The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-27
Sortie from Ladysmith and Destruc-
tion of a Biz Creusot Gun, a
Howitxer and q Maxim.
J0UBERT AT FRONT AGAIN
ANOTHER BATCH OF BRITISH OFF,
GERS SENT TO PRETORIA.
Thirty Thousand Cape Colonists Add
ed to Victoria's Army-S,OOO Eu-
ropeans in kruger's Army.

LONDON, Dec. q, 4:5o a. m.-Dispatches
from South Africa are still greatly de-
Iayed, but they are arriving more freely
which shows that the censorship has been
relaxed. There appears to be no great
change in the situation. dispatch from
Lourenzo Marques. dated Thursday, Dec
n. gives the following from the Boer head
laager, dated Tuesday, Dee. 10:
1.-THE British naval guns at Colenso have
been cannonading Bulwer bridge, over the
TuGela river, with a view OF smashing IT.
The bombardment of Ladysmith Is pro-
ceedins slowly. General Joubert has ar
rived here and been accorded hearty
welcome. He addressed the burghers on
Dec. Is.
More British prisoners have been sent
TO Pretoria, including Colonel Butler. Ma
1or Walters, Major Foster. Captain Dick,
CAPTAIN Nortern, Captain Fitzherbert.
Captain Ford, Captain Hutchinson. Lieu
tenant Bonham. Lieutenant Smythers.
Lieutenant Thourne, Lieutenant O'Con-
reyghy, Lieutenant Kunbauld, Lieutenant
Christian. Lieutenant Briggs. Lieutenant
Birch, Lieutenant Halford, Lieutenant
Tarbull and Lieutenant Jones"
A dispatch to the Daily News from
Ladysmith, dated Friday, Dec. 15 by he
nograph, says: Another sortie last night.
General Hunter, with five hundred volun-
teers, destroyed one six-inch Creusot gun.
one howitzer and one Maxim. One Briton
was killed. The Roer gunrers led,
There Is an idea in some quarters here
that General Buffers destruction of the
Tugela bridge heralds an attempt TO cut
OF the Beers now south of the river, but
the general opinion is that the British will
not make any serious move pending the
arrival Of Lord Roberts.
NEWSPAPER CRITICISM.
The newspapers continue actively dis
cussing and criticising the management, or
rather mismanagement, of the campaign.
The advent of horse sickness throws in
creased attention on the question of trans
portation and the want of wagons, which
may tie the British forces to the railways.
The Daily Chronicle says: PLENTY Of
wagons could be obtained from the United
States. but the government, with very in
discreet patriotism, has refused to avail
itself OF the opportunity. 1t would have
been better If the authorities had followed
Lord Kitchener's example at Atbara
bridge. VIII they even now apply to the
American factories?'
The Times editorially attacks the admin
fstration OF the War Office, calling atten-
tion to correspondence disclosing "glaring
defects" and declaring that the British
army Is being managed for the benefit of
the War Office and not for the nation.
Dispatches from various points indicate
the steady growth OF the Dutch disaffec-
tion. The Cape Town correspondent OF the
Daily Chronicle reports the discovery of a
plot to connive at the escape of Boer pris-
oners. The Times advises stern treatment
OF the disaffected Dutch colonists and the
enforcement of the penalties of treason
against persons and property.
The Sixteenth Lancers will go to South
Africa from India at the special request of
Lord Roberts. even after the government
had decided that no more troops should be
withdrawn from India.
The War Office has nominated Sir Will
liam Stokes as consulting surgeon to the
South African forces. He will leave Dublin
for the Cape in a few days.
Lord Somerset writes TO the Times urg-
ing the seizure OF Lourenzo Marques and
its retention. If necessary. until the end of
the war in order TO prevent the landing of
war material for the Beers.
The transport Tantallon Castle has ar
rived at Cape Town with a number OF
howitzers and quick-firers, which General
Butler urgently needs.
The government has chartered the Lake
Erie. OF the new Elder, Dempster & Co.
line. which was built for the Canadian
mail service. She is a vessel of I, 900 tons
RECRUITING IN CAPE COLONY.
The recruiting of British colonists in Cape
Colony is actively proceeding. Thirty thou
sand are already under arms and several
thousand more will be added. Those now in
the field include the Cape mounted police.
the Rhodesian and Natal forces and the
colonial troops beleaguered at Kimberley
and other points.
Dispatches from Modder river, dated
Thursday, Dec. q, report that intermittent
firing was continuing on both sides, al
though the Boer shells fell short. A num-
Der OF Free State burghers had surren-
dered- There is an unconfirmed report that
a Canadian picket was cut of near Bel
mont II is also asserted that fever is rag
ing among the Beers.
The tests of wireless telegraphy at Mod
der river have been highly successful, COM
munication over a distance of seventy
miles being perfectly established Six
Marconi instruments. intended for the
Beers. have been seized at Cape Town.
dispatch from Chivsley camp. dated
Thursday. Dec. p, says: "Lyddite shells
are daily thrown into the Boer camp TO
prevent them working at the trenches. The
firing Of big guns is heard daily from the
direction OF Ladysmith."
commandant Demellion. who was cap