Evening star., 1899-12-04
LATTER REITERATED IN GOOD ORDER
Gen. Methuen Repairs the Bridge
and Starts to Kimberley
HAY 5 SAPPOINTMENTPLEASE


said to have numbered 1I.oo0 men. decided
| that the struggle hopeless for the
| British found tie town and surrounding po-
| sitions evacuated when daylight broke and
the whole British army crossed the river
| and encamnod On the Boer positions
| The experts here are unanimous I'm
expressing the opinion that Kimberley
| needs must be very pressing to induce Gen
! Methuen to expose the whole Of his COM
mand To the Boer marksmen, snugly en-
| trenche1 in a semi-circular position So
deadly was the fire zone that the Scots
! Guards We're compelled to leave their Max
i'm guns behind when they were forced 10
| seek less exposed ground. II was only ar-
| ter dusk that portion of the British troops
| succeeded in crossing the river by a mill
| dam on the extreme left. When night fell
the Boer artillery fire was stiI as vigorous
as in the morning. but the Beers retire
| ment in the night saved the situation for
| the British.
British Could Not Pursue.
| The exhausted condition of the British
| troops precIuded the possibility Of a pur-
suit of the enemy.
| The conclusion Of The correspondents that
| the Beers must have suffered heavily must
be confirmed from official sources before 1t
| Is accepted as fact. In any case, the Beers
| retired without any sign OF disorder, carry
| ing off their guns and equipment Thus
| Gen. Cronje's force is still intact The fact
! that Gen. Methuen and Col. Kekewich are
! now in communication may cause a recon-
! sideration Of the Boer commanders plan
| to give battle at Spytfontein where he
might be simultaneously attacked by both
| British forces
| 1t is reported that Modder river bridge
fraI md
| resumed their march toward Kimberley to-
| day.
| The fact that the De Beers mines foun-
dry is casting shells while the garrison sell
! dom replies to the Beers artillery is said
| to point to a scarcity Of ammunition at
Kimberley, partially accounting for Gen.
Methuen's naste.
All the news from Natal emphasizes the
| difficulties before Gen Clery There is
growing a belief that some delicate flank
| Ing operation has been intrusted to some
tactician while Gen Hildyard carries out
the direct front demonstration.
The SheIIinG of Ladysmith.
The latest advices from Ladysmith dated
Saturday, November %. say the shelling OF
that place was continued.
1t also appears that General Schalkber-
CHER. commanding the Beers. sent a mes
sage suggesting that all the wounded be
sent to a neutral camp, and that General
White peremptorily refused when. # is
added, the Beers deliberately shelled the
hospital.
All accounts agree that the Boer shells
We're much more damaging than previously
a number Of civilians and police were
killed or wounded. while the Liverpool and
Gloucester battalions lost eleven men No
vember -.
The siege Of Ladysmith was then grow
ing stronger. The Beers were estimated 10
number from 10000 to 15,Go0 men. The
health Of the British garrison was good.
The Boer force at ColensO is estimated to
be Loco men, with fifteen guns.
A local farmer arrested by the Beers and
released November - has arrived at Est
court. He says General Joubert personally
commands the Colenso force.
A letter from officer al Ladysmith re-
veals a novel feature OF a modern battle.
The writer says that at the battle Of Reit-
fCntein several ladies arrived on bicycles.
OF course they kept at distance, but
shell pitched close to them. causing them
to pedal off to a safer position"
Rumored Dynamite Conspiracy.
A Dublin correspondent declares that
owing TO startling information as to the ex-
istence of a dynamite conspiracy in order
to quicken the flow OF subscriptions the ex-
ecutive has decided to double the guards
al all the military barracks in the district"
The afternoon newspapers welcome the
appointment of Mr.. Adelbert L. Hay as
United States consul at Pretoria. The st.
James Gazette says:
1T is by numerous small indications
rather than by striking outbursts that the
real depth Of international sentiment can
be gauged between the two great coun-
K,xs,. 49,
plain to one another to parading it before
the world. The appointment Of Mr.. Hay
is one of those small but significantly i'm
portant signs by which the impartial oh
server can test the sincerely good feeling
between ourselves and the United States.
The Westminster Gazette says:
''If Mr. Chamberlain is spea king TODAY hs
will undoubtedly. turn to Mr.. Hays ap-
pointment as convincing proof that an alli-
ance exists. We do not make such a Sweep
ing deduction. 1t suffices to say it is pleas
ant to think that our interests are repre-
sented by one whose representations can
hardly fail to be received with consdera-
ton by the Transvaal."
Serious News From Cane Colony.
Serious news comes from the northern
sections of Cape Colony. The whole bor-
der district between Colesberg and Burgh-
ersdorp has declared for the Beers. In Ven
terstad alone more than 1900 have Joined
the rebellion. The farmers have formed a
communicating committee and talk con-
fdently of O triumphant march on Cape
Town. Gen. Buffers proclamation has been
torn down and trampled upon. and the 10y
alists are hidden to hurry to Cape Town to
prepare coffee for the rebels.
The official list shows that modification
has been made in the command of the 9Th
Division Instead of Lieut.. Gen. Sir Charles
Mansfield Clark, the commander will be
Mai Gen. Thomas Kelly Kenny, inspector
general of auxiliary forces and recruiting
with Mai. Gen. Knox and Mai. Gen. Glenn
ents as brigade commanders. Gen. Kelly