The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-30

agoa Bay as purely tentative. as Great
Britain has given no signs that she will
infringe on neutral territory.
LONDON, Dee. 99.--Ihe Prince of
Wales has accepted the Chief Coi0nccy
Of the Imperial Yeomanry and has con-
tributed Al0j for the use Of the organl-
zaiion
LONDON, Dec. "a War Office DIS
patch from Colonel Baden-Powch, dated
December 12th after announcing that
Lady Sarah Wilson had arrived safe
and well al Mafeking. adds that the
bombardment and musketry fire contin-
ucd en- ali sides. and that the health
and spirits OF the garrison arc very sat
isfactory.
The text OF Colonel Baden -Powelps
proclamation TO the Burghers besieg.ng
Mafeking the glst Of which has already
been cahed. comes from Lorenzo Mar
oues to-day. After asserting that the
republics cannot hope To- foreign inter-
ventlon. aud pretending to relate the
exact attitude or all the European pow
ers, including Emperor William, who,
the Colonel said. fllly sympathizes with
England. BedcD-PoWen makes the ex-
traordinarv statement that the Ameri-
can government has warmed the others
OF her intention to side with England
should any OF them interfere.
MOVEMENT IMMINENT
LONDON. Dec Sp--J A. M.-Thc latest
special dispatches from Cheveiey Camp
hint darkiy al some important movement
as INN lnent This IS interpreted, with
some msg.gings to mean that General
Butler cOntemplates renewal of his at
tompt TO relieve Ladysmith.
10 IS reported by the same dispatches
that the Beers have now retired 10 tha
ID MI
that the swollen river may bar their re-
treat. They are also movins their La
gers nearer Ladysmith. probably with
the intention of putting fuI thor pressure
ON the garrison, which now seems TO be
suffering pretty heavily from the bonn
bardment
II is difficult, however, TO conceive that
General Butler would make another
frontal attack, especially nav that the
river Is rising, and an additional indica-
ton that this is not his purpose is The
fact that ne has removed MS headquart-
ers ba1k TO Free.
The Boer movement northward from
Tugela Is quite In keeping with the en-
emys usual plan OF Securing a safe line
Of retreat. 10 Is known that ariilLSry
is due TO arrive for General Butler. but
the belief mere Is that his force even
then would be too weak.
lie may however. Doe animated by a
desire TO accomplish something before the
arrival of Lord Roberts and 90 satisfy
the keenncss OF his men to retrieve their
defeat.
The reported engagement with Kafiirs
is very vague, and cannot be explained
pending the arrival of later dispatches.
PRETORIA WE'LL INFORMED.
LONDON, Dec. 3e-Thc Times has a dis
patch from Lorenzo Marques. dated De-
cembcr 1sth. which SAYS:
Tho suspicion that the Bocr Intelligence
Department Is in close touch with for
eign consulate in Pretoria, is confirmed
by the fact that the news Of the appoint
ment Of Lord Roberts as commander-in-
chief IN South Africa was generally
known i'm Pretoria on December Goth, in
directly reaching Della goa Bay from the
Trausvaal TWO DAYS later. Suspicion rests
upon q consul who r. notorious for his
Boer sympathies
There is reason 10 believe that Pretoria
rs kept well informed with regard 10 Brit
Ism military movements.
with reference 10 the rumOrs of SNUG
Cling conraband it IS significant that
Major Erasmus. OF The Free State Arti-
lcry D. here. his arrival being coincidnt
with that of the French liner. Consider
ing the freedom with which the Transvaal
secret service fund Is spent considerable
mischief imay be done unless c9rEoe5 are
inspected by British archers who under
stand f0rcipn bills OF l7diue
WATCHING DAY AND NIGHT.
LONDON. Dec. 'o.-The Nodder River
correspondent of The Times referring to
boz -caro-hring of tho Beers. says:
Their nervousness causes much amuse-
m1nt among the British. IL Is quite cer-
tain that half the Boer force IS employed
watching by day and the other half by
night Proba bly, the consequent weariness
with the scarcity OF water and the pres
ence Of typhoid. will render the Boer po-
sition intolerablc Their present action
Is due either 30 a scare or To- wish TO
cover a retirement TO Spytfontein'
LONDON. Dec 30-The Cane Town cor
respondent Of The Daily News says:
"A leading resident of Nryburg who
was released by the Beers saw 2.0c0
colonials from Griqualand West. He
SAYS Colonial faces are to be seen every
where in The Boer ranks"