The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-12-27
ANGLO 0-BOER WAR SITUATION
DESPITCH FROM BOER HEAD-
 QUARTERS NEAR L4DYSNTTH.

sIowly-The Cannonading of Bulwer
 General Beli.fin London That BuI-
 Ter Wi1 Make No Serious Movement
 Until Lord Roberts Arrives.
 London, Dec. 27.-4:50 a. nl.--Dis- patches from South Africa are still greatly delayed. But they are arriv- ing more freely, which shows that the censorship has been relaxed. There ap- pears to be no great charge in the stua- ton. A dispatch from Lourenzo Mar quez, dated December 21 gives the fol- lowing from the Boer head laager dat ed December 19
 taWnHnr,aing of Hu w"r Brtdgr.
 "The British naval guns at Colenso have been cannonading Bulwer bridge, over the Tugela river, with a view of smashing it. The bombardnent is proceeding slowly. General Joubert has arrived here and has been accord- ed hearty welcome. He addressed the burghers on December IS. More British prisoners have been sent to Pretoria, including Colonel Bullock, Major Wal ters, Major Bailwark Major Foster, Captain Dick, Captain Nortern, Captain Fitzherbert, Captain Ford, Captain Hutchinson, Lieutenant Bonham, Lieu tenant Christian, Lieutenant Brigg, Lieutenant Birch, Lieutenant Halford, Lieutenant Tarbull and Lieutenant Jones'"
 h sOrtie from Ladysmith, Dee. I5
 A dispatch to the Daily News from Ladysmith dated December IS, by he liograph, says: Another sortie last night, General Hunter with 800 volun- teers desortyed one 6-inch Creusite gun, one howitzer, and one Maxim, One Briton killed. The Boer gunners fled"
 To otutOr Bocrs.
 There is an idea in some quarters that General Buffers destruction of the Tu- gela river bridge heralds an attempt to cut off the Boers now south of the riv CT but the general opinion is that the British will not make any serious move ment pending the arrival of Lord Rob- erts.
 Newspaper Critici.m.
 The newspapers continue actively discussing and criticisng the manage ment, or rather mismanagement of the campaign. The advent of horse sick ness throws increased attention upon the question of transports 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 indiscreet patriotism has refused to avail themselves of the opportunity. It would have been better if the author ities had followed Lord Kitchener's ex- ample at Atbara bridge. Will they even now apply to the American faetories?"
 The Times editorially attacks the ad- ministration of the war office, calling attention to the correspondence disclos- ing "g1aring defects" and declaring that the British army is being managed for the benefit of the war office and not of the nation.
 Dutch DissffectiOn and Treason.
 Despatehes from various points in dicate the steady growth of Dutch dis affection. The Cape Town correspond ent of the Daily Chronicle reports the discovery of a plot to conniVe for the escape of Boer prisoners. The Times advises stern treatment of the disaf- fected Dutch colonists and the enforce ment 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 William Stokes as consulting sur geon to the South African forces. He will leave Dublin for the Cape in a few days. Lord Somerset writes to the Times urging the seizure of Lurenzo Marquez and its retention, if necessary, until the end of the war in order to pre- vent the landing of war material for the Boers.
 Much Needed Guns Arrive.
 The transport Tantallon Castle has arrived at Cape Town with a number of howitzers and quick-fring guns which General Butler urgently needs The government has chartered the Lake Erie of the new Elder Dempster & Co.'S line, which was built for the Canadian mail service. She is a ves- sel of 12,000 tons. The recruiting of British colonists in Cape Colony is &C., lively proceeding. Thirty thousand are already under arms and several thou sands more will be added.
 A Mo1d.r itsvrr Despatches from Modder River, dat d Thursday, December 21 report that intermittent firing was continuing on both sides, although the Boer shells fell hort. A number of Free State burgh- ITS had surrendered. There is an un- report that a Canadian ,icket was cut off near Belmont. It s also asserted that fever is raging mong the Boers. The tests of wire css telegraphy at Mcdder River have ,een highly successful communication { yer a distance of seventy miles being established. Six Marconi in- truments intended for the Boers, have ] ,een seized at Cape Town. |
 sho.Is Ghrown In'o Bocr Camp. despatch from Chieveley camp, ] lated Thursday, December 21, says: Lyddte shells are daily thrown into he Boer camp to prevent them work ng at the trenches. The firing of big (