The Portland daily press., 1899-12-26
Boer Story of Tugela
River Fight.
Five Hundred Prisoners Arrive
at Pretoria.


south Africa that would indicate AMI
obsnge In the military situation there.
The war office is isspipa lists of furthe
deaths aud wounds, as we'll as account.
of Sickness.
Four hundred British cavalry horses a,
Natal 10 10 said have already been shot
owing to the occurrences of CHAMBERS.
The disease is likely to spread with much
greater rapidity among the Bri tish
nurses than among the hardy Boer
ponies, and this may mean q oonsiderabl,
prolonsation OF the campaign.
A despatch from Chisvsley dated Tdes-
day, December 10. says;
"rhe British navy guns have destroyed
The Colsnso foot bridge, thus preventing 9
the Beers holding any position south Of
the Tugels river. The enemy are taking
up fresh positions on the eastern side,
nearer the British camp.
1.-THE British position at Frere 10 being
strengthened. The Tngela river 10 risin q
and there Is prospect of heavy rains.
has been heard from hers. According to
reliable native reports, the B ,ers had two
hundred killed In the fight at Colsnso."
I The nsws that the Colenso foot bridge
has been destroyed, seems TO show that
General Euller is more anxious to keep
the enemy at bay than TO attempt fur
thsr advance.
Despite the severity Of the censor ship.
hints are heing continually received Ct
the serious spread Of Dutch disatfection
In both th@ Q IesnEtowL2 district Of Cape
Colony and Natal
A Correspond ent OF the Daily Mail at
Pistermsritsberg, says; "Ths extent of
Dutch disaneotion should make ths i'm :
perial authorities realize the magnitude
OF the task before them."
There are unconfirmsd reports from
Cape Town that Gen. Sir Charles War
rem, commanding the fifth division has
returned taere.
Comnandant Dsmeillon, who was
taken prisoner at Elandslaagte and
broughs to Simonstpwn, where he was
confined on thu British cruiser Penelope
has succeeded in making his escape.
The Times this morning says; "We
are Informed that the governmsnt have
decided that IL IL not desirsbls TO max ,
further demands upon the European gar
rison in India unless unforeseen difficul
ties arisa :
An undated heliograph message from
Lady smith By way Of Pistermaritzburg.
represents the garrison as In no way
daunted by Gen. Bulier's reverse at
hold oat indsfi hitsly.
The mails are jast arriving from Lady
smith. All the correspondents comment
bitterly upon the superiority of the Bosr
ARTILLERY. The Times correspondent
says: sit is impoasible to evsde the
opinion that, II British gunners were in
the Boer positions. ths loss OF life and
da mage 20 property In Ladysmith would
be- ten times sfester."
Ths holidays tave brought no sure case
I'd Aiwyns frederick Compton,
u. onist member Of parliament or Big
gleswade division of BsdtoTdshire, will
Salisbury's private secretary, Me. Schop-
berg Mcdonnell, VINO IL q volunteer offi-
Ger, has volunteered for service.
The action OF the United States govern
ment causes considerable discussion re-
garding the contrabani question as
affecting Delagoa Bay and Portugal.
The Daily Graphic In an editorial on
the subject, says; 1--WE believe that every
provision has besn made In British
treaties with the United States for deal
ing with this matter. In this special cir
Gu instance OF the present war, the govern
ment ie b3und TO regard food as CONTRA
band. No doubt the question can be sat-
isfactorily settled by paying compense-
tion for the seizures Of Amsrloan hour.
The question Of neutrality, however, ia
more serious and Great Britain's duty IL
to have the Loursnso Marques Trnnsvaal
railway watched BY capable agents and
to warn Portugal that she will be held
liable In damages for assistance to the
Boers by means of the railway"
The Morning Post on the contrary
argues that the government would be
made to treat faod sas contrabznd as
"such action would play into the hands
Of all possible future enemies Of Great
Britain"
1t admits, however. that steps should
be taken and money expended to search
vessels aud to prevent munitions Of war
the Transvaal by way OF Portu-
guess territory.
Ths Standard says: owe do not doubt
that this matter Is receiving the govern
msnt's serious attention. As the
develops II may become necss-
iary TO seize the railway at omati
Poort."
1 The first batch Of Boer prisoners has
arrived In England. Ii IL announced that
the government has accepted another
offer Of squadron Of Canadian rough
riders