The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-12
TWO DECISIVE BATTLES
EXPECTED AT AN EARLY DAY BETWEEN
BRITISH AND B0ER ARMIES.
PREPARATIONS FOR ADVANCING
For Relief of Both Ladysmith and
kimberiey-General Butler With n
Former Army-GeneraI Methuen il
Again With His Command Roers
Massing for the Confficts-The Boer
Advance Into Cape Colony The SortIe
From Kimberley.


From Kimberley.
Londen. DecembesS. 5 a. m.-General
Buffers arrival at Frere is held 20 in
dictate that all the preparations for an
advance to the relief Of Ladysmith are
complete and shat stirring news will
be received. The fact that Lord
Methuen is announced as assuming his
command at almost the same moment
is interpreted in some quarters 10
mean that battles will be fought stimuli
~taneously in Natal and at Spyfontein.
Il appears doubtful. however. whether
General Methuen's force is yet ready
for what will eventually be a heavy
encounter.
The construction of the temporary
ed enormous labor. and even now the
structure is liable to be washed away
should a heavy storm come. General
Methuen has been obliged to move his
camp a mile north IN consequence Of
the ~unsanitary state of the stream, due
to the presence of the bodies of dead
Beers. AS the railroad bridge was
completely destroyed, he was compelled
to leave a considerable force TO pro-
tect his communication.
A special correspondent sends the
interesting information regarding Boer
tactics, that Commandant General
Joubert has given the general orders
to reserve fire until the British are
within the close range of 400 yards. AT
the Modder river battle the Free
C%@tz HAa-AA--
ed fire p~rematurely, thus revealing
their position and frustrated the Boer
plans.
The government has decided to dis
patch to South Africa at the earliest
possible moment. a cavalry brigade of
about 1000 men,.
London, December "A special dis
patch from Modder river says every
thing points TO the fact that a great
engagement will be fought at Spyfon-
tein. The Beers are massing on the
hills there, are vigorously building
stone defenseS and are digging rife
pits in every direction. The Beers re-
doubts on LaZaretto ridge, west of
Kimberley, are also being extended and
strengthened, showing that the rumora
of the intentions of the Beers to aban-
don the attempt to stem General Me-
thuen's advance are u~nfounded.
The British have shifted their camp
a few hundred yards away from the
battlefield and are settling down for a
week. There are some cases OF fever
among troops. Much depends on
General Gatacre's advance. There is
undoubtedly a large concentration of
Beers ahead of General Methuen. Prac-
tically the whole of their Mafeking
forces a w joined the Kimberley be-
SeigerS.
THE SORTIE AT KIMBERLEY.
An official account of the sortie at
Kimberley, November 2Sth, when the
British casualties, as cabled yesterday,
occurred, says:
The British demonstrated towards
Wimbledon rifle range The enemy's
guns were positioned from the ridge at
SpitZkOp to Wimbledon siding. Major
Scott-Turner, with the mounted troops,
attacked the enemy's flank, capturing
a lager and three redoubtS. The en-
envy, in a fourth redoubt, made a stub
born resistance, when Major Scott
Turner was killed. The British cap
tured man shells and destroyed other
stores"
The same dispatch gives reports from
Colonel Kekewich, dated December
3rd and 4th, showing the Beers were
increasing in numbers around Kimber-
ley.
BOER SUCCESS IN CAPE COLONY.
The Boer advance in the northeast
ern par of Cape Colony is becoming
remarkable. The local m are
Hooking to the Boer laagers, the towns
people, in many instances, welcoming
the invaders with every demonstrate
Of joy. The annexation Of British ter
ritory proceeds daily. The reported
Boer successes have made a great inn.
preston among the Basutos.
| London December THE war oYfcs
here has received the following mes.
sage from General Forrestier-Walker
the British commander at Cape Towr
dated December 9Th:
General Methuen wires today that h.
has resumed command and is nightly
in communication with Kimberley. Th'
health of the troop is excellent"
London, December THE
ment is made in a special dispatch from
Bloemfontein, dated Sunday, Dec. Bird
that President Steyn, of the Orang,
Free State, has joined the Boer force
at the Modder river. His appearance
the dispatch says, caused great enthu
siasm among the Beers.
LARYSMITH AND KIMBERLEY
SAFE.
Free Camp, Natal, December g.
rumor from Ladysmith today report
all well. The bombardment. the messen
ger ADDS, continues, but is inef ective
the Boer shells only hitting the houses
Kimberley, Monday, December 4, wi
Midder River.-Everything has bee
quiet here during the last three day.
The theatre and the convent have bee
fitted up as hospitals. A number @
u cattle have been captured by tn
enemy.
DECLARED A LUNATIC.
Tampa, Fla, December 1T cam
to light here today hat Julius Ellin