Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-12-28
Chambers Spreading With
Great Rapidly Among Brit
ish Cavalry Horses.
WILL PROLONG CAMPAIGN
rour Hundred Diseased Horses Already
shot-No change in Military Situation
Dutch Disafre ction Reported
spreading-Tho Beers Cannot
Gross Tasuela River.


"a that would Indicate any change IN the
military situation there. The war Office
" issuing lists of further deaths and
wounded, is well as accounts of sickness.
Tnc most serious report Of the last class is
that horse sickness has broken out in both
ihu British and Boer camps in Natal
-Four hundred cavalry horses, 1t 10 said.
lave already been shot owinG to the oC-
currence of CHAMBERS The disease Is like
~ to spread with much greater rapidly
among the British horses than among the
hardy Boer ponies and this may mean Il
considerable prolonSation of the cam
Iaign. Horse sickness in South Africa
generally appears during the latter part OF
January and lasts three months The
present outbreak is unusually early.
A despatch from Chieveley dated Tues
day, Dec. 10, says
The British naval guns have destroyed
the Colenso foot bridge thus preventing
the Beers holding any position south OF
the Tuguela River. The enemy are taxing
up fresh positions on the eastern side,
nearer the British camp.
The British position is being strength
encd. The Tuguela River Is rising ana
there is a prospect of heavy rains.
"A two hour bombardmcnt of Lady
smith has been heard from here. ACcord-
ing TO reliable native reports, the BoerS
had 200 killed in the fight at Colenso"
The news that the Colenso foot bridge
that Gen. Butler is more anxious to keep
the enemy at bay than to attempt fur
Their advance.
Despite the severity of the censorship
hints are being continually received of
the serious spread of Dutch disaffectioo
in both the Queenstown district Of Cape
Colony and Natal. A correspondent of
The Daily Mail at Pietermaritzburg says:
The extent of Dutch disaffection should
make the imperial authorities realize the
magnitude of the task before them"
There are unconnrmed reports from
Cape Town that Gen. Sir Charles Warren,
commanding the fifth division, has re-
turned there.
Commandant Demeillos, who was taken
prisoner at Elandsaagte and brought to
Simonstowu, where he was confined on the
British cruiser Penelope, has succeeded in
making his escape.
MOUNTED MEN FROM CANADA.
ottawa, Ont. Dec. 25.-It is probable
that the composition OF the second Cana
dian contingent for South Africa will be
somewhat different from what was first
proposed. The imperial authorities have
,Npressed a preference for mounted men
and the contingent will therefore consist
but two batteries of artillery and in the
reIghburhood of 100 mountcd men.
The Times this morning makes the fol-
lowing announcement
are informed mat the government
have decided that it is not desirable 10
make fuCther demands upon the European
=IfrsOn in India unless unforeseen diff
clIt!C- arise
An undated heliograph message from
l-adNSmith, ~ way of Pietermarit zburE
r"prcSents the garrison as in no way
ctuntod ~ Gen. Buffers reVerse at Co
lonso and as oonlindent of being able to
hold out Indefinitely.
The mails are just arriving from Lady
smith All the correspondents comment
bitterly upon the superiority of the Boer
artillery. The Times correspondent says
1T j. Impossible to eVade the opinion
that, If British EUnners were in the Boer
positions. the loss of life and damage 10
properly III Ladysmith would be ten times
greater.
The holidays have brought no surcease
OF recruiting activity. Lord AlWyne Fred
erck Compton, uniOnist member of Par
Lament for Bieglcswade division of Bed
iordshire, viii raise corps of mounted
men. Lord Salisbury's private secretary,
M Schomberg Mcdonnell who is a VOL
lntcr officer, has volunteered for service
The action of the United States govern
ncnt causes considerable discussion re-
sdrdng the contraband question as af-
footing Delagoa bay and Portugal Wide
Is divergent opinions are expressed. The
Daily Graphic in an editorial on the sub
'ect says;
we believe that every provision has
oecn made in British treaties with the
hited states Tor 1ealing with TINS mat
.,rcs,nt war The government is hound ~
recard food as contraband No doubt the
question ran ne satisfactorilv settIad i,.
saving CONDENSATION for The seizures Of
American nour
",rhc question of neutrality. however &c
more scrious and Great Rritain,e dut,, ie
tn have tho I ourenzo Marouesrrans,,o
,aiIuav watcbed nv, canahIo arcrts a,,,
10 warn Portugal that she viii he held tr,
tlo ir damogce for aeeiet,nce 10 tha D..
nv means Of the railway
INC Mouoinp post on tho contrarv nv
Y,Ies +bat tba e,o,,orpr,e,,t y,o,,id h, ,oa !,
r. riot FOOD &c contrabard os ..s,,ot ,,'
zion wouIJ NAV into tho hand Of ali nos
rdrnits bouoyer tbst etons shd,I,a w.
en- and money expended to search vessels
ana to prevent munitions of war enter
ing the Transvaal by way of Portuguese
territory.
Inc STANDARD says:
We do not doubt that this matter is re-
felVing the governments serious attention
As the campaign develops it may become
necessary to seize the railway at Komat
Poort
The lirst batch of Boer prisoners has ar
rived in England. 1t is announced tEaI