The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-28
PLANS ANOTHER ATTACK
Butler Believed to Be Con tenn
plating Forward Movement.
ALL WELL AT LADYSMITH
Heliograph Dispatches Indicate That the
Beseiged Town Is in No Immediate
Danger-Boers Are Strength
ening Their Positions

London, Dec. 2s, 4:3O a. m.-Winston
Churchills arrival at Chieveley camp is
perhaps responsible for some overcolor-
ing of the gravity of the situation, but
all of to-day's news conveys the i'm
preston that Butler may be intending
another attack upon the Boer posi-
ton.
Certainly, the Beers are not inactive.
At both Modder river and the Tugela
they are said to be strengthening their
forces and extending defense works.
most impregnable.
ing accurate information, cores
pondent of the Daily News at Cape
Town, under date of Dec. 21, announces
that General Butler is coming to Cape
Town to meet Sir Charles Warren and
then both will go to Modder river. AS
five battleships of General Warren's 5th
division are said to have gone to Natal,
his arrival at Pietermaritzburg seemed
natural
Dispatches from Chieveiey indicate
that General Buffers forces will re-
mobilize at Frere before attempting
another advance. Doubtless he would
be glad to retrieve the Colenso reverse
he is hardly likely to attempt another
frontal attack. It is more likely that
he is preparing to strike, should the
Beers make any offensive movement.
Mr. Churchills reference to Lady
smith may imply that the situation of
the garrison is more desperate than had
been supposed The Beers continue
| fortifying the hills commanding the
town. General White, however, tele-
graphs that all was well in Ladysmith
on Dec. g.
Competent military critics in London
regard the campaign as a complete
deadlock for the present, owing to the
dispersal of the British forces and for
| the lack of adequate transportation
facilities 1t will be several weeks be-
| fore Lord Roberts Is able to reorganize
| and make an effective movement.
| The Boer trench work is so good that
| it enables the enemy to hold a long
| line with very few men and to travel
great distances under perfect cover. so
| as rapidly to reiin&lGe any point ct
| tackled
| The Times, which comments editorial
| ly upon the severe strain, says;> 1T is
| difficult to avoid the conclusion that
our troubles are due to the unreally
| of the presumably practical lessons
| given in the maneuvers at Aldershot."
Dispatches from Modder river repre-
|
west at growing very serious In some
| towns the entire Dutch population has
| joined the Beers
The rebels have formed a laager at
| point about so miles west of Mod
/ der river camp.
| 1t is also announced that the Beers
| have raised the siege of kuruman and
| have all Withdrawn to Magersfontein
| A Cape Town correspondent of the
| Times, under date of Dec. 20, says
| Anxiety regarding the attitude of the
colonial Dutch is steadily growing.
| They make no effort to conceal their
sympathy with the two republics and
the only question now Is whether, if
! the military situation is not changed,
they will keep from open rebellion.
Even in districts that have not been
visited by the Beers, in the eastern part
! of the province, the Dutch farmers are
riding about armed. This is the case
also in districts only so miles from
! Cape Town, where a seditious move
| ment is busily propagated. The Brit
| ish forces are inadequate to guard
| 1000 miles of communications"
A dispatch to the Times from Mafe-
king, dated Monday, Dec. II, says that
Lady Frances Wilson, who was cap
! tured by the Beers while acting as cor
respondent for London paper, has ar-
| rived there having been exchanged for
| Viljohn, notorious horse thief and
convict