The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-12-29
THE BOERS'
DEFENSES.
Hills Near Colenso Now Fortresses
of Great Strength,
BoERs' DISCIPLINE IMPROVING.
Great Hritnin No Longer Faces ~
DizorEnnircd Foc-In skIrmi-h
Near ChieNcicS Camp Nine Boers
Were iNiilcd-IN ruEer's Confidence.

Near ChieNcics Camp Nine Borrs
Were i>iIicd-N ruEer's Confidence.
London, Dec ga dispatch TO The
Daily Mail from Pietermaritzburg.
dated Dec. %. says
Every day reveals some new fact
regarding the strength OF the Boer
position at Colenso. Thanks to the
services OF continental officers. the
character OF the campaign has changed.
We are no longer fighting a foe who
relies upon guerrilla tactics, but we
have to deal with what is rapidly be-
coming a disciplined army. enjoying
the advantages Of knowing the country
and of selecting the scene OF contest
without the burdens of a cumbersome
cOmmissariat.
The Beers have converted the hills
near Colenso into fortresses Of i'm
mense strength. Everywhere they
have splendid trenches. many OF them
bomb proof. Tramway lines permit
the shifting of guns with astonishing
rapidity. The main positions are con-
nected with the outlying positions by
underground passages and the forts
proper bristie with machine guns that
command the approaches Probably
mines are laid.
One hears less nowadays about Boer
shells not bursting Observers of the
Colenso fight say the Boer shell fire
was very effective . This is due large
ly to the fact that the distances are
marked off with white paint
THE enemy's discipline is improv-
ing. The trenches represent great
manual labor, for which the Beers
have a keen dislike, and the way in
which they restrained their fire when
our troops were advancing is another
proof of improved soldering"
A Chieveley Camp dispatch says:
A heavy Boer gun on Bulwhana hill
fired steadily upon Ladysmith through
out Wednesday morning Ladysmith
did not respond. The enemy having
been again detected attempting to i'm
prove their trenches facing General
Butler the British heavy guns opened
upon them anI the Beers scampered
back into the hills. The British pa
trolls sighted the enemy in force on the
extreme left, Nine Beers were killed
in a skirmish that followed, and six
Boer wagons were captured.
Mr.. Winston Churchill on arriving
at Durham, after his escape from the
ApbNAo lEttlNtu q tremendous ONdtlOn.
He says that from conversations with
members of the Transvaal executive
at Pretoria he learned that the Beers
began the war with trepidation. but
that President Kruger is now con-
fident Great Britain will soon sue for
peace. In the highest Transvaal cir
cles, Mr.. Churchill assers, there is
serious talk of a compromise. by
which Great Britain would cede the
territory now occupied by the armies
of the two republics. pay an indemnity
of S10000OO00 and acknowledge the
complete independence of the Trans
vaal
The Standard says: Lord Sails
bury would be reluctant to bring pres
sure to bear upon Portugal except in
case OF urgent necessity. Great
Britain would prefer not to place her
self in the invidious position of using
force toward another petty country.
and there is no temptation to raise any
further international questions"