Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-29
GOVERNMENT CRITICIZED.
Know-ail Newspapers Think they Gould
DO IL Better.

London, Dec. 29.-During the contin-
ued lull in the military operations In
South Africa the papers are filled with
letters and articles criticiZing the gov
eminent and campaign, and suggesting
remedies and Improvements, alterations
In the plans and the like.
The Times complains Of needless
censorship and conceaiment." II cites
the fact that nothing has yet trans
pired to show how Gen. Gatacre came
TO lose coo men at Stormberg.
The dispatches from the front all rep
resent the Beers as in a nervous condi-
ton and constant dread Of the British
advance, but this is probably an exag-
geratlon.
The Modder river correspondent Of
the Daily Chronicle gives an explana-
tion Of a sudden rifle fire inexplicably
opened from the Boer trenches. He
says: "The Beers have wires stretched
along the entire front OF the trenches
and connected with lamps. II wire
be touched lamp Is extnguished, thus
giving warning. One night high wind
eXtnguished lamp, which resulted In
a false warning. The fre ceased when
the Beers discovered that the alarm
was false"
A correspondent Of the Daily News
at F'reer camp announces that a tram
way Is being constructed from the rail-
way TO a hill commanding the Boer po-
sition, and that along this the British
viii convey heavy guns.
According TO a dispatch from Lady
smith, dated Wednesday, December
20th the heat then was intense, being
l04 degrees in the shade. There We're
many cases Of enteric fever In the town,
at that time, but not enough to cause
alarm. On the other hand, reports
from Boer sources on the continent as
sert that typhoid fever is epidemic in
Ladysmith.
The Transvaal government accord
ing TO information supplied by Boer
sympathizers, threatens to reduce the
rations Of British prisoners II Great
Britain stops the entry or food by
Delagoa bay"
The British government now evinces
a marked change from its attitude In
the early stages OF the war, and shows
a disposition to accept assistance from
any quarter The imperial yeomanry
committee has issued a statement 10
the effect that the government consid-
ers the formation and dispatch of yeo-
many as one OF the most pressing
needs OF the situation, and has inti-
mated that II Is now prepared 10 accept
from 5000 to 10000 yeomen. instead Of
the 5000 originally asked for. Ii is ex-
pected that the first contingent OF 1000
will sail about the middle Of January.
The government has announced that
II will accept the services Of a battery
from the honorable artillery corps.
When these services were first offered
they were declined on the ground that
the corps was not affiliated with any
regiments OF regulars. II will now be
attached to the city imperial corps.
Lady Gresham and Lady Georgiana
Curzon have issued an appeal for public
funds TO establish field hospital for
the yeomanry.
Capetown dispatches complain Of the
inadequacy Of the hospital arrange
ments.
II is now estimated that the war will
cost at least e6O00OO00 SsO0, 900, oOO). and
Il Is suggested that the sinking fund OF
the national debt should be suspended
for five or six years In order TO defray
the cost.