Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-11

dfecht 10 cooperate WIN Gdtdcle'
THE railway bridge at Modder river
was completed December LIST.
"Methuen reports he made demon
stTation w the line OF the railway nj
daylight today with artillery. The en-
envy did not respond. Me,huen Is re-
ceiVlne the remainder OF his reinforce
ments and supplies. lie has established
detachment posts on his line Of COM
munication.
"Mafekins reports all well on No
vember Goth"
The Pretoria reports Of renewed
fighting at Modder river originated
from the fact that the British, with a
team OF thirty-two oxen, hauled a ma
val gun to the top OF high ridge north
OF Modder river town. whence they
fred lyddlte shells on the Boer posi-
tlon at range OF 500 yards where
the enemy was apparently constructing
an emplaccment for q forty FOUNDER.
| The lyddlte shells appeared 10 do i'm
mense damage. The Beers retired but
| the incident Is interesting as showing
that the Beers are still In position quite
close to Modder river The engineers
report that II would take two months
to rebuild the iron bridge
Lord Methuen Is still compelled 20
ride about In a dog cart as his wound
/ prevents him going on horseback
should the rains destroy the temporary
| bridge there Is enough rolling stock
on the north side of the river to serve
/ Lord Methuen's purpose.
II Is reported that the Beers are busy
| making intrenchments at Spytfonteln.
Several tiers Of works are beginning to
appear at the foot of the heights The |
fnr.a fred on Hv the naval tsun ie no
| lieyed to form the right wing OF the
| enemy's main body. thrown forward
for patrolling and scouting purposes
| il Is reported that the bad water al
Spytfonteln threatens an epidemic OF
/ typhoid
A dispatch from Capetown TO the
Daily Mail dated Thursday. December
| It'll. says: News that Chiefs Khama.
| Linchwe. Bathoen and Secheli, with
| their people In Bechuanaland, have
risen to attack the Beers seriously COM
| plicates the situation. II Is probable
| that the Basutos and other tribes will
follow their example"
Another CapetOwn dispatch dated
| Saturday, December 9th. says 1T Is
rumored here that the Beers attacked
Kimberley at close quarters last night
but were repulsed with heavy losses"
A special dispatch from Ladysmith
by way Of Frere addressed TO the war
Office, adds TO the account cabled Sat
urday OF the capture OF the Boer guns
near Pepworth Hill, II says:
Cen Brocklehurst with cavalry and
artillery, recOnnoitered In the direction
ofPepworth hin with a view Of cutting
OF the Boer retreat but he found the
position stlll strongly held. The eigh-
.lt..I 4 Il
a. furious fire and suffered heavily. los
Ing four killed and seventeen wounded.
"The Beers fired incessantly as the
British slowly retired. At a special
parade afterward Gen. White thanked
Gen. Hunter and all engaged. especial
~ Mai Henderson. for brilliant work"
Two shallow draught river gunboats
are being PREPARED az Chatham for
service ln South Africa. Each will
carry two slx-pounders, quick-hrers,
and four MaXlms
Frere Camp, Natal Dec. l0,-Hello-
graphic communication with Lady
smith continues daily. Gen. Schalk-
burger and Commandant Louis Botha
are 10 command Of the Boer forces in
vcsting Ladysmith. Their horses are
said TO be- In p1nr condition.
A heavy report was heard In the
direction Of COlens0 today The sound
was followed by big cloud Of smoke.
The supopsltion Is that the enemy has
blown up the highway bridge.
The Tmnsvaal government has de-
cided 10 consider Winston Churchill.
who was captured November 10Th be-
tween Estcourt and Cheyielev a COM
blatant officer, and TO retain him as
prisoner Mr.. Churchill has applied to
Gen. Butler with a view Of getting an
exchange.
This has been Que, day here. The
health Of the troops is excellent
East Liverpool O.. Dec. lO.-Friends
In this city Of Charles f. Macrum, I'M
III recently United States consul at
Pretoria, says he is returning TO this
country with important information
for the state department, which he was
unwilling to risk cabling. His letters
concluslvely prove that not only VAS
Macrum not persona non grata TO the
Transvaal governmentbut that he was
on the best possible personal terms with
President Kruger. Cabling could only
be done over a line controlled IN part
By England II Is believed the informa-
ton brought by Macrum is from Presl-
dent Kruger, and the purpose Is TO IN
itlate measures TO bring the war to
close on honorable terms to the Dutch
republic.
London. Dec 1O.-The earl OF Dun
raven, lord lieutenant OF Limerick
acting under instructions from Dublin
castle has removed from the office or
deputy lieutenant Of the county Baron
Emily, who was recently removed from
his position as magistrate by LORD ASH
bourne. lord chancellor Of Ireland, be-
cause Of his antl-British comments on
the war in South Africa.
New York. Dec ia dispatch TO
the Tribune from London says:
The British forces In South Africa
have met with signal defeat, This
sensational news was officially an
nounced from the war Office at mid
night Gen. Gatacre admitting that he
| had met with a serious reverse In an
attack yesterday morning on storm
berg IN Northern Cape Colony. The
British general says he was misled Dy
guides as TO the Boer position, ana
found "impracticable ground Appar-
tnuN ne was caught ~ az dhDNoH' -
his casualties as al present known are
Alarming. The numbers Of dead and
wounded cannot be considered excess
slye IN the circumstances, but the enor-
nous numbers reported missing suggest
that the engagement must not have
been unlike that Of Nicholson's Mex,
when Gen. White lost SO heavily.
Gen. Methuen's army Is known 10
have been heavily reinforced at Mod
der river with Infantry, cavalry and
artillery. while Gen. Wauchope's High
land brigade has largely increased the
number OF bayonets available for 'front.'
al attack. The necessity for this costly
method Of warfare has been obviated
BY the presence OF a full brigade Of cav
| airy commanded by Gen. Darlington.
This brigade includes three regiments
Of cavalry and strong body OF proVin.
rN,ro ,.,u.fffl hoffariag Of