The Portland daily press., 1899-12-20
Reports of TugeIa River Fight
Severely Censored.
Kruger Willing to Make Peace on Basis of
Status Quo.

/: London, December 20-4.45 q. m.-The
government has at last consented To
mobilize . force which Cen. Butler Is
credited with having demanded all along
as an essential of success In South Afri-
on, namely 10. 0c0 mounted infantry.
This morning the war office issued n or
der to the effect that the government
mounted infantry force, TO be called I'm
psriAl Ysomsnry. and to be reoruitsd
from yeomanry, volunteers and civilians
possessing the REQUESTS qualifications.
Enlistment will be for one year or during
the continuance Of the war. The men
must be between 20 and So years of age
and of equal physique to the ordinary
cavalry soldier. Offiosrs and men are
to provide their own horzes and to wear
nsutrai tint cloth shooting jackets. not
nscs ssArily uniform, felt hats, bresohss
n I'd CATERS. All must BE- good riders
and marksmsn.
The same order invitss every volunteer
regimsnt shat is linked With rssuhr
battalion serving st the front TO supply
full company which will take the place
Of the mounted infantry of the regiment.
These arrangements are expected to re-
suit In . considerable force. The enrolled
strength Of the ysomanry forces which
erlsinated ip the troublesome period Of the
Erer ch revolution 10 now 10, 4s3. Their
services have never before been called In
war.
Toe Lord Mayor Of London, Mr.. Alfred
Newt on, 10 raising and squipping force
Of . thousand volunteers among the city
oorps The large city firms are contri-
buting the necessary expenses.
Col. Sir Charles Vincent, commandant
Of the Qussn's Westminster volunteers.
has also offered to raise regiment Of q
thousand picked marksnen.
Tho enthusiasm of the volunteer enlist
ments continues and promises to give
the government ample material
Ar. Rudyard Kipling addressed meet
lag at Rockingham last evening, called
for the purpose Of forming q volunteer
company.
The Queen has announced her intention
Of sutsrtAining at Windsor castle. De-
osmbsr 26th the wives and chill iren of
soldiers serving in South Africa, who re-
side In the nsighborhood. Tsa.wiil be
served. Her Majesty probably presiding
In person and there win be Christmas
tree 25 feet high laden " ith gifts.
The British second class cruiser Isis
will convey Gen. Lord Kitchener from
Egypt TO the Caps. She has been ordered
to steam at 10 knots.
Special reports regarding the fighting
at the rugsia river are stiil altering
thro ugh, but all the newspapers complain
that thpss are severely censored. and 10 II
still impossible to get an accurate idea
of ths battle. From the latest accounts.
however, 10 sppsa ~ that Gen. Butler was
In psrsoaal command.
A csrrespon isnt Of the Associated Press
at Chisvsiy Camp says the Boers excuse
them selves for firing on the stretcher
bearers By asserting that two squads OF
the Connaught rangers took cover under
civilian bearers Of the Red Cross and
hat this act drew the Bosr IRE, three
bsips killed and several wounded.
Much anxiety is caused by the fact
that The war ONCE has NOS yet received n
full liss Of ths casualties 10 TugsiA river.
stassmsnts are published fran Boer
sources In Brussels. and Berlin that Pres
ldsnt Kruger 10 wiling 70 conclude peace
on the basis Of the status quo. bus that
otherwise he will call upon the Bosrs In
Cape Colony 10 join IN proolaiming the
indspsndsnos Of the Cape territories Of
Great britain.