Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-08
BULLER IS IN RANLE
British Commander Reaches Freere and
Battle is Expected,
BotRS STILL ACTIVE AND FULL OF FIGHT
BurgherS from Natal Are Reinforcing Gen.
eral Oronjo by Thousands.
COLLISION EXPECTED AT TUGELA RIVER
French and Austrian Military Attaches with
General schalkburgers Army.
FoRTlFNNG ON THE FRONT OF M;THUEN
preparing 20 Oncr stubborn Resist
nnce TO His Advancc-Cnpc
Dutch FlockiDg to the
Boer Standard.

Copyright, 1899, by Press Publishing Coz
LONDON Dec THEW York World Ca
blegram-Special Telegram 1.-The Daily
News Capetown correspondent, cabling De-
cember 4. says that 800 natives are being
raised to defend the Transkei against tho
Boer invasion.
The Chronicles correspondent at Lady
smith on December 2 says; THE enemy
is making mCst strenuous efforts to reduce
US to submission before the arrival of the
relieving columns Their fire is more sys-
tenatic and concentrated and is more de-
structive than at any previous stage of the
siege. Three large Creusot guns are now
being brought to bear on the town and
camp Last Wednesday General White
planned making sorte, but abandoned the
idea, the Beers, is now usual being in
formed of the project beforehand"
A dispatch from Pietermarizburg, dated
December 5, says General Butler and his
'tatf have started for the front.
General Butler ut Freere.
LONDON Dec. S--5 a. m.--General Bull
ler's arrival at Freere is held to indicate
that all the preparations for an advance
20 the relief OF Ladysmith are complete
and that stirring news will soon be received.
The fact that Lord Methuen is announ, Ell
as resuming his command at almost the
same moment is interpreted in some quar-
ters to mean that battles will be fought
simultaneously at Natal and Spytfontein.
1t appears doubtful, however, whether Gen
eral Methuens force is ready for what will
evidently be a heavy encounter. The con-
etruction of the temporary bridge across
the Modder river has entaed enormous la
bor and even now the structure is liable
to be washed away should a heavy storm
come. General Methuen has been obliged
to move his camp mile north in conse
quence of the unsanitary state Of the stream
owing to the presence of the bodies Of dead
Beers. AS the railway bridge was COM
pletely destroyed he was compelled to
leave a considerable force to protect his
communications,
special correspondent sends the inter
esting information regarding Boer tactics
that Commandant General Joubert has given
general orders to reserve fire until the
British are within 400 yards. At the Mod
der river battle the Free State bughers be-
came nervous, opened fire prematurely, thus
revealing their position and frustrated the
Boer plans.
The Morning Pest publishes an article
warning the British public that the dis
illusionment already experienced respect
ing the Boer forces in Natal is likely to be
repeated on the western border" 1t says
men are wanted everywhere and asks why
the splendid body of Royal Marines is now
being employed in sweeping floors and wash !
ing paint in England and is not sent out to
handle the naval guns, instead of the hur |
riedly trained men, unfamiliar with these
weapons, who have gone
The government has decided to dispatch to
South Africa at the earliest possible moment
n cavalry brigade of about 1000 men,
English Feeding Rnsutos.
The Daily Mail publishes a dispatch from |
Julian Ralph al Modder river who says the !
Kimberley people are troubled by the ne |
cessity of feeding 10000 Basutos in the dia- |
mond fields, whom the Beers refuse TO al |
low to depart, and who, should they fail !
to get enough meat, would become discon- |
tented and restless
special dispatch from Kimberley dated |
Wednesday, November %, says; "As re-
suit of signals from the relief force to the
south and of certain movements on the part |
OF the Beers Colonel Kekewich determined .
to make sortie with view of keeping a
large force of Beers employed here
Yesterday afternoon a portion of the gar
rison, with artillery under Major Chamier
and mounted troops under Major Scott Tur-
ner, advanced southwest toward the er
positions and captured Carters farm, which
completed the line it was intended to hold
in view Of Lord Methuen's early approach.
Major Scott Turner then turned his at
tention to the Boer laager. which he cap
tured in fine style in spite of the enemys
heavy fire All the camp equipment was
captured or destroyed Finally the British
stormed the ridge and captured three re-
doubts after severe fighting. In leading the
men who were storming the fourth reioubt
Major Scott Turner and Lieutenant Wright
were killed. 1t is alleged that they we.
struck by explosive bullets, The death of
Major Scott Turner compelled the British
to retire upon Carters farm, the whole affair
having lasted four hours"
According to a dispatch from General
Schalkburger's lager dated December g. the
French and Austrian military attaches had
arrived there, while the German attaches
had gone to join the Boer forces along the
Tugela river where a collision was mo-
mentarily expected.
Perhaps an explanation of the retirement
OF burghers from Natal can be found in a
dispatch from Modder river, December s.
saying that a strong Boer force, estimated
TO number 5000 men, was reinforcing Cen
eral Cronje from Natal The same dispatch
says everything points to the fact that a
great engagement will be fought at Spyt-
'ontein. The Beers are massing on the hills
there, are vigorously building stone defenses
and are digging rifle pits in every direction
Beers Are FortifyInG.
The Beers redoubts on Lazaretto ridge,
west Of Kimberley, are also being extended {
and strengthened showing that the rumors
OF the Intentions OF the Beers to abandon
the attempt to stem General Methuen's ad-
vance are unfounded. The British have
shifted their camp a few hundred yards
away from the battlefield and are settling
down for a week. There are some cases o.:
fever among the troops Much depends on
General Gataere's advance. There Is un,
doubtedly a large concentration OF Beers
ahead Of General Methuen. Practically the
whole of their MafekIng forces have Joined
the Kimberley besegers.
An official account OF the sortie at KIM