The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-07

White Holding His Own, but Subject
ed to Heavy Fire.

ed to Heavy Fire.
LONDON, Dec. GA budget of news
from Ladysmith. which arrived to-
leasured garrison UP to Nov. %. In spite OF
the rumors of a retrograde movement OH
the part of the Beers the stories just re-
ceived show that the garrison, although still
strong, was suffering from confinement, re-
stricted diet and the increasing volume of
the Boer artillery fire. especially that of
additional heavy caliber gun placed in
position 5000 yards from the western de-
fenses. The dispatches relate that the Beers
had discovered the most vulnerable points
Of the garrison and that shelling was be-
coming disagreeably effective. The rations
had been reduced and there was a great
deal of sickness Nevertheless, the troops
OF the garrison were in every way prepar-
ing to meet the assault which it
icipated the Beers would carry out in a
final effort to reduce the city. The belief
was current in Ladysmith that the Beers
were preparing for a retrograde movement
after another attack. Several bodies of
burghers were reported to have been seen
Nov. % moving in the direction of the
Drakensburg range, while on Nov. % de-
tachnnents were observed journeying north
ward with wagons. Discord between the
Transvaalers and Free Staters was also re-
ported. There was no indication, however,
that the Beers were preparing to dismantle
their gun position, but that idea was
prevalent in some quarters Of Ladysmith
that the continued shelling of the place
was intended to cover the retirement of
9TH a. n
frontiers.
a dispatch from Pretoria, dated Dec. 2.
via Lourenzo Marquee, Monday. Dec. 4, an
rounces that a Boer council OF war was
planning a renewed assault on Ladysmith.
The dispatch says: General Joubert is
indisposed and has arrived at volksrust,
across the Transvaal border, for medical
treatment. A dispatch from the head
laager, where Colonel Schalkburger is in
supreme command during the absence of
General Joubert. announces that a council
OF war was held Dec. 2 with reference to
assaulting Ladysmith. The state attorney
has arrived at the camp to advise the Boer
| commanders. Everything is quiet at Lady
smith. Dispatches from the west report
that there was a heavy artillery duel at
Mafeking during the morning of Dec. 2.
All is quiet at Kimberley. Comfortable
wood and iron houses have been erected at
Waterfall, a few miles from Pretoria, for
| the rank and file of the British prisoners.
Count Devile lie Blois. a colonel In the
| French army, has joined the Transvaal
| forces as an authorized military attache."
The War Office has received the following
from General Butler, dated Pietermaritz-
burg. Dec. S: 'It is very difficult to make
any statement in regard to the enemy s
| loss. For instance, at Belmont eighty
| one Of their dead were accounted for. The
| enemy gave fifteen as the number killed.
There is every reason to believe that the
| enemy's loss at Ladysmith, Nov. 8, was
over 500 killed and wounded. Information
from trustworthy Boer source shows that
| in Hildyard's fight, Nov. q, the enemy lost
thirty killed and and 100 wounded. 1t is
impossible to say how far these numbers
are correct, but it is evident the enemy
does not admit tenth of the losses suf-
fered. Intercepted dispatches to Joubert
from commander show that even the
official dispatches contain decidedly mac
curate information in this respect"
A dispatch from Pretoria. dated Dec. 3,
reports that in Colonel Lord Dundonald's $
| reconnaissance near Colenso fifteen Beers
were killed and many wounded. The road
bridge across the Tugela river is intact
The same message reports that President
Kruger Is anxious that the burghers leave
| Ladysmith in order to oppose the British
marching in the direction of Pretoria from
| the west.
"A dispatch from Ladysmith. dated Mon
day, Nov. q, says: Have plenty of food,
water and ammunition