The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-04

LONDON, Dec. 4, 4:4o a. m.-The week
opened without a word of news, such as
the British public Is so anxiously await
ing. With larger army In the field than
the country ever before mobllized. 1t can
only be said that the loss Of $500 men
entailed before the enemy's borders have
been crossed Is a serious matter. and.
while there Is no feeling of dependency
as to the eventual results Of the war. 1t
IL regretfuliy admitted on all sides that
the strength of the Boer resistance has
been woefully underrated.
1t is now seen that the attempt to hold
a useless position at Mafeking was
serious tactical mistake. as was also the
endeavor to keep the large civil popula-
lation in Kimberley. Perhaps the bright
est spot for English readers today Is the
announcement that President Mckinley
has designated the son of Secretary Hay
to succeed Mr.. Macrum In Pretoria.
The Daily Telegraph says: This ap-
pointment is a graceful concession on the
part of the United States government to
British feeling Our countrymen's In
terests will be safe In the hands Of the
new consul"
South African news is now six days In
arrears. The censorship does not yet
permit details Of the Modder river battle
to be transmitted. Some vague state
ments have been published in Cape Town
papers. and according to these the Beers
numbered 5000 men and were intrenched
on both banks Of the stream, although
mostly on the northern bank. The Brit
ssh. according. to those accounts. drove
ixyav~
them to retreat. and established them
selves on both banks. These details,
however, are too meager to enable an
accurate idea of the engagement to be
formed.
A dispatch has reached London an
nouncing that Lord Methuen is again in
the field. and 1t is also said that Count
Gretchen, who was wounded in the fight
ing at Modder river, was struck in the
neck by a bullet.
Serious news comes from the northern
sections of Cape Colony. The whole bor-
der district between Colesburg and Bur-
gersdorp has declared for the Beers. In
venterstad alone more than 1000 have
Joined the rebellion. The farmers have
formed a Communicating command and
talk confidently of triumphant march on
Cape Town. Gen. Buffers proclamation
has been torn down and trampled on and
the ioyalists are hidden to hurry to Cape
Town to prepare coffee for the rebels.
The official list shows that a modifica-
ton has been made in the command of the
Sixth division. Instead of Lieut.. Gen.
Clarke the commander will be Maj. Gen.
Thomas Kelly-Kenny. inspector general Of
auxiliary forces, and recruiting with Maj.
Gen. Knox and Maj. Gen. Clements as
brigade commanders. Gem Kelly Kenny
has had no South African experience.
With regard to Natal. 1t is still doubtful
whether the bridge over the Tugela, at
Colenso, has been destroyed There is
report that the British drove the Beers Off
while attempting to destroy It,, but the
probability Is that the structure was mined
and fired afterwards.
According to a dispatch from Potters
kraal, dated Tuesday, November 2s the
Beers were then attempting turning move
ments from Steinsburg and the district
north Of Storkstrom, in cooperation with
the rebels, by way of Marmisburg and
Tarkastad, against Gen. Gatacre's column.
The wreck Of the troopship Ismore may
result in the loss of $50 horses.
SSAHShhhAhe SA8 AaAs nsSatsbAASheus
LONDON, Dec. 4-The war office pub
fishes the following dispatch from Cape
Town, dated yesterday:
The transport Ismore is ashore on the
rocks In st. Helens bay. The troops have
been safely landed. but the horses are
still on board. H. NJ S. Doris and Niobe.
with the transport Columbian, have gona
to her assistance.
Col. Kekowich reports, under date of
Thursday, November 80. that the Bechu-
ana police captured the Boer laager west
of Kimberley Tuesday November 2S
Communication by searchlight with
Kimberley has been established from Mod
der river"
Beers Were Surrounded.
PRETORIA, Nov. o. via Lourenzo Mar
quez, Dec. 3.-Commandant Delarey has
reported to President kruger that the
burghers, in spite of their determined de-
fgence at Gras Pan, November %, were
completely surrounded by the British. and
were compelled to retire.
Killed in Belmont Fight.
PRETORIA, Nov. 2Z-The Boer COM
mander on the western border i-ports that
twelve hurghers were killed and forty
wounded in the fighting at Belmont.
kecOncentrating at COlenso.
DURHAM, Natal, Nov. 2S-Tho Natal
Mercury publishes the following dispatch