The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-29
CRIT|CISE THE CAMPA|G
Government Severely Censured
by the British Public,
APPEALS FOR ASSISTANCE
War Onca W II Now Accept Aid From
Almost Any Quarter-Cost the
War Is Els mated at $780,
100000

London, Dec. 28, 4:40 a. m.--During
rations in South Africa the papers are
filled with letters and articles CRITICS.
ing the government and campaign. and
suggesting remedies and improvements,
alterations in the plans and the like.
The Times complains of needless
censorship and concealment." 1t cites
the fact that nothing has yet transpired
to show how General Gatacre came to
lose 800 men at Stormberg.
The dispatches from the front all
represent the Beers as in a nervous
condition and in constant dread of the
British advance, but this is probably
an exaggeration.
The Modder river correspondent of
the Daily Chronicle gives an eXplana-
ton of 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. If wire
be touched a lamp Is extingulshed, thus
giving warning One night a high wind
extinguished a lamp, which resulted in
a false warning. The fire ceased when
the Beers discovered that the alarm
was false"
A correspondent Of the Daily News
at Frere camp announces that a tram
way IS being constructed from the rail-
way to a hill commanding the Boer Pc
sition, and that along this the British
will convey heavy guns
According to dispatch from Lady
smith, dated Wednesday, Dec. 20, the
heat was intense, being lo4 degrees IN
the shade. There were many cases Of
fever in the town at that time but not
enough to cause alarm. On the other
hand. reports from Boer sources as
sert that typhoid fever is epidemic in
Ladysnith.
The Transvaal government, according
to information supplied by Boer sym
pathizers, threatens to reduce the ra-
tions of British prisoners If Great
Britain stops the entry of food by Della
goa bay"
The British government now evinceS
a marked change from it's attitude in
the early stages of the war, and shows
disposition to accept assistance from
any quarter The imperial yeomanry
committee has issued a statement to
the effect that the government consid-
ers the formation and dispatch of yeo-
nanny asone of the pressing needs of the
situation and has intimated that it is
now prepared to accept from 5000 to
10000 yeoman, instead of 5000 as orig
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
regiment of regulars. 1t will now be
attached to the city imperial corps.
Lady Chesham and Lady Georgina
Curzon have issued an appeal fer pub
lie funds to establish field hospital for
the yeoma nry.
Cape Town dispatches complain of
the nadaquacy of the hospital arrange
mems
1t is now estimated that the war will
cost at least 100000 900 (s300,000 000l,
and it is suggested that the sinking
fund of the national debt should be sua-
pended for five or six years in order to
defray the cost.