Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-29
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without the burdens OF cumbersome
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NEAR, COLENsO.

NEAR, COLENSO.
The Beers have converted the hills
near Colenso into fortressess of immense
strength. Everywhere they have splen-
did trenches. many of them b-proof
= T'ramway lines permit the shifting of
guns with astonishing rapidty. The
main positions are connected with the
( outlying positions by underground pass
sases, and the forts proper bristle with
machine guns that command the ap-
Droachcs. Probably mines are laid.
One hears less nowadays about Boer
shells not bursting. Observers of the
Z Colenso fight say the Boer shell fire was
very effective. This is due largely to
the fact that the distances are marked
off with white paint.
The enemy'S discipline Is improving
The trenches represent great manual
labor, for which the Beers have a keen
dislike, and the way In which they re-
strained their fire when our troops were
advancing is another proof of improved
soldering.
OVATION TO CHURCHILL.
Durham. Natal, Saturday, Dec. %
MIR. Winston Churchill, on arriving
here after his escape from the Beers,
received tremendous ovation. He
says that from conversations with
members Of the Transvaal executive at
Pretoria he learned thar the Beers
began the war with trenidation, burt
that President Kruger is now conf
dent Great Britain will soon sue for
peace In the highest Transvaal cir
cles. MT Churchill asserts there Is
serious talk of compromise, by which
Great Britain would cede the territory
now occupied by the armies of the two
Republics. pay an indemnity Of 100000
pounds (sl,O00,000) and acknowledge
the complete independence of the
Transvaal. &
THE POSTS COMMENT.
london, Dec. 2S-A1r Henry Spencer
Wilkinson, the Morning Posts expert
military expert, in his review of the
situation to-day. says: 1.-THE time has
apparently arrived for the nation to in
sist, If not upon a military dictator
snip at asst upon the admission to the
cabinet ola military minister empowered
TO veto any proposals detrimental to the
successful prosecution of the war, and
also that the administration OF the
army should be placed wholly in the
hands of tried military administra-
tor"
GOVERNMENT CENSURED.
During the continued lull in the mil
atary operations In South Africa the
papers are filled with letters md articles
crltcislng the Government and the
campaign, and suggesting remedies. i'm
proven snts and alterations i'm tie plans
and the like. 49,,
The Times complains of needless
censorship and concealment." It cites
the fact that nothing has yet trans
pired to show how General Gatacre
came to lose GOO men al Stormberg.
Inc dispatches all present the Beers
as IN nervous condition and constant
dread Of the British advance. but this
Is probably exaggeratlon.
Inc Modder River correspondent of
the Daily Chronicle gives an eyplana-
tion OF a sudden rifle fire inexplicably
opened from the Boer trenches. He
says:
The Beers have wires stretched
along the ground IN front of tho
trenches and connected with lamps, II
wire be tor he'd Il lamp ia extin-
guished. thus giving warning. One
night a nigh wind extinguished lamp
winch Mnlch resulted in false warning. The
nre ceased when the Beers discovered
thati the alarm was false"
85 a correspondent of the DAILY News
.aatSF'rere Camp announces that a. tram
way Is being constructed from the rail-
way to the hill commanding the Boer
2nosition, and that along this the Brit
.ish will convey heavy guns. i
Y THE Beers. WILL RETALIATE.
London Dec. ga correspondent of
1.-THE Standard ut Lourenzo Marques
says:
"Delagoa Bay Is the residence of;IIerr
4 -. y