The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-12-04
ENGLISH STRAIT.
Experts Say Kimberley's
Needs Must Be Very
Pressing.
LACK OF AMMUNITION
Boer Shells Grow More
Damaging Hays APP
pointment Pleas
ing.

LONDON, Dec 4, 18s9-The later details |
received from Modder River seem to show |
that even the desperate courage the at !
tacking force displayed all day long (No-
yember 2S), failed to drive the Beers from
their strong entertainments and night fell
on an undecided battle. But apparently, |
during the course of the night, General
Cronje, commanding the Beers, who are
now said to have numbered II, coo men. de-
cided that the struggle was hopeless, for
the British found the town and surround
ing positions evacuated when daylight
broke and the whole British Army cross
ed the rived and encamped on the Boer
positions. The experts here are unani-
nous in expressing the opinion that KIM
berley's needs must be very pressing to
induce General Methuen to expose
the whole of his command to the
Boer marksmen, snugly entrenched In
semi-circular position. So deadly was the
fire-zone that the Scots Guards were COM
PEELED to leave their Maxim guns behind
when they were forced to seek less ex-
posed ground. 1t was only after dusk
that a portion of the British troops sue
ceeded in crossing the river by mill dam
Boer artillery fire was still as vigorous
as in the morning, but the Beers retire
ment in the night saved the situation for
the British At the same time. it pre-
cluded all possibility of pursuit, even If
the exhausted British troops were capable
of pursuing their enemy
The conclusion OF the correspondents
that the Beers must have suffered heavily
before 1T is accepted as a fact. In any
case, the Beers retired without any sign
of disorder, carrying off their guns and
equipments. Thus General Cronje's force
is still intact. But the fact that General
Methuen and Colonel Kekewich are now
in communication may cause reconsid-
Grafton of the Boer Commanders plan to
give battle at Spytfontein, where he might
be simultaneously attacked by both
British forces.
1t is reported that the Modder River
Bridge has been repaired and that the
British resume their march towards
Kimberley today.
The fact that the De Beers Mines Foun-
dry is casting shells while the garrison
seldom replies to the Beers artillery is
said to point to a scarcity of ammuni-
tion at Kimberley, partially accounting
for General Methuen's haste.
All the news from Natal emphasizes the
difficulties before General Clery. There
is a growing belief that some delicate
fanking operation has been entrusted to
some tactician while General Hildyard
carries out the direct front demonstration.
The latest advices from Ladysmith,
dated Saturday, November 25 say the
shelling of that place was continued.
1t also appears that General Schalk
Burgher, commanding the Beers, sent a
message suggesting that all the wound
ed be sent to neutral camp and that
General White peremptorily refused,
when, it is added, the Beers deliberately
shelled the hospital.
All accounts agree that the Boer shells
were much more damaging than previous
ly. A number of civilians and police were
killed or wounded while the Liverpool
and Gloucester Battalions lost eleven men
November "a.
The siege al Ladysmith was then grow
ing stronger The Beers were estimated
to number from ten to fifteen thousand
men. The health of the British garrison
was good.
The Boer force at Colenso is estimated
to be Is, 600 men, with fifteen guns.
A local farmer arrested by the Beers
and released November %. has arrived at
Estcourt. He says General Joubert per-
sonally commands the Colenso force.
A letter from an officer at Ladysmith
reveals a novel feature of a modern bat
tie. The writer says that at the battle of
Reitfontein sseval ladies arrived on biey-
cles. OF course they kept at a distance,
but a shell pitched close to them, causing
them to pedal off to a safer position"
A Dublin correspondent declares that
lowing to startling information as to the
existence of a dynamite conspiracy in or
der to quicken the flow of Boer subscrip-
tions. the Executive has decided TO double
the guards at all the military barracks in
the district
The afternoon newspapers welcome the
appointment Of Mr.. Adelbert F. Hay, as
United States Consul at Pretoria The
est. James Gazette" says
SIT Is by numerous small indications
rather than by striking outbursts that the
real depth of international sentiment can
be gauged, as between the two great
countries who prefer making their SYM
pathy plain to one another to parading
II before the world. The appointment of
Mr.. Hay Is one of those small but sig
nificantly important signs by which the
impartial observer can test the sincerely
good feeling between ourselves and the
United States"
The westminster Gazette" says:-lf
Mr.. Chamberlain is speaking today he will
undoubtedly turn to Mr.. Hays appoint
ment as convi cling proof that an alliance
exists. We do not make such sweeping
deduction. 1t suffices to say it is pleasant
to think that our interests are represented
by one whose representations can hardly
fail to be received with consideration by
the Transvaal."
The American doctors and nurses who
are going to South Africa on the Amert-
can Hospital ship Maine, visited Windsor
Castle this afternoon, under the guidance
Of Major Cabell A landau and an omni-
bus from the Royal stables took the party
from the station They were received by
Lord Pelham Clinton. Master OF the
Queens household
The visitors were escorted through the
state and private apartments. Later,
the party went to Cumberland Lodge for
tea. at the invitation of Princess Chris
tian Of Schleswig- Nolstein, daughter Of
H.