Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-27
KITCHENER ENRoUTE
British Naval aGnns Commune Tho
whole Boer Position ut NIoddor
River sioncrnt Ioubort. Roor
Comn,andor.iI,.Ch chief. Returns TO
chs Front All ihuon VIII Remain
stationary Three Weeks Longer
Big Reserve Force
(By Telegraph to virglnian- Pilot)

Modder River. Cape Colony, We'd
nesday, Dec. 20.-The British naval
guns command the whole Boer posi-
ton and possess the exact range OF
every stone and bush. They frequently
plant shells with good advantage in
the midst pr groups Of Beers.
The burghers are reported to be re-
turning home flor Christmas.
Recent arrivals from Jacobsdal re-
port that, Notwithstanding the Boer
successesS the Free Staters do not ex-
pect ultimate victory. They com
plain of the overbearlng conduct of
IS General Cronje's men, who are alleged
Ito Abe better fed and posted in the
(, safest positions.
The Thansvaalers do not conceal
their suspicious Of the possible de-
lection OF the Free Staters, and
threaten>rto shoot them at the least
sign of waverlng.
the subsection to the Transvaal as
more to be feared than subsection to
4 Great Britain. -t
SITUATION UNCHANGED.
4 London, Dec 26.-The War ONCE has
received the following dispatch from
Cape Town. dated December 25th, say
ing:
There is no change In the situation
at AIodder River. General Methuen Is
we'll entrenched and the Beers have
not disturbed him.
General Getacre reports that n
force Of $50 police has occupied DQrd-
recht, the Beers retreGting with no
loss"
.. AMERICAN MULES.
London, Dec. Pa cable dispatch
from Cape Town, dated Wednesday,
December goth, says that CHAMBERS has
broken out among the American mules,
of which there are 1100 at the Stallen-
bosche. Remount farm. Twenty-sX OF
the mules have been destroyed and 76
have been isolated. The dispatch says
sedition is spreading in Cape Colony.
Three members of the Cape Parliament
are alleged to be implicated, and one
of them is said to have presented n
Free State flag to q BoerN commander,
at the same time expressing the hope
that he would carry it to glory and
victory Another member of Parlia-
ment Is said. to be recruiting for the
Beers. In addition wealthy farmers are
now aiding the invaders.
KITCHENER IINRoUTE.
Gibraltar, Dec. 2s-Generai Lord
Kitchener has arrived here from Egypt.
JOUBERT AT THE FRONT.
Pretoria, Monday. Dea. 1s.-General.
Joubert has recovered and returned to
the front to-day
There We're special services yester-
day in the different laagers as thanks
giving for the victories of Colenso,
stormberg and Modder river.
BRITISH CAPTURE SCHOONER.
Durham, Dec. 1e.-(Tuesday)-The
Norwegian bark Regina, from Java,
loaded with stretchers and railway
sleepers, has been captured near Della
goa Bay and brought here by the Brit
ish second-class cruiser Forte.
BRITISH LOSSES.
London. Dec. 26-The War Office has
received dispatch from Pietermaritz-
burg, tNatal, dated Sunday, December
"a, announcing that in an engagement
at Ladysmith, December %, Major A.
J. King, Captains Wathen and Cakes.
Lieutenant Hulze and Lieutenant Colo
mel Fawcett were wounded and that
nine non commissioned officers and men
were killed and ten wounded This en-
gagement had not been recorded before
this.
JADYSMITH BOMBARDED.
The Beers heavily bombarded Lady
smith for couple Of hours December
is. the dry 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 General French at
5 Nauuwpoort. were in a tight corner,
December IS. They were nearly sur
rounded by Beers and retired under a
hall of bullets fired at short range. but
sustained only little loss.
Among the Beers killed at Stormbers
were many Of the locality who had
Joined the Orange Free State forces.
Several newspaper correspondents hay
& returned to Cape Town from the Modder
River apparently confirming the belief
: that an immediate advance OF the Brit
2 ish is projected.
MBTHUENs STATIONARY.
London, Dec. 2e.-The Cape Town cor
respondent Of the Daily News, tele-
3 graphing Wednesday, December 20,
says:
"Lorn Methuen, understand. intends
to remain at Modder River about three
s weeks longer.
BIG RESERVE FORCE.
From Boer sources, hitherto sIngu-
harry well informed. learn that there
Z are eight thousand European officers
s and men skilled In modern military tao
tacs, rticularly !liery, now In Pres
Il eorfas rs reserve. Us Il 4 y ". b. K;
Dur administrative onictal In the
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