Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-12-28
NATIVES LOSE CONFIDENCE
British Reverses at .Stormbere Re.
suit in Rebellion in the Whole
Country to the North.
TROOPS on DEFENSIVE AT all POINTS.
Absence of News Causes Fear In
London-Gen. Cronje Refuses Fur
ther Communication with Gen.
Methuen-French.C Score
Great Britain's Policy.

London, Dec. 2O.-Details of Gen. Bull
ler's disastrous battle at Tugela river
are finally coming from South Africa,
but any more recent events are being
kept dark by the British censor.
Whether Gen. Butler has advanced or
retreated is largely matter Of spec
ulation. In consequence of the British
reverse at Stormberg the whole coun-
try to the north is in rebellion, the ma
tives having lost confidence in the Brit
ish.
On the Defensive.
London, Dec. 21.-The latest dis
patches received seem to show that the
British forces are standing on the de-
fensive at all points. Gen. Butler is or
dering the troops now arriving at Cape
Town to proceed to Durham to reinforce
the Natal column. Absence of news
from him has led to a surmise that he is
trying to join Gen. White by flank
movement.
Fears for Methuen.
The gravity of the military situation
is again becoming accumulated in the
public mind, owing to the complete alb
sence of news. Nothing has been heard
from Lord Methuen since Sunday, and
it is feared that his communications
have been cut. If this be so, his position
is dangerous.
A Curt Message.
London. Dec. %. - The war office has
received the following from Gen. For
estier-Walker, the British commander
at Cape Town:
"Cape Town. Wednesday, Dec 20.-Me-
thuen wires that he has received a rude
reply from Gen. Cronje respecting his rep
Cell, saying that this officer is regarded as
a spy. Gen. Cronje also states he will
hold no further communication with Me-
thuen."
On December 10 the British war office
received the following dispatch, dated
Sunday, September 1S, from Gen. For
estier-Walker:
"Methuen reports that Lieut.. Chandos-
Pole-Gell was taken prisoner last Thursday
when going to meet a flag Of truce. He was
waving his handkerchief in response, and
was unarmed." 2
News Hard to Get.
London. Dec. 22.-There is still no
definite news regarding the military OPP
erations in South Africa. Probably this
is because the only cable that is now
working is choked with official dis
patches.
Losses at Colenso.
Gen. Buffers casualty list at Colenso,
| just published, shows that 146 were
killed and 746 wounded. Two hundred
and twenty-seven are described as miss
ing, and of these about 40 are known
to be prisoners in the hands of the
Beers. This makes total larger than
Gen. Buffers original estimate.
Sympathy Tor Beers.
Ottawa, Ont, Dec. %. - The out
spoken sympathy among French-C Cana
dams for the Dutch people of South AZ
RIGA in their struggle for liberty and in
dependence is general among the lead
ing men in the liberal party. Charles
Thebault, of Waterloo, in speaking at a
joint political meeting in Sherbrooke
county, said:
'The war against the Beers is criminal
| war, and I warn Canadians against CIV
ing any support to Great Britain. This war
against the Transvaal is an act Of brigand-
age. It is a war disloyal and shameful for
England and shameful for humanity, which
suffers 1t without Intervening"