Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1899-12-28
FAITH IN GEN. BUTLER.
His Soldiers Are Determined to
indicate Him.
THE BOER POSITION VERY STRONG.
SO Described by Winston Churchill, Who
Reached cheiyeley Camp-Another Dis.
patch Told Of His Remarkable Escape
From the Boers-other war News

LONDON. Dec. 28.-The war office here
received dispatch from Cape Town,
dated Dec 2G, which contained the fol-
lowing:
There is no change in the situation
Methuen reports that the enemy force
has increased and is engaged IN en-
trenehing three and half miles frem
his outlying piekets.
"Methuen reconnoitered with two
squadrons Of mounted infantry for two
miles along tue line and drew the FIRE of
four guns AMI two Vickers machine
guns. Four horses were hit
1.-The queens Christmas message was
received with enthusiasm.
"Gatacre is endeavoring to reopen
communication with the Indwe collier.
les
GIBRALTAR, Dec % The British
steamer Dunottar Castle. having on
board General Lord Roberts OF Kanda
har, commander-ln-chie of the British
forces in South Africa. arrived here
General Sir II. Kitchener. who came
came from Egypt to join General Rob.
erts as his chiefof staff, embarked on
board the Dunottar Castle and the yes
sci sailed for Cape Town.
LONDON, Dec 28.~-The Morning Post
received the following from Mr.. Church.
i'll, under date of Dec. 26. telegraphed
from Chieveley camp, where he has ar
rived: "All ranks have confidence in
Sir Redvers Butler, and there is stern
determination to succeed next time al
all costs. A painful impression was
caused by the announcement of the
change of COMMANDERS III chief and
the soldiers here are resolved to vindi.
cate their trusted leader.
1.-THE situation, nevertheless. is diff
cult, the Boer position being one of ex
traordinary strength, with high hills.
lined tier ON tier with trenches and gal
leries, rising from an almost unfordable
river and with smooth plain N front
''The enemy have all the ranges
marked and many powerful guns domi
nate the various points of the river.
while the drifts are commanded by con
verging musketry fire from probably
$4,000 Beers. There are Is miles of
wild. broken country before reaching
Lady which demands early re.
lief. =
The Morning Post published dis
patch from Winston Spencer Churchill,
who went to Durham, describing his es
cape from Pretoria, where he was a
prisoner of the Beers. The dispatch,
which was dated Lourenzo Marques,
Dec. p, contained the following:
..On the afternoon of Dec. 70 the
Transvaals secretary of war informed
me that there was little chance of my
release. / therefore resolved to escape,
and the same night | left the State
school prison i'll Pretoria by climbing the
wall when the sentries' backs were
turned momentarily. / walked through
the streets of the town without disguise,
meeting many Burghers, but was not
challenged in the crowd. | got through
the pickets of the town guards and
struck the Delagoa bay railroad. /
walked along it, evading the watchers
at the bridges and culverts and waited
for train beyond the first station. The
1920 goods train from Pretoria had ar
rived before | reached the place and
was moving at full speed. boarded it
with great difficulty and hid under coal
sacks. jumped from the train before
dawn and was sheltered during the day
in small wood, in company with
huge vulture, who displayed a lively in
terest in me.
Il walked on at dusk. There were no
more trains that night. The danger of
meeting the guards Of the line contin
ued, but was obliged to follow it as
had neither compass nor map. had to
make wide detours to avoid bridges,
stations and huts, and SO my progress