The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-21


tending Fully Twelve Miles, Pro-
tected by Modern Entrenchments
and Wire Fences-Unprepared
of War Office Criticised.
LONDON. Dec. N.-The gravity Of the
military situation is again becoming ac-
centuated in the public mind, owing to
the complete absence Of news. Nothing
has been heard from Lord Methuen since
Sunday, and it IS feared that his COM
munications have been cut. If this be
so. his position is dangerous. A cor
respondent of the Daily News, telegraph
ing from Modder River last Sunday, says:
THE Boer position already formidable
on Dec. II. has lately been greatly
strengthened, extending over an area OF
twelve miles. It is entrenched according
TO the most modern methods throughout
fits entire length, wire fencing has beer
put along the trenches at every point,
guns have been got into position, and
there is every evidence that the Beers
are well supplied with ammunition. Only
a powerful force can hope to make sue
cessful attack"
The Times in an article from the pen of
military expert laments the dispersion
of the British forces, quotes the maxim
of Napoleon in favor of concentration,
and regrets that Lord Methuen did not
retire to Orange River a week ago.
The latest dispatches received seem to
show that the British forces are acting
or the defensive al all points Gen. Bull
Ter is ordering the troops now arriving at
inforce the Natal column. Lack of In
formation from him leads to the surmise
that he is trying to join Gen. White by a
flank move
VOLUNTEERS ARE EAGER. ...
The appeals for yeomanry and volun-
teeTs are being responded to with the
greatest enth 'sasm IN all parts of the
country. Lord Wolseley proposes that
the force being raised by the lord mayor
OF London be called The City Of London
Imperial Volunteers The government
expects the total of yeomanry and volun-
teers TO reach 5000. Baron Chesham will
command, with Lord Lcnsdale as adiu-
tant
The papers are now generally joining In
free criticism Of the government and the
war office, as day by day fresh proofs Of
unpreparedness come to light. Special
stIess is laid upon the failure to provide
proper transports, which compels the
columns to stick tight to railways and
upon the inferiority of the British artI-
lery.
The Australian colonies are responding
eagerly to the imperial governments ap-
peals for second contingents.
1t is reported that the queen will
abandon her proposed trip to Italy in
consequence of the war
One Of the results OF the coal famine
II. the Sheffield district, indirectly arising
out Of the war, is that several important
Eteel firms are rot able to get coal, even
from their own collieries, a few miles
distant They will sue the railway com
panies for non-delivery of coal. One of
the great armor plate works has shut
down partially.
EQUIPMENT FOR YEOMEN.
A. J. Balfour, in his unofficial character
has written to the Earl of Haddington
dwelling upon the movement to raise yeo
manry and cavalry forces for Soutl
Africa. He suggests and offers to assis
public fund to augment the necessarily
limited allowance made to the men by tn,
government for equipment
NOVEL MESSAGE CONvEYOR.
The latest news from Mafeking, dated
Dec. g, has just been received. 1t says
desultOry bomba rdment was continuing
and that the sharpshooters We're engaged
In a smart duel mornings and evenings
The dispatch also describes a novel meth
cd OF sending message, adopted by some
Boer, Dec. 4. A five-pound shell free
into the town that day did not explode
1t was opened and found to contain
letter, as follows:
Dear Powell (Col. Baden -PoweH)-Ex
cuse iron messenger. No other means O
communicating. Please tell Mrs
mother and family 6ll we'll Don't drinl
all the whisky. Leave some for the meI
when We ger In
The sender's signature was torn off
COLONISTS COMPLAIN.
A Cape Town dispatch, dated Saturday
Dec. 16, says:
Five hundred coIonists Of the Eictori;
est district have perfected an apparent
ly anti-British organization there and a
individuals, have openly expressed dis
loyalty, and have threatened to attacl
the railroad station, which is on the di
rect line between Cape Town and De Aar
The Afrikander Bundites, at a meetfn,
there, passed a resolution asserting thu
farmers dangerously. The meeting pro
claimed It's loyalty, but declared that th
conduct Of the troops forced the peopI
TO use expressions and commit acts wIlicl
We're capable Of being interpreted as dis
loyal
MIR. CHAMBERLAIN ATTACKED.
ABERDEEN, Dec 20.-James Rrvca M
p, in a speech here. today, severely +
tackled Mr.. Chamberlain, the secretary O
state for the colonies, and denounced hi
methods, manner and whole conduct'
and said he hoped it would not be uucl
longer possible for him to do his hes
to excite hostile feeling in Germany ant
ALLEVIATE and throw back and do ali nos
slble injury to the closest understandin,
between US and the United States"
BOERS THINK OF PEACE.
The Madrid correspondent of the Stand
ard says:
'"The Boer governments have recent1
inumated to their agents in Europe thei
Intentions to be moderate in regard =
peace negotiations. The chief enxiet-
OF the burghers is as to receiving sun
pies via Lourenzo Marques
MAssING AT sTROMBERG
The Daily News has the followins die
patch from Cape Town, dated Saturday
Dec 1e:
'"rhe Beers intend to make a. big stan