The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-22

stand at Stormberg- Their Position
at Modder River Strongly Fortified.
General French Retreats-D isloyaIty
of Cape Colony Boers-British VOlun-
teers-NoveI Way of Communicating
London, December 20 "A Cape Town
dispatch, dated Saturday, December
18th says Five hundred colonists of
the Victoria West district have perfect
ed an apparently anti-Britisb organi-
zation there and, as individuals, have
openly expressed disloyalty and have
threatened to attack the railroad sta
tion, which is on the direct line between
Cape Town and De Aar. The Afrikan-
der bundites, at meeting There, pass
ed a resolution asserting that the troops
in the vicinity irritate the farmers dan
gerously. The meeting proclaimed it's
loyalty, but declared the conduct OF the
troops forced the people to use express
sions and commit acts which were "a
pable of being interpreted as disloyal.'
London, December 21.-The Daily
News has the following dispatch from
Cape Town dated Saturday, December
18th: THE Beers intend to make a
big stand at Stormberg, and are mass
ing a great force at the abandoned
British camp. One commando of 1000
consists Chiefly of rebel Dutch
The Madrid correspondent of Tire
Standard says: 1.-The Boer govern
ments have recently intimated to their
agents i'm Europe their readiness to be
moderate in regard to peace conditions.
1.-THE chief anxiety CT the burghers
is as to the question of receiving sup
plies by way of LourenZo Marques.
London December 21.,4:45 a. M
The gravity of the military situation
is again becoming accentuated in the
public mind, owing to the complete alb
sence of news. Nothing has been heard
from Lord Metheun since Sunday, and
it lis feared that his communications
have been cut. 1t this be so, his posi-
ton is dangerous.
A correspondent of The Daily
News telegraphing from Modder
river last Saturday says: "The
BOer position, already formidable on
December 11th, has since been greatly
strengthened, extending for an area of
twelve miles. 1t is entrenched accord
throughout it's entire length; wire
fences have been placed before all the
trenches at every point; guns have been
got into position, and there is every
evidence that the Beers are Well sup
piled with ammunition. Only a pow
erful attacking force can hope to make
a successful assault
The latest dispatches received seem
to show THAT the British forces are
standing ON the defensive at all points.
General Butler is ordering the troops
NOW arriving at Cape Town to proceed
to Dunbar to reinforce the Natal coll
unn. Absence of news from him has
lea to surmise that he is trying to
join General White by a flank move
ment.
THE BRITISH VOLUNTEERS.
The appeals for yeomanry and vol
unteers are being responded to with
the greatest enthusiasm in ali parts or
the country. Lord Wellesley proposes
THAT the force being raised by the lord
mayor Of London be called the City
OF London Imperial Volunteers" The
government expects the total of yeo-
ma.nry volunteers to reach 5000. Baron
Gresham will command, with Lord
Lonsdale aS adjutant general.
The papers are now generally join
ing in free criticism OF the government
and the war Office, as day by day fresh
proofs of unpreparedneSs come to light.
Special stress is laid upon the failure
to provide proper transports, which
compels the columns to stick tight to
RAILWAYS and upon the inferiOrity OF
the British artillery.
The Australian colonies are respond
ing eagerly to the imperial govern
ment's appeals for second comtingents.
One of the results Of the coaa famine
in the Sheffield district, indirectly arls-
ing out OF the war, is that several i'm
portant steel firms are not able to get
coal. even from their own coilieries
few miles distant. They will sue the
railway companies for non delivery or
COAL One of the great armor plate
works has shut down partially
Revised lists Of the British casual
ties at the battle OF Colenso show that
1877 were killed.
A special dispatch from Durham. Ma
tad, dated Saturday, December 18th
says it is rumored that General Butler
| called for volunteers to recover tine
abandoned guns and that a party is
| sued from the camp after midnight and
| brought in the guns which were unin-
| jured.
/ 1t stiu seems doubtful whether the
| guns that General Butler abandoned
at Colenso are IN the possession or tne
Beers. According to 0iSpatcn 10 Tue
| Associated Press from Durham sent on
| on the evening CT the battle and which
| has Just been received here, the gums
remain where theV were left by t :
| British troops ana were covered by the
heavy guns Of General Hfldyard's bri-
| gade occupying an intrenched position
The dispatch adds that the Boers have
thus far not attempted to Cross the
| river and carry OF the guns, while ad-
| %tsa dhaH
Pretoria, under the same date say that
an official Boer dispatch reports that
two gums, thirteen wagons and guam
tity OF ammunition were captured be-
| sides 20S prisoners.
GENERAL FRENCH RETREATS.
The war Office reports that General
| French reconnoitered northward OF
Arundel Monday, December 18th. Al
ter shelEng Jasfontein farm. three