The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-27


ample at Athara Bridge. Will they even
now apply to American factories?"
The Times edltorially attacks the ad-
ministration of the war office, calling
attention to correspondence disclosing
glazing defects and declaring that the
British army is being better manned
for the benefit of the war and not of
nation.
Dispatches from various points indi-
cate the steady growth of Dutch dis
affection. The Cape Town correspond
ent of the Daily Chronicle reports the
discovery of plot to connive at the
escape of British prisoners.
The Times advises that the stern
treatment of the disaffected Dutch col
onists charged with treason is having a
very marked effect.
The Sixteenth Lancers will go to
South Africa from India at the special
request of Lord Roberts, even after the
government had decided that no more
troops should be withdrawn from India.
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Daily News telegraphing Dec. 20, says:
Lord Methuen, l understand, intends
to remain at Modder river about three
weeks longer. From sources hitherto
singularly well informed 1 learn that
there are 5000 European officers and men
skilled in modern military tactics now
in Pretoria as a reserve
Lord Somerset writes to the Times,
urging the seizure of Lourenzo Mar
ques and its retention, if necessary, I'M
til the end of the war, in order to pre-
vent the landing of war munitions for
the Beers.
The transport Tantallon Castle has
| arrived at Cape Town with a number
OF howitzer and quick-firing guns. The
recruiting of British colonists is active
ly proceeding Thirty thousand are
already under arms, and severafthou-
sands more will be added Dispatches
from Modder River, dated Thursday,
Dec. q, report that intermittent firing
was continued on both sides, although
the Beers held the fort. A number
of Free State burghers surrendered.
There is an Lnconfirmed report that
the picket was cut off near Belmont.
1t is also asserted that the fever is
raging among the Beers.
The tests of wireless telegraphy at
Modder River was highly successful
Six Marconi instruments, intended for
the Beers have been seized at Cape
Town. A dispatch from Chievely camp,
dated Thursday, Dec. 81, says Lyddite
shells are being thrown into the Boer
camp to prevent them working at the
AASliSllCS. L ne 4lIlLS VI UlS guns is
heard daily from all sections of the
country.
A dispatch from Modder River says
that notwithstanding the Boer sue
cesses, the Free Staters do not expect
ultimate victory. They complain of
the overbearing conduct of Gen. Cron-
je's men, who are alleged to be better
fed and posted in the safest positions.
The Transvaalers do not conceal their
suspicious of the possible detection of
the Free Skaters, and threaten to shoot
! them at the least sign of wavering.
The Free Staters are declared to re-
gard subsection to the Transvaal as
more to be feared than the subsection
of Great Britain.
The Beers bombarded Ladysmith
heavily for a couple of hours Dec. 16,
the day after the battle Of Tugela river,
but little damage was done. They killed
one man and wounded two men of the
garrison.
Advices from Cape Town say the New
Zealanders, with Gen. Frank, at Naa-
uwpoort, were in tighr corner Dec.
10. They were nearly surrounded by
Beers and retired under a hail of bull
let's, fired at short range, but sustained
| only little loss.
Three members of the Cape Parlia-
ment are said to have presented a Free