The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-10

vance, and CROWNS DisaAsction
~ caps Causes Much Unsasinsss.
BoER HEAD LAAoER, Ladysm,th.
Dec. s.-Ths British troops made sortis
between and o'clock In the morning.
They crawisd up q ravins and stormed and
carried Lombardslsop, which was held BY
the Beers. ana on which were placed
Creosut run and howitzsr. These guns
were destroyed with dynamite. Tho Brit
ish captured Maxim gun and then re-
tired.
The lancsrs. hussars ana guards made
sortie west Of I.adysmith at daybreak un-
der cover Of heavy artiliry fre. which the
Beers returned brisisly The British after
wards returned to LAdysmith. The Boer
losses are reported to have been slight
stronghurghers column has crossed the
Tugela river at Colenso with the object
Of attacking the British Estcourt column.
Hunter Commanded the Party.
LONDON. Dsc s-Ths war ONCE tonight
issued the following dispatch from Gen.
Butler. dated Fresrs Camp. December Q.
afternoon:
The following was received from Gen.
White today:
"'IAst night sent Gen. Hunter with 800
Natal volunteers, under Roynston. and 100
Of the Imperial light horse, under Ed
wards. to surprise . gun on : hill The
entrprise was admirably carried out and
WAS entirely successful. the hill being cap
tured and six-inch gun and howttssr be-
fng destroyed with gun cotton. "A Maxim
was captured and brought to IAdysmith.
Our loM was one killed, and Maj. Hendsr-
son. Of the First battalion OF the Argyie
highlanders. wounded. At the Same tims
that Col. Knox seized the hill. one squad
ron Of the Nineteenth hussars rode around
Pepworth hill burning kraals and cutting
the telegraph lines. They had no casual
ties"
Fighting Resumed By Methaen.
LoURENzo MARoUEz. Dec. GA dis
patch from Pretoria, dated today. says:
Reports have been received hero Of tight
ing early this morning in the vicinity Of
Sohaltken, the British attacking Gen.
Cronje Fighting Is also reported to have
occurred in the direction Of Kimberley. 1t
is presumed this is another sortie.
The Dutch-German ambulance corps has
been enthusiastically received. and will be
divided between Natal and the Free State
frontier.
sIxepticaI of Victories.
Copyrighted. 1899, by the Associated Press
LONDON. Dec. s.--what with the grow
ing inclination to be skeptical over glorious
victories that leave the Beers able to fight
just as hard the next day. with tho still
virulent storm OF disapproval raining from
all quarters on Joseph Chamberlain be-
cause of his remarkable alliance speech,
and with the dawning realization OF the
difficulties which beset the task OF con-
auering the Beers and wipinE away Afri-
cander dissatisfaction. the position of tho
British government at home has been by
no means strengthened. A really decisive
victory compelling the Beers to vacate the
scene Of British operations, enabling the
British to achieve tho relief of Kimberley
or Ladysmith, would>quickly improve the
feeling. That all il not right Is feared
even among the governments stanchest
supporters. While awaiting such VIC (
tory as, by mere force OF numbers, II seems
must come, the feeling Of unrest Is bound
to increase. while the anxiety exhibited in
well-informed quarters that previously
spoke optimis.ically OF Cape loyalty, but
now regretfully admit widespread colonial
disaffection. is not likely to be allayed.
Cape Disansctioa Serious.
1t appears that the British forward move
ment Is retarded more by the political con-
dltions prevailing In the territory through
which the lines Of communication pass
than by the Beers. who hang like bull
dogs on the advancing fanls Military
critics during the past week have frequent-
ly observed that IL II Is necessary to pre-
serve the lines OF communication with
such large forces when operating In Brit
ish territory, It win be much more essen-
tial to do so when the head columns have
entered an avowedly hostile country.
That Ladysmith will be relieved. and
shortly, is now taken as a matter OF
course. though in the same breath 1t is ad-
mitted that decisive engagement must
be fought before this ~ accomplished.
Beers Careful Plans.
Nothing has been more prominently
brought out during the two months OF the
war than the fact that the Beers never
attack. as Gen. Garcia said last year Of
tho Cubans. With their wonderful nnobil-
ity. the Beers are enabled to take uD
one after another carefully sslectsd posi-
tions, in every instance daring tie Drttiah
generals to attack. and retiring altar In
nictIng severe loss. to other positions
equally good and apparently previously
prepared. If such tactics continue II seems
possible the relieving force viii reach
Ladysmith so crippled that an advance into
fhe TrausvaaI win b. suanoa~ihln IN thn