Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-12-12


The British captured a Maxim gun and
and guards made a sortie west of Lady
smith at daybreak under cover of
heavy artillery fire, which the Beers re-
turned briskly. The British afterwards
returned to Ladysmith. The Boer
losses are reported to have been light
A strong Burgher column has crossed
the Tugela river at Colense with the
column.
London, Dec. GA special dispatch
from Pretoria, dated Friday, December
S, says 5000 British troops, preceded by
an armored train, are advancing ON
Colesburg from Naauwpoorr.
New York, Dec. "a dispatch to the
Herald from Ladysmith says: Thursday
and Friday passed fairly quiet. The
bombardment is now only casual. The
Beers are mounting numerous new guns
in commanding positions. They evident
~ intend making big effort to reduce
Ladysmith after the return of Gen. JOu-
bert and his Beers from Colenso. The
town cannot be carried by assault, but
the new guns will render the place very
uncomfortable. All is well SO far.
A dispatch from Pietermaritzburg
trating their attention on providing for
their retreat, even to the extent of COM
Wandering wagons and oxen of the ma
tives who have been taken to Dundee.
From other reports there is little doubt
that the Beers are preparing for flight,
although resistance is expected to be of
fered to the advance of the relief column
from the heights commanding COlenSo
on which earthworks have been con-
structed The Colenso road railroad
bridge is intact, but is believed to have
been mined. The reconstruction of the
Frere bridge is completed
The Battle at Modder River.
London, Dec 9.-The war office has
received a late dispatch from Cape Town
that throws some light on the situation
in South Africa. 1t is dated 8 o'clock
Friday night and signed by Gen F'ores-
tier-WallSer. The dispatch says:
Telegraph and railway communication to
Modder river has been reopened. A battery
of field artillery and battalion of infantry
were dispatched from Modder river against
commandment Prins Loos force of 1000
Beers with one gun, who had destroyed the
railway. Our losses were fourteen wound
ed.
Belmont has been strengthened by in
1antry and two guns, and Il cavalry regi-
ment and troops from Naauwpoort occupied
Arundel Thursday.
reported as follows: At Dordrecht, 500;
marching from jamestown to Dordrecht
200. with six guns; at Stromberg, 1900 at
Waterfall, Il large force strength unknown:
AT MOltepo, about 400.
Lord Methuen reports casualties Deem
Der on patrol duty as follows: Missing,
Lieut.. Tristram and four men of the Twelfth
lancers; wounded, four men.
Growing Strength of Methuen.
Ever since the battle of Modder river
Gen. Methuen's position has been grow
ing stronger. Although reinforcements
from Mafeking have been reaching the
Beers, they have no railways at their
back, as has Methuen. Consequently.
the larger the number TO come, the more
likely are they to suffer from insufficient
supplies.
If the railway is cut at Gras Pan, as
reported, that puts a different face on
the matter, and it may be that the ru-
mored insurrection among the Dutch
farmers of Griqualand West through
which district Gen. Methuen's railway
runs, may explain that report.
Mrs. Langtry's husband, Hugo Gerald
De Battle, sails for South Africa De
cember 16 on special service. Mrs. Lang
try declares that if she had not made all
her American arrangements she, toe,
would go in the capacity Of nurse or 9th
erWise.
Sharp Fighting Anticipated.
London, Dec. 9.-While so far as the
actual British advance is concerned, this
mornings dispatches show little change
in the situation, the authorities antici-
pate from the announcement that how
tiers and cavalry have reached Gen
Methuen and that Gen. Butler has re-
ceived the heavy artillery for which he
was waiting, that the advance will no
longer be delayed. News of important
battles by both generals is expected soon.
The fact that Gen. Butler has ordered
200 stretcher bearers from Pietermaritz'
burg to assist the regular ambulance
corps indicates that he anticipates sharp
fighting.
Abandon BIoemfontein.
The Free Staters, it is alleged, have
decided not to defend Bloemfontein, as
it is not fortified, but to make d stand
at Bainsvleix, southwest of Bloemfon-
ten.
Special reports say President Steyn's
mind is failing. According to dispatches
from Ladysmith, excursions are running
weekly from Pretoria, bringing numbers
of gailyattired Dutch women, who take
up points Of vantage on the hills and
closely scan the proceedings in the town.
A siege train was shipped to South
Africa today from Southampton.