The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-29


Whose Applications for Service
Were at one Time Rejected.
LONDON, Dec. %, q. m.-Durins the
continued Iull In the military operations In
South Africa the papers are filed with LETT
tiers and articles criticising the govern
ment and campaign, and suggesting RENE
dies, and improvements. alterations In the
plans and the like.
Complaint of Ccnsorship.
The Times complains Of needless censor
ship and concealment." It cites the fact
that nothing has yet transpired to show
how Gen. Gatacre came to lose GOO men at
Stormberg.
Beers Represented NJ Panicky.
The dispatches from the front all repre-
sent the Beers as in nervous condition and
constant dread Of the British advance. but
this Is probably an exaggeration.
Cause of Boer False Alarms.
The Modder river correspondent Of the
Daily Chronicle gives an explanation Of Z
sudden rife fire inexplicably opened from
the Boer trenches. He says:
'sThe Beers have wires stretched along
fhe entire front of the trenches and con-
nected with lamps II wire be touched
lamp is extinguished. thus giving warning.
One night high wind extinguished lamp
which resulted in false warning. The
fire ceased when the Beers discovered that
the alarm was false
III 4 Railway for Hig Gums.
A correspondent OF the Daily News u
Freere camp announces that tramway
IL being constructed from the railway to
hill commanding the Boer position, and that
along this the British will convey heavy
guns.
Hot weather at Ladysmith.
According to a dispatch from Ladysrnitfi.
dated Wednesday, December 20. the heat
then was intense. being 104 degrees In the
shade. There were many cases Of enteric
fever In the town at that time, but not
enough to cause alarm. On the other hand.
reports from Boer sources on the continent
assert that typhoid fever is epidemic in
Ladysmith.
VIII Cut on Prisoners Food.
The Transvaal government, according
to information supplied by Boer SYM
pathizers, threatens to reduce the RAJ
t1ONS OIL fSTlttSu pIiSoucIb . IL vi cat AohAAtSu
stops the entry of food by Delagoa bay.
Anxious to Get More Men.
The British government now evinces q
marked change from Its attitude in the
early stages of the war, and shows .
disposition to accept assistance from any
quarter. The imperial yeomanry COM
mittee has issued statement to the eff
feet that the government considers the
formation and dispatch of yeomanry as
one of the most pressing needs OF the
situation. and has intimated that 1t is
now prepared to accept from 5000 to 10000
yeomanry. instead of the 5000 originally
asked for. 1t is expected that the first
contingent of 1000 will sail about the
middle of January.
The government has announced that
1t will accept the services of battery
from the Honorable artillery corps. When
these services were first offered they
were declined on the ground that the
corps was not affiliated with any regi-
ment of regulars. 1t will now be at
tached to the city imperial corps. Lady
Chesham and Lady Georgiana Curxon
have issued an appeal for public funds
to establish a field hospital for the yeo-
manry.
Cape Town dispatches complain OF the
inadequacy of the hospital arrangements.
Cost OF the War.
1t is now estimated that the war will
cost at least a60.O00.0oO (saoo. 900 000), and
It is suggested that the sinking fund OF
the national debt should be suspended
for five or six years in order to defray
the cost.
LadysmIth Has Food for Two Months
The latest Independent news from
Ladysmith says "The field fortihcations
would now Withstand any organized at
tack the enemy is likely to deliver. There
ar sufficient food stuffs for two months
The question OF forage might be trouble--
some but since the rains there has been
some grazing within the lines. There In
no horse sickness. Casualties caused by
our shell fire are Increasing. and the Beers
are reported to be becoming nervous. They
fear night sorties and constantly open .
heavy fusiIiade on an imaginary attack.
Germans stop Recruiting.
The German officials have promptly
stopped Beers from recruiting in Damara-
ted to cross the border
Methuen Reports neconnoissance.
The war office has received the follow
ing from Cape Town, dated December "a:
''Methuen reports as follows: Az e:s)
yesterday evening the Beers on the south
side Of Magersfontein opened very heavy
fire for some time. This morning the ma
val brigade fired at thu enemy Mt fha Wnn&