Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-26

paign Horse sickness in South Africa
generally appears during the latter part
IF January and lasts three months. The
present outbreak is unusually early:
Gen. Butler on the Defensive.
\ dispatch from Chieveley, dated Tues
lay. December 10. says:
The British naval guns have destroyed
the Coleuso foot bridge, thus preventing
ne Beers holding any position south of
the Tugcia river The enemy are taking
az, fresh positions on the eastern side near
or the British camp.
The British position at Frere is being
-tr-ust Grned. The TugeIa river is rising,
and there * 4 prospect of heavy rains.
a tW0-hpur bombardmeut OF Lady
smith has been heard from here Accord
ing To- reliable native reports, the Beers
bad 1iA killed in the fight at Colenso.
The news that the Coienso foot bridge
has been destroyed seems to show that
-, n. I:ul'r is more anxious to keep the
'-r"Tny NJ bay than to attempt further
.f,IvIncs-
Despite tho severity of the censorship
liuIS are heing continually received of the
serious spread Of Dutch disaffectiOn in both
~" Gu enstowu district of Cape Colony
ami Natal y correspondent of the Daily
Mail al I'ietrrmar;tzburg SAYS:
Eth eNt'-it, OF Dutch disaffection should
max" tn" imperial authorities realize the
magnitude Of the task before them
There are Uncontlrmed reports from Cape
Town That Gen Sir Charles Warren. COM
inan@InS H. NTH division, has returned
there.
Command mt Demeillon. who was taken
prisoner - ElandsIaaSte and brought to
SInonstuw,i- where he was confined
The Eritis- cruiser Penelope, has succeed
ed in makiE. his escape.
The Times this morning makes the fol-
lowing announcement:
We are informed that the government
has 6tcldr,l that it is not desirable to make
further demands upon the European gar
rISnu in India, unless Unforeseen difficulties
arise.
Ladysmith Garrison Indaunted.
An un"ated heiograph message from
LadySmith, by way Of Pietermaritzburg,
repreS. uts the garrison as in no way daunt-
eli by ecu Buffers reverse at Coleuso and
a. confd, Mt of being able to hold out in
definitely
The. mails are just arriving from Lady
smith III the correspondents comment
bitterly upon the superiority of the Boer
artillery
The Times correspondent says:
1t Is impossible to evade the opinion
that If British gunners We're In the Boer
positions the loss of life and damage to
property in Ladysmith would be ten times
greater.
The holidays have brought no surcease of
recruiting activity. Lord Alwyne Frederick
Compton, unionist member of parliament
for the Bisgieswade division of Bedford
shire. will raise a corps of mounted men.
Lord Saiisbury'S private secretary Mr.
Schonlberg Mcdonnell, who is a volunteer
officer. has volunteered for service.
The seizure of American Flour
The action Of the United States govern
InenJ causes considerable discussion regard
ing the eontraband question as affecting
peiagoa bay and Portugal. Widely diver
gent opinions are expressed. The Daily
Graphic in an editorial on the subject SAYS:
We believe that every provision has been
made in British treaties with the United
States for dealing with this matter In
TIE special circumstances of the present
war the government Is bound to regard
food as Contrdband No doubt the question
can be satisfactorily settled by paying COM
TeHs4ti0u for the seizures of American
flour
The question OF neutrality, however, is
more serious. and Great Britain's duty is
Z" have the Lourenzo Marques-Transvaa
railway watched by capable agents and to
warn Portugal that she will be held liable
In damages for assistance to the Beers by
means of the railway
Ihe Morning Post. on the contrary, ar
CUES that the government would be mad TO
treat food as c0ntraband, as such action
Would play into the hands Of all possible
future enemies of Great Britain 1t adj
rnitS. however, that steps should be taken
and money expended to search vessels and
Z" prevent munitions Of war entering the
I rdnsFadi by way of Portuguese territory
Eh- Standard SAYS: I'VE do not doubt
tAft this matter Is receiving the govern
nents serious attention. As the campaign
develops fl may become necessary 10 seize
toe railway al kCrnati Poort-"
The first hatch Of Boer prisoners has ar
rived in England. IL is announced that the
government has accepted another offer Of
squadron "f Canadian rough riders.