Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1899-12-16
GEN. METHUEN IN COMMAND
KIMBERLEY IN HIS REACH
hocrS Are Said to BE Leaving the Nm
tai for Modder River with presi.
dent Stcyn at the Front-Boers Are.
Obtaining strong FoothoId iD
Cape Colony.

London, Dec. 9.-The war office has re.
ceived the following message f. ON General
Forestier-Walker, the British commander
at Cape Town:
General Methuen wires that he has re-
sumed command and is nightly in COM
munieation with Kimberley. The health OF
the troops Is excellent
y stony was current at Durham Deem.
Der 5 to the effect that the Beers made
wEat 1t is thought to have been their final
effort to capture Ladysmith December 4,
and were defeated and retreated. The
story was brought by runners and should
be received with reservation.
According to dispatch from General
Schalkburger's lager, dated December 3,
French and Austrian military attaches bad
arrived there, while the German attaches
had gone to join the Boer forces ong the
Tugelar river, where the collision was mo-
mentdr1ly expected. Perhaps an eXplana-
ton OF the retirement of the bmghers from
Natal can be found IN dispatch from
Modder river December 7, saying that q
strong Boer force, estimated at 5000 men.
was reinforcing General Cronie from
Natal. The same dispatch says every
thing points to the fact that great en-
gagement would be fought at Spytfontein.
Beers are massing on the hills, where
they are vigorously building stone defenses
and are digging rifle pits in every direc-
| ton. The Boer redoubts on Llzeretoe
ridge, west of Kimberley, are also being
extended and strengthened, showing that
the rumors OF intentions of the Beers to
abandon the attempt to stem Methuens
! advance are unfounded.
The British have shifted their camp O
few hundred yards away from the battle
field and are settling down for the week.
There are some cases of fever among the
camps Much depends on Gatacre's ad.
vance. There is undoubtedly large CON
centration OF Beers ahead of Methuen.
Practically the whole OF their AIafeking
forces have joined the Kimberley besieg-
ers. Official dispatches give reports from
Colonel kakewich, December B and j.
showing that the Beers were increased in
numbers around Kimberley.
The Boer advance in the northeastern
part OF Cape Colony is becoming remark
able. Local farmers are tlocking to the
Boer laagers, the townspeople IN many
! instances welcoming the invaders with
every demonstration Of Joy. The annexa-
ton OF British territory proceeds daily.
Reported Boer successes have made
great impression among the Basutos
Advices from Pretoria say the govern
ment has allowed two cable messages 10
reach Winston Churchill.
The mint at Pretoria is coming 100000
sovereigns monthly.
Steyn Joins the Troops.
The announcement is made in special
/ dispatch from Boemfontein, dated Sun
| day, December 3, that President Steyn
OF the Orange Free State has joined the
Boer forces on Modder river. His appear
ance the dispatch says, caused great en-
thusiasm among the Beers. 1t is report
ed from Orange river that l97 dead Beers
were taken to kailrskop after the bat
| tie of Belmont.
Frere Camp, Natal, Dec. GA rumor
from Ladysmith reports all we'll The
bombardment, the message adds, continues,
| but is ineffective, the Boer shells only hit