Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-12-08
His Railroad and Telegraph Com
munlcarlons Are Reported to
Have Been Severed.
JOUBERT WANTS TOExCHANGE
Beers are Using a Dynamite Gun
In the Bombardment of
Lddysmlth.

London, Dec. S-The war office has
just issued the following: mo fur
.ther news has arrived from General
Methuen today, but the following is
received from Orange River station:
"a railroad culvert was blown up near
Gras Pan this morning. Telegraph
also cut Guides report heavy firing
of guns toward the north" The
foregoing implies that Beers have cut
the line of communication behind
General Methuen who apparently is
now fighting.
Pretoria, Dec. 6.-Fighting com
menced near Modder River at G
o'clock this morning.
London, Dec. 8.-While nothing in
the latest messages from the British
camp at Modder River indicated an
advance it appears that Pretoria has
news that fighting was resumed We'd
nesday 1t is not shown, however,
whether General Methuen advanced
on the new position taken up by the
Beers or merely engaged in a recon
naissance in force
Reports were again current at
Orange River, December 5, that Mafe-
king had been relieved. 1t is known
through dispatches from Magalpye
that preparations were completed
there to advance in force November
Is, from Rhodesia for the purpose of
repairing the railroad line and restor.
ing communication with Colonel Ba-
den-Powell. The Beers, however,
were strongly entrenched near Cab
erones, midway between Magalapye
and Mafeking.
Reinforcements are rapidly arriving
at Sterkstroom to strengthen General
Gatacre, including much-needed artil
lery. Authorities expect the speedy
news of General Gatacre having taken
the offensive thus diverting a portion
of the Orange Free State forces now
obstructing the advance of General
Methuen.
A detachment of Cape police had -f
skirmish with Beers December 7,
near Indwe while General French re
ports important reconoitering Decem-
Der 6, from Naauwport showing pre-
parations to attempt to recapture
some British towns occupied by the
burghers, 81
( A war Office dispatch from General
Butler confirms the statement that
photographic communication has been
fully established with Ladysmith and
General Butler and General White are
comforting as to future movements.
The latest advices from Frere camp
show the bombardment of Ladysmith
was continued December T. A pneu.
matte dynamite gun on Umbulwana
hill commenced work. Free Staters
are reported to be looting Acton
Holmes on the way back to the Free
State border According to special
from Pretoria, General Joubert recent
ly proposed an exchange of prisoners,
especially Lady Sarah Wilson for a
Boer lady taken prisoner at Mafeking
Lady Wilson is an aunt of Winston
Churchill, and wife of G. o. Wilson, of
the Royal Horse Guards. She has
been acting In the double capacity OF
newspaper correspondent and red
cross nurse. Lady Wilson left Mafe
king on horseback with her maid as
sole companion, and was reported tc
have reached Setlagoli.
New York. Dec. 8.-A dispatch tc
the Herald from London gives the fol
lowing advices from Modder River:
1t is reported that serious dissensions
have broken out in the Boer camp be
tween the Transvaalers and the Free
Staters. General Cronje insists upor
putting Transvaal officers in command
of the Free State forces, and the latter
will not fight. Trustworthy native:
who escaped from the Beers states ht
drove Gen. Cronje and Head Com
mandant Vessels away in cart aftel
the battle of Modder River. The.
quarreled all through the journey
Vessels severely blamed the Trans
vaalers for not coming to the assist
ance of the Free Staters. Jacobsdah
is reported to be full of Free Stater
returning home because they do no
like the way the English are shooting