Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-08
TO STOP METHUEN.
raAxvAALERs GATHERING AHEAD
or KIMBERLEY RELIEF FORCE.
RogR AGGRESSION REMARKABLE.
Annexation Of british Territory Pro-
cecds-Burebers Successes M"h"R
cre.t Im,rc,sion ON the nnsufos--
sfc,n Joins Forces Mt the Mo""e''

mont viii be fought az spyifontein. The
Iocrs are massng on the hills there; are
vigorously building stone defenccs, ana
are digging riaepits In every direction.
The Boer rodoubts on Lazarctto Ridge
west OF Kimberley. are also being ex-
tended and strengthened, showing that
tho rumors of an intention on the pari
of the Beers 10 abandon the attempt to
stem General Methuen's advance are I'M
founded.
Tho British have shifted their camp a
few hundred yards away from the battle
field, and are settling down for week
There are some cases OF fever among
the troops. Much depends on General Cat
acres advance. There IS undoubtedly a
large concentration Of Beers ahead OF
General Methuen. Practically the whole
OF their Mafeking force has joined the
Kimberley besiogers.
SORT1E AT KIMBERLEY.
An official account OF the sortie at Kim
berley. November 2Sth, when the British
casualties, as cabled yesterday, occurred,
says;
"The British demonstrated towards the
Wimbledon rife range. The enemy's guns
were positioned from the ridge at Spitz-
kop 20 Wimbledon siding. Major Scott
Turner. with the mounted troops, attack
ed the onemy's right flank, capturing
iaager and three redOubts The enemy,
in fourth redoubt, made q stubborn
resistance, when Major Scott-Turner was
killed. The British captured many shells
and destroyed other stores"
Tho same dispatch gives reports from
Colonel Kokewich. dated December Sd
and 4th. showing that the Beers were In
creasing In numbers around Kimberley.
BOER AGGRESSION.
The Boer advance IN the northeastern
part of CT 20 Colony is becoming re-
msIkable. The local farmers are flocking
TO tho Boer iaagers, the townspeople. in
many Instances, welcoming the invaders
with every demonstration OF joy. The
annexation of British territory proceeds
daily. The reported BOer successes have
maGo q great impression among the Ba-
sutos.
sTEYN AT THE MODDER.
LONDON, December The announce
ment is made INA special dispatch from
BloeTnfontein. dated Sunday, December
80 that President Steyn, of the Orange
Free State. has Joined the Boer forces
at the Modder river. His appearance, the
dispatch says, caused great enthusiasm
among the Beers.
ALL WELL At LADYSMITH
FRERE CAMP, NATAL. Wednesday.
December "a runner from Ladysmith
to-day reports all won. The bombardment.
the messenger adds. continues, but is in
effective, the BOer shells only hitting the
houses.
KIMBERLEY QUIET
KIMBERLEY. via MODDER RIVER
Monday December 4-Everything has
been quiet here during the last three
days. The Theatre and the convent have
been fitted up as hospitals. A number Of
our cattle have been captured by the
enemy.
COMMUNICATION WITH KIMBERLEY
LONDON. December Tho War ONCE
here has received the following message
from General Forester Walker the Bri-
fish commander at Cape Town: "Wednes-
day. December 6.-General Methuen wires
to-day that he has resumed command
and Is nightly In communication with
Kimberley. The health Of the troops is
excellent"
STIRRING NEWS SOON.
LONDON, December SIS A. aI-Gone-
rel Buffers arrival at Frere is held 10
HAiaats that an the preparations for au
ADVANCE 10 the relief OF LaGysmith arc
complete, and that stirring news w.n
soon be received. The fact that Lord
Methusn IS announced as resuming hs
command AZ almost the same moment IS
interpreted I'm some quarters TO mean
that battles will DC fought simultaneously
IN Natal and at spytfonteln. 1t is doubt
iul. however. whether General Methuen's
force Il yet ready for what will eventu-
ally be heavy encounter.
The construction OF a temporary bridge
across the Modder river has cntalird
enormous labor, and even now the stree
turo is liable TO be washed away should
n heavy storm come
General Methuen has been obliged To
move his camp O mile north, I'm conse- |
Quence Of the unsanitary state of The /
stream, due To the presence of the bodies |
Of dead Beers. As the railroad bridge !
was completely destroyed, he was cont |
PEELED TO leave considerable force to |
protect his communication
LATEST BOER TACTICS.
A epecial correspondent sends the in |
terestlng Information regarding Boer |
tactics that Commandant-General Jou- |
bert has given general orders to reserve |
fire until the British are within the close |
range OF 100 yards.
At the Modder river battle the Free |
State BGrghers became nervous and OPEN
ed fire prematurely, thus revealing their |
position. and frustrated the Boer plans.
The government has decided to dispatch |
TO South Africa, at the earliest possible
moment, a cavalry brigade OF about 1910
men.
BUTLER OFF FOR THE FRONT.
PIETERMARITZBURG. Tuesday. De-
oember 5.-General Butler and his STAFF
have started FOR the front.
CONDITIONS AT KIMBERLEY.
MODDER RIVER, Monday, December
A search-light message from Colonel
kekwlch, at Kimberley says the town
Is provisioned for forty days, with forage
for thirty days. and has plentiful water
supply.
FOOD PROBLEM IN KIMBERLEY.
LONDON. December S.-The Daily Mail
publishes a dispatch from Julian Ralph
AT Mooder River, who says:
THE kimberley people are troubled
by the necessity of feeding 1000 Basutos
in the diamond-nelds. whom the Beers
refuse 10 allow 10 depart, and who. should
thoy fail TO get enough meat, would be-
come DISCONTINUED and restless On the
night of the battle at Modder River,
Kimberley missing the accustomed sig
nails from here, vas in great anxiety,
fearing that We had been defeated. The
fact was that We did not use our search
light Tor fear the Beers guns would
wreck the apparatus.
Five hundred and thirty Beers were
killed or wounded in the battle here. That
number has already been accounted for.
and the eheniy's losses were probably