The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-26
BRIDGE IS SHELLED
GEN. BULLER'S EFFORTS SEEM d.
RECTED TOWARD HOLDING
BOERS IN CHECK
FOOT BRIDGE is DESTROYED
ARTILLERY OF THE BRITISH DE-
MOLISH STRUCTURE ACROSS
COLENSO STREAM
BoER CANNON ARE BEST

If SkiIIfuIIy Handled Would he Ca
pabIe of Still Greater Efficiency
Ladysmith Can Hold Out Indef-
initeIy-BOer Losses at COIensO
said to Have Included 200 Dead
Neutrality Issue Discussed.
LONDON, Dec. 26-Up to this hour
nothing has arrived from South Africa
that would indicate any change in the
military situation there. The war office
is issuing lists of further deaths and
wounded, as we'll as accounts of sick
ness. The most serious report of the last
class is that horse sickness has broken
out in both British and Boer camps in
Natal. Four hundred British cavalry
horses, it is said, have already been shot,
owing to the occurrence of glanders. The
disease is likely to spread with much
greater rapidity among the British horses
than among the hardened Boer ponies,
and this may mean considerable pro-
Iongation of the campaign.
A dispatch from Chieveley dated Tues
day, Dec 10, says:
The British naval guns have destroyed
the Colenso foot bridge, thus preventing
the Beers holding any position south OF
the Tugela river. The enemy are taking
fresh positions on the eastern side, near
the Boer camp.
THE Boer position at Frere is being
strengthened.
The Tugela river is rising, and there IS
6 prospect of heavy rains.
"A two-hour bombardment of Lady
smith has been heard from here.
According TO reliable native reports
the Beers had 200 killed in the fight at
Colenso."
The news that the Colenso foot bridge
had been destroyed seems to show that
Gen Butler is more anxious to keep the
enemy at bay than to attempt further
advance.
DUTCH DISAFFECTION.
Despite the severity of the situation
here, hints are being continually received
of the serious spread of Dutch disaffec-
tion in both the Queenstown district of
Cape Colony and Natal A correspondent
Of the Daily Mail at Pietermaritzburg
says:
'"The extent Of Dutch disaffectfon should
make the imperial authorities realize the
magnitude OF the task before them
There are unconfirmed reports from
Cape Town that Gen. Sir Charles Warren,
commanding the Fifth division, has re-
turned there.
Commandant Demeillon, who was taken
prisoner at Elandslaagte and brought to
Simonstown, where he was confined on
the British cruiser Penelope, has succeed
ed in making mis- escape.
The Times this morning makes the fol-
lowing announcement:
I'VE are informed that the government
has decided that it is not desirable to
make further demands upon the Euro
pean garrison in India unless unforeseen
difficulties arise
An undated heliograph message from
I4adysmith by way of Pietermaritzburg,
represents the garrison as in no way
daunted by Gen. Buffers reverse at Co
lenso, and az confident of being able to
hold out indefinitely
The mails are just arriving from Lady
smith. All the correspondents comment
bitterly upon the superiority of the Boer
artillery The Times correspondent says:
1T is impossible to evade the opinion
that if British gunners were in the Boer
position the loss of life and damage TO
property at Ladysmith would be ten times
greater"
The holidays have brought no surcease
Of recruiting activity Lord Alwyn Fred
erick Compton, Unionist member OF
parliament for the Biggleswade division
Of Bedfordshire will raise a corps OF
mounted men, Lord Salisburys private
secretary, Schomberg Mcdonnell, who IS
a volunteer officer, has volunteered fol
service.