The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-27
AN ARMY OF EUROPEANS.
Eight Thousand at Pretorfa-Situa-
tiOn at Modder River.

LONDON, Dec 27.-The Cape Town cor
Wednesday, Dec. 20. says: Lord Methuen
| understand, intends to remain at Modder
river about three weeks longer. From Boer
sources hitherto singularly well informed =
learn that there are eight thousand Euro
pean officers and men skilled in modern
military tactics, particularly artillery, now
in Pretoria a reserve. Our adminis-
trative official in the Cape service who
has just returned from official relieving
duty in the Dutch district. says the news
Of the British reverses has been received
with great JOY, even in localities where
there is no open revolt
Another dispatch from Modder river, dat
ed Dec. 20. says: "The British naval guns
command the whole Boer position and pos
sess the exact range Of every stone and
bush. They frequently place shells with
good advantage in the midst of groups of
Beers. The burghers reported to be
returning home for Christmas Recent ar
rivals from Jacobsdal report that. notwith-
standing the Boer successes, the Free
Staters do not expect ultimate victory. They
complain Of the overbearing conduct of
General Cronje's men, who are alleged 70
be better fed and posted in the safest posi-
tions. The Transvaalers do not conceal
their suspicious OF the possible detection
of the Free Staters and threaten to shoot
them at the least sign of wavering. The
Free Staters are said to regard subsection
to the Transvaal as more to be feared than
subsection to Great Britain
The War Office has received dispatch
from Pietermaritzburg, Natal, dated Sum-
day, Dec. "a, announcing that in an en-
gagement at Ladysmith Dec. % Maj. A. c.
King. Captains Wathen and Oakes and
Lieut.. Hulse and Lieut.. Col. Fawcett were
wounded, and that nine noncommissioned
officers and men were killed and ten
recorded before this.
The War Office has received the follow
ing dispatch from Cape Town, dated Dec.
25, saying: '"There is no change in the sit
uation at Modder river. General Methueil
is we'll intrenched and the Beers have not
disturbed him. General Gatacre reports
that force Of $50 police have occupied
Dordrecht, the Beers retreating, with no
loss"
A cablegram from Cape Town, dated
Wednesday, says that glanders has broken
out among the American mules, of which
there are LOO at the Stellenbosch remount
farm. Twenty-six of the mules have been
destroyed and seventy-eight have been iso-
lated. The dispatch says sedition is
spreading in Cape Colony. Three members
of the Cape Parliament are alleged to be
implicated, and one of them is said to have
presented Free State flag to Boer COM
mander. at the same time expressing the
hope that he would carry it to glory and
victory. Another member of Parliament is
said to be recruiting for the Beers. In ad-
dition. wealthy farmers are now aiding the
invaders.
Advices from Cape Town say the New
Zealanders with General French at
Naauwpoort were in a tight corner Dec.
Is. They were nearly surrounded by Beers
and retired under hail of bullets fired at
short range but sustained only small loss.
Among the Beers killed at Stormberg
were many Of that locality who had Joined
the Orange Free State forces.
Several newspaper correspondents have
returned to Cape Town from the Modder
river. apparently confirming the belief
that an immediate advance of the British
is projected.
The Norwegian bark Regina, from Java,
loaded with stretchers and railway Sleep
ers, has been captured near Delagoa bay
and brought to Durham by the British
second-class cruiser Forte.