Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-12-14

London, Dec. ~ No further news
has been received 20 remove the mys-
terry overhanging Gen Gatacres re-
treat from Stormberg He has not yet
forwarded the promised additional
message and the censorship has pre-
vented the correspondents from ex-
planning she matter Until Gen Cat
acre has given his explanation IL is felt
considerable allowance must be made
for the extreme difficulty of getting in
telligence in country whose inhab-
tantS are in strong sympathy with the
enemy Stormbers is described as
stronger position than i.a:ag's Mex.
The only road winds through lofty
hills where Ranking is impossible.
.Colesburg is also said to be almost an
impregnable position, and as no troops
are available TO reinforce the columns
acting in those directions it becomes
evident that Gen. GataCre's misfortune
or error will delay the invasion OF the
Free State, perhaps some weeks 1t
is exceedingly probable he Will be
compelled to retire on Queens
town and wait for reinforcements
which can hardly reach him until Sir
Charles Warren's division arrives at
the cape. The first detachments will
sail Saturday. Even il Gen. French is
not compelled TO retreat he viii be OBJ
liged to pause in advance. It now
seems certain the seventh division,
which is being mobilized at Aldershot.
will also be sent to south Africa No
news has been received confirming the
boer report of the capture OF so pris.
Oners at Modder river from Lord Me-
thlen's column. II is just two months
since the fransvaal utimatum was
delivered. Nine engagements have
been fought and the British have lost
$50 killed, 2,02I wounded 1877 missing
| or prisoners The war office has is
| sued notice that after January / de-
/ duction be made from the pay
of soldiers serving In south
African the case of privates four
pence per day for their wives, penny
| for each child; in the case Of sergeants
! 8 pence for wives and two pence for
each child These sums have thus far
been paid by the government The
order indicates that the campaign will
be long one 1t is announced from
Capetown that the beers have succeed
ed in repairing Leeuwfontein bridge
between StOrmberg and Burgher which
the British destroyed on retiring,
Beers Took Three Guns.
Pretoria. Dec. 10 The beers cap
tured three British guns In the en-
gagement with Gen Gatacre's force at
! StOrmberg, Six hundred and seventy
two British prisoners were also taken
! Gen. Cronje maintained his position
and captured so soldiers in the Modder
river fight yesterday
Beers Are Numerous
Frere Camp Natal, Dec. II. British
! cavalry reconnoitered yesterday
| abreast Of Colenso and exchanged shots
! with parties Of beers who fell back
across the river. Kopjes were OBJ
served thickly occupied by the enemy.
The railway bridge at Colenso has
been completely destroyed Two stone
piers were blown up. The highway
| bridge is intact.
Fighting Away at Mafcking
Mafeking, Dec H. CNoy &c. via
Lourenzo Marques Sorties by Brit
ish armored trains and boershellingo OF
the town continue. The British have
had but few casualties
Half Ratlons at Ladysmith
Lourenzo Marques, Dee 12-The
following dispatch Is received from the
boer lager near uadysmith "Sev-
eral Kamr runners from Ladysmith to
Estcourt have been captured. They
received from IS to 40 pounds for the
trip Intercepted messages show the
men and horses in Ladysmith are now
on half rations Whisky Is pound
bottle and beer is exhausted"
DrnIgAT,f n run TAWTN'H