY REPORT
Baden-PoweII tells Beers That Our Government
Has Warned Others That She viii
Side With England if They
Interfere,

Cape Town, Dec. 2S.-(Thursday)-A
dispatch from Cradock reports heavy
firing in the direction of Stormberg. 1t
is supposed this is connected with Gen.
eral Gatacre's attempt to reopen COM
munication with the Indwe collieries.
THE LINE WORKING.
London, Dee. 29.-The War Office has
received the following dispatch:
''Cape Town, Dec S.-(Thursday)-
The indie Collier line is now working
again."
London, Dec. 29--A War Office dis
patch from Colonel Baden-Poawell dated
December 10Th, after announcing that
The text of Colonel Baden-PowelFs
and well at Mafeking adds that the
bombardment and musketry fire contin-
ued daily on all sides and that the health
and spirits of the garrison are very
satisfactory.
The text of Colonel BadenPoawell's
proclamation to the burghers besieging
Mafeking, the gist of which has already
been cabled, comes from Lourenzo Mar
ques today After asserting that the
yention and pretending TO relate the ex-
act attitude of all the European powers,
including Emperor William who the
Colonel said. fully sympathizes with
England" Baden-Powell's makes the
extraordinary statement that 'sthe
American Government has warned the
others OF her intention to side with Eng
land should any of them interfere"
TRAINS RUNNING TO COLENsO.
Pretoria, Dec. 25.-(Monday. .)-Gener-
al Schalk-Burger reports under date of
December 23rd. that trains are now
running to Colenso, indicating that the
Beers have built a connection around
Ladysmith
General CronJe reports from the Mod
der River, December 24th, that the
Beers captured two British forts at
Kuruman December 18th.
The Transvaal Government has pro-
mulgated new gold tax law, by which
individuals and companies working their
own mines are taxed thirty per cent of
the output while mines worked by the
Government will pay fifty per cent. Sus-
pended mines will pay 80 per cent on
their probable output. calculated on
three months workings. Reducing
works will pay thirty per cent of their
net profits. The law is retroactive to
October 18th.
ASTOR'S CONTRIBUTION.
London, Dee. William Waldorf
Astor has subscribed 1000 pounds ster-
ling to the Buckinghamshire fund to
equip the county's contingent of Yeo-
manry.
BRITISH REPULSE REPORTED.
Pretoria. Dee. CTuesday)-By way
of Lourenzo Marques, Dec. %. Thurs
day)-Commandant Synmau reports as
follows from Molopo:
''On Monday morning the enemy from
Mafeking attacked one of our forts in
force. with cannon, Maxim and an ar
mored train. and so persistently that
there WAS fighting right on the walls of
the fort. But we have retained our fort.
The British loss is reported as 90
The other commanders report:
An quiet" with the exception Of the
usual bombardment of Ladysnith.
ROERS DEFEAT THE KAIaFNIRS.
Pretoria, Dee. 26.--(Tuesday-Vi Lou-
renzo Marques, Thursday, Dec. 2S.)--
Commandant Swart reports from the
laager at Alowyn's Kop near Zorust, that
he had an engagement on Friday, De-
cember 22nd. with Kaffirs In the neigh
borhood of Dedeerpoort. The Kafnrs
occupied strongly fortified ridge and
were well prepared for emergencies.
After heavy fighting the burghers cap
tured the Kaffir position, losing three
killed and five wounded.
STILL SMELLING LADYSMITH.
Pieterinaritzbnrg, Dec. 27--tWednes-
day)-A dispatch from Ladysmith. dated
December 22nd, says:
The Beers have mounted another
HowitZer ON Surprise Hill, replacing the
gun captured in the sortie Of the Rife
brigade. While they watch MS nightly
with a searchight and lombard the place
dally, they show no signs of assaulting
the town. They probably think they can
estarve US out, but we have plenty of
provisions.
The total casualties since the siege be-
gan are 40 men killed and 236 wounded" !"
BRITISH RECONNOITRE
Kimberley Dec. 22.-lFriday)-via
Modder River. Dee. 7.-(Wednesday)--
Before dawn today q detachment of the
mounted forces with artillery and light
infantry. moved out in Il westerly direc-
ton. The Boer artillery from Kamper-
dam opened fire at Otto's Kopje, Kim