Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-28
winston Churchill Says This is De-
manded in the Situation,
BULLER WILL TRY AGAIN.
,., po.ition Well Fortified Disap.
poin,ment at Butler 8eina super
,eded-Tbe Fenian Move.

haps IeepohaAvit ~ SS''N wv WV 'Ho
Of the gravity Of the situation, but all
to5ay's news conveys the impression
that Butler may be intending another
attack upon the Boer position.
Certainly. the Beers are not inactive.
Al both Modder river and the Tugela
they are said to be strengthening their
forces and extending defense works
which In both cases are seemingly al
most impregnabe.
As showing the difficulty Of obtaining
accurate information. a correspondent
Of the Daily News at Capetown. under
date Of December 2lst. announces that
Gen. Butler Is coming to Capetown to
meet Sir Charles Warren, and then
boih will 60 to Modder river. As five
battalions OF Gen. Warren's fifth divi-
sion are said TO have gone TO Natal. his
arrival at Pietermarltzburg seemed
natural
Dispatches from Chieveley indicate
that Gen. Buffers forces will remobi-
Ike al Frere before attempting another
advance Doubtless. he would be glad
10 retrieve the COlenso reverse before
the arrival Of Lord Roberts. yet he Is
hardly likely TO attempt another
frontal attack II Is more likely that
he is preparing to strike should the
Beers make any offensive movement.
Mr.. Churchill's reference to Lady
smith may imply that the situation Of
the garrison Is more desperate than
had been supposed. The Beers continue
terrifying the hills commanding the
town. Gen. White, however. hello
graphs that all was well Ia Ladysmith
on December Goth.
Competent military critics In London
regard the campaign as at a complete
deadlock for the present owing 10 the
dispersal Of the British forces, and for
the lack OF adequate transport. IL viii
be weeks before Lord Roberts is able to
reorganize and make an effective
movement.
The Boer trench work Is 50 good that
II enables the enemy to hold a long line
with very few men, and 10 travel great
distances under perfect cover so as
rapidly 10 reinforce any point attacked.
The Times, which comments edito-
rally upon the severe strain, says: 1T
IS difficult to avoid the conclusion that
our troubles are due 10 the unreallty
Of the presumably practical lessons
given IN the mareuvers at Aldershot."
Dispatches from Modder river repre-
sent Dutch disaffecton In Griquland
West as growing very serious In some
towns the entire Dutch population has
Joined the Beers.
The rebels have formed lager at a
point about thirty miles west OF Mod
Ger river camp.
i is also announced that the Beers
have raised the siege Of kuruman, and
have all withdrawn TO Magersfonteln.
Capetown correspondent OF the
Times, under date OF Friday, December
END, says: Anxiety regarding the at
tltude Of the Colonial Dutch Is steadily
growing. They make no effort to con-
ceal their sympathy with the two re-
publIcs, and the only question now Is
whether II the military situation Is not
changed they will keep from open re-
bellion.
Even In districts that have not been
visited by the Beers In the eastern part
Of the province, the Dutch farmers are
riding about armed. This is the case
also in districts only fifty miles from
Capetown, where a sedtious movement
is buslly propagated. The British forces
are Inadequate to guard 1000 miles OF
communications"
A dispatch to the Times from Mafe-
king, dated Monday, December llth,
by way OF Mechudi, Tuesday Decem-
Der 18th, says that Lady Sarah Wilson.
who was captured by the Beers, while
acting as correspondent for a London
paper, has arrived there, having been
exchanged for Viljoen. notorious
horse thief and convict.
The Morning Post has received the
following from Mr.. Churchill, under
date OF December Goth, telegraphed
from Chieveley Camp, where he has ar
rived:
An ranks have complete confidence
IN Sir Redvers Butler, and there Is
stern determination to succeed next
tine al all costs. A painful impression
was caused by the announcement OF
the change OF commander-in-ch and
The soldiers here are resolved to vindi-
cate their trusted leader.
The situation, nevertheless. Is diff
hcult, the Boer position being one of
strength, with high hills,
lined tier on III with trenches and
galleries. rising from an almost unford-
able river and with smooth plain In
'front.'
The enemy have all the ranges
marked and many powerful guns domi-
nate the various poin.s Of the river
While the drifts are commanded by
ronverglng musketry fire from prob
ably 1900 Beers. There are sixteen
miles Of wild, unbroken country before
Ladysmith, which demands
Early relief"
The Daily Chronicle publishes the
following from Capetown: Herr Sches-
niger an agent Of the New YORK
Equitable Assurance society, who has
irrived here from Pretoria, says the
Beers possess immense stores OF food
imported by speculative capitalists un-
Ter belief that mining would be al
owed during the war.
lie says also that there were thou
ands OF spectators at the Pretoria |
ailway station when the British. who |
we're captured at Nicholson's Mex, |
letralned. The people were ordered by |
he Boer commandant to bare their
ieads and they did so. The British, as
onished, returned the salute"
special correspondent OF the Daily |
'hronicle telegraphlng from Strek-
from. Cape Colony. Thursday. Decem-
'er list, says: Strong measures are
ecessary 10 check the hostile feeling
,nong the Dutch colonlsts, whose sedi-
Ion Is shown In the removal OF railway
otis, the obstruction Of bridges and
ulverts and attacks upon solitary
orsemen. Disaffection IL bound to In
rease. unless immediate reinforce
lents are forthcoming. The loyal Dutch
nd British settlers are becoming
larmiugly impatient.
A dispatch TO the Times from Pieter-
larltzburg, dated Thursday, December
lst says: "A strong suspicion exists
ere that the ostsnslbly innocent bills
I lading furnished by German steam
~ In Delagoa bay really conceal con-
-aband. and the local papers are urging
more rigid examination Of cargoes.'
A dispatch from Kimberley, dated
Wednesday, December Goth, Gays; Al
alf-past o'clock this morning mount
J attachments under Col. Peak man,
1th three Maxims and three en-
ounders. under MAJ. May, reconnoit.
red Toax.f-o a.. f,trapchmAnto the |