Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-12-07
Indications Point to a Big Fight
at Spytfonteln = President
Steyn on the Ground.
FARMERS FLOCKING TO BOERS
War In the Philippines Far Fro m
Ended-Coneresslonal and
Other News of the Day.

rent in Durham Tuesday that the
Beers had made their final effort to
capture Ladysmith on December 4
were defeated and had retreated. As
the story was brought by runners ii
should be received with reservation.
Dispatches from Frere camp par.
TALLY confirm the retirement of the
Free State burghers from the vicini
ty of Iadysmith but do not indicate
that the retreat was the result of a
defeat on the previous day, while the
same dispatch says the Boer guns
are still active. 1t is also pointed
out that all suggestions of weakening
refer to the Free Staters. Apparent
ly the Transvaal Beers are still full
of fight though it is reiterated they
are short of supplies.
Perhaps an explanation of the re
tirement of the burghers from Natal
can be found in dispatch from Mod
der River, December 3, saying a
strong Boer force estimated at 5000
is reinforcing General Cronje from
Natal. The same dispatch says
everything indicates that a great en-
gagement will be fought at Spytfon-
tein. Beers are massing on the hills
there and vigorously building stone
defenses and digging rife pits in
every direction. The Beers redoubts
on Lazaretto ridge west of Kimberly,
are also being extended and strength
ened, showing that the rumors of the
intentions of the Beers to abandon
the attempt to stem General Me
theun's advance are unfounded. The
British have shifted their camp few
hundred yards away from the battle
field and are settling down for week.
There are some cases of fever among
the troops. Much depends on Gener
doubtedly a large concentration OF
Beers ahead of General Metheun.
Practically the whole of their Mafe
king forces have joined the Kimberly
beseigers. The official account OF the
sortie at Kimberly November 2S,when
the British casualties as cabled yes
terday occurred says: "The British
demonstrated towards Wimbledon ri
fie range. The enemy's guns were
positioned from ridge at Spitzkop to
Wimbledon siding. Major Scott.
Turner, with mounted troops attack.
ed the enemy's right flank capturing
laager and three redoubts. The en-
emy in the fourth redoubt made 3
stubborn resistance, when Major
Scott-Turner was killed. The British
captured many shells and destroyed
other stores"
The same dispatch gives reports
from Col Kekewich, showing the
Beers are increasing in numbers
around Kimberly. The Boer advance
In the northwestern part of Cape Col
ony is becoming remarkable. Local
farmers are fiocking to the Boer laag
ers. The annexation of British ter
ritory proceeds daily. The war office
has been notified that the British had
five killed and 25 wounded in sortie
from Kimberly Nov. rs, including
three colonial officers. A special dis
patch from Lorenzo Marques says
President Kruger is prevented from
going to the front by the objections OF
members of the executive council
Mrs. Kruger is i'll.
London, Dec. THE war office re
ceived the following message from
General Forester Walker, British
commander of Cape Town: December
General Methuen wires today that
he has resumed command and is
nightly in communication with Kim
berly. The health of the troops is
excellent.
London, Dec. IA rumor on the
stock exchange here today that Lady
smith had been relieved caused bid
ding for South African securities.
Pretoria, Dec. 7-Official dispatch
ea received from different Boer sources
say all is quiet except at Kimberly
where an armored train made sortit
this morning
The Orange Free State has pro
claimed the annexation of Dordrecht
about SO miles north of Queenstown
Cape Colony.
Tugela bridge, 1t is announced, Il
so completely ruined that 1t will be {
work of great magnitude for eithel
of the belligerents to restore it. The
British fired on some Republican
scouts of Tugela this morning. NJ
casualties. A newspaper correspond
ent named Lynch who entered the
Boer mines at Ladysmith Monday
with the alleged purpose of exchang
ing newspapers, has been made a
prisoner and will be brought to Pre-
toFia.
London. Dec. 7.-Announcemen
is made in a special dispatch from
BIoemfontein. that President steyn
Of the Orange Free State. had ioineg
the Beer forcesat Modder River. Hi
appearance caused great enthusiasm
among the Beers.
Frere Camp. Natal, Dec IA run