The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-22
British Admiralty Preparing to Send
Another Naval Brigade OF 700
Men to south Africa.
GEN. BULLER'S CASUALTY LIST
TOTAL Is LARGER THAN FIRST RE-
PORTED FROM NATAL.
Duke of Marlborough and Other
Members Of the Nobility Anxious
to Fight Volunteers.

LONDON, Dec. 22-The Daily Mail SAWS:
1--WE understand that news has arriveS
from General White TO the effect that
Ladysmith is we'll supplied with food and
ammunition and can hold out much longer
than has been estimated. The troops are
described as in good spirits and anxious TO
fight"
The War Office has received the following
from General Forestier-Walker. the Brit
ish commander at Cape Town: 'Methuen
wires that he has received a rude reply
from General Cronje respecting his repre-
sentations as to Lieutenant Chandos-Pole-
Cell, saying that this officer is regarded as
a spy. General Cronje also states he will
hold no further communication with
Methuen."
On Dec Is the British War Ofiice received
the following dispatch dated Sunday, Dec.
IL. from General Forestier-Walker: Gen.
Methuen reports that Lieutenant Chandos-
Pole-Gell was taken prisoner last Tuesday
while going to meet a flag Of truce. He
was waving his handkerchief in response
and was unarmed."
The Admiralty have decided to dispatch
another naval brigade of 200 men to South
Africa. 1t is believed that in mobilizing
the eighth division the War Office will
have recourse to some extent to the militia,
1t being deemed inadvisable TO denude the
home garrisons overmuch of regulars.
There is still no definite news regarding
the military operations in South Africa.
Probably this is because the only cable
that is now working is cholzed with Official
dispatches.
"a.
just published. shows that 146 were killed
and 746 wounded. Two hundred and twen-
ty-seven are described as missing. and Of
these about forty are known to besprison-
ers in the hands OF the Beers. This makes
a total larger than General Buffers orig
inal estimate.
Belated stories from Chievely Camp. Ma
tai, all concur in saying the British did
marvels in an impossible situation. The
oldest correspondents say they never
saw anything comparable with the bravery
of the men and officers. The naval contin-
gent created an immense furore, engaging
the Beers single-handed and hailing shrap-
mel and lyddite shells on the fortifcations
north of the town In a vain effort to silence
the murderous fire of the Beers while the
British forced the passage OF the river.
The advance Of the Second Brigade along
the road leading to the bridge in the face
Of q. deadly fusillade is described as mag
nificent. The British forced their way
across the fire zone under a perfect storm
OF bullets from the invisible Beers. The
patter of the bullets on the dry plain. II is
added. raised the dust like heavy raindrops
on water. The heat throughout was in
tense. There are many reports OF special
acts of bravery.
A belated dispatch from Tuli. dated Dec
II, says: Colonel Plumer. with strong
accommodating party OF horsemen. has re-
turned here. after a weeks expedition into
Transvaal territory. He reached a point
fifty miles from Petersburg. in the South
African Republic. but found no Beers. the
country being seemingly empty OF men,"
According to a dispatch from Cape Town
there is a good deal OF distress I'm the
Orange Free State owing to the scarcity OF
grain.