The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-07

- S~~~
garrison, although still strong, was suf-
fering from confinement, restricted diet
and the increasing volume of the Boer
artillery fire, especially that of addi-
tional heavy caliber guns placed in po-
sltion 1900 yards from the western de-
lenses. The dispatches relate that the
Beers had discovered the most yulner-
able points of the garrison, and that
smelling was becoming disagreeabiy eff
receive. The ratiOns had been reduced,
ana there was a great deal Of sickness.
Nevertheless, the troops of the garri-
son We're in every way preparing to
meet the assault which it was antici-
pated the Beers would carry out in a
nnal effort to reduce the city.
The belief was current in Ladysmith
that the Beers were preparing for a
retrograde movement after another at
tack. Several bodies of Burghers were
reported to have been seen November
18th, moving in the direction of the
Drakensburg range, while November
18th detachments were observed jour-
neylng northward with wagons. Dis
cord between the Transvaalers and
Free Skaters was also reported. There
was no indication, however, that the
Beers were preparing to dismantle
their gun positions, but the idea was
prevalent in some quarters of Lady
smith that the continued Smelling of the
place was intended to cover the retire
ment of the Boer forces toward the
Transvaal frontiers.
The Pretoria dispatch of Saturday,
December I'd, via Lourenzo Marques,
Monday, December 4th, however, an
nounced that Boer council of war De-
cember I'd was planning a renewed as
sault on Ladysmith.
A dispatch from Frere, dated Sun
day, December Sd, reports that in Col
| onel 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 Pres
ident Kruger is anxious that the
Burghers leave Ladysmith, in order to
oppose the British marching In the
direction of Pretoria from the west.
Advices from Putterskraal the head
quarters of General Gatacre's division,
dated Saturday, December I'd, say the
Beers entered Dordorecht that morning
This, it is added, is probably Groebler's
force of $50 men from Stormberg.
The War Office has received the list
OF casualties during the sortie from
Kimberley November 2Sth, as follows:
Killed-Major Scott-Turner of the
Black Watch, Lieutenant c. w. Wright
of the Kimberley Light Horse and
twenty commissioned officers and
men.
Wounded-Captain Waldeck, Lieuten-
ants Clifford and Watson, and twenty
eight on-commissioned officers and
men,
There is possibility. if General
Butler asks for further reinforcements.
that a brigade of militia will be sent to
South Africa, with the view of con-
ciliating the militiamen who think that
branch of the service has been sighted
in favor of the reservists.
In compliance with requiSition
signed by Messrs. W. Redmond, John
| Clancy and others, the Lord Mayor OF
Dublin's locum tenens has called a
meeting of the Corporation for Deem
Der 18th to dispose of motion in which
tine Corporation will deplore 1.-THE in
Fiction in South African republics of
this lamentable, cruel and unnecessary
war;" and protest against a policy ''in-
volving loss of life and enormous ex-
penditures''
The War Office has received the fol-
! lowing from General Butler:
''Pietermaritzburg Tuesday, Dec g.
1t is very difficult to make any state
ment 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 of killed
There is every reason to believe that
the enemy's loss in the fight at Lady
smith on November 9th was over SUI
killed and wounded. Information from,
a trustworthy Boer source shows that
in the Hildyard fight on November I'D
the enemy lost thirty killed and 1OU
wounded. It is impossible to say how
far these numbers are correct. but it
is evident the enemy does not admit q
tenth of the losses suffered. Inter-
cepted dispatches to Joubert from a
commander show that even the official
dispatches contain decidedly inaccurate
( information in this respect"
The first batch of wounded soldiers
from South Africa, numbering 133 men.
arrived in the Thames to-day on the
transport Sumatra.
GENERAL JOUBERT INDISPOSED.
PRETORIA, Saturday, Dec. = (via
Lourenzo Marques, Monday. Dec. a.
General Joubert is indisposed, and has
arrived at Volksrust, across the Trans
vaal border for medical treatment.
dispatch from the head laager,
where General Schalkburger is in su-
preme command during the absence of
General Joubert, announces that a
council of war was held ON December
I'd, with reference to assaulting Lady
smith The State Attorney has arrived
at the camp to advise the Boer com
manders.
Everything is quiet at Ladysmith
Dispatches from the west report that
there was a heavy artillery fire during
the afternoon of December I'd.
| All is quiet at Kimberley.
Comfortable houses have been erected
at Waterfall. a few miles from Pretoria
for the rank and file of the British
! prisoners.
Count de Vile lie Bios. a Colonel in
the French army. has joined the Trans
vaal forces as an authorized military
attache.
Queensland Ministry Short Lived.
| BRISBANE, Dec. Gas foreshad-
owed in dispatch to the Associated
Press December LIST, the Labor Minis
frxy hs,c rl