The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-26
That is What the British Are
Now Doing.
Beers BOmbard Ladysmith For
Two Hours Without Effect.
JOUBERT In COMMAND
The Boer General Has Return
ed to the Firing Line.
Chambers Has Broken OutAmOng
Horses of Both Armies.

London, Dec 26.-The latest cabled
dispatch from South Africa shows that
the situation at the front is practical
" unchanged. With the exception of
desultory artillery practice to which
the Beers do not reply, the British
continue to mark time.
The Beers heavily Ombarded Lady
smith for two hours December 16, the
day after the battle of Tugela river,
but 3ittle damage was done They kill
ed one man and wounded two men of
the garrison.
Advices from Cape Town say the
New Zealanders with Gen French at
Naauerport We're in a tight corner De
cember IS They were nearly surround
ed by Beers and retired under a hail of
bullets fired at short range but sustain
ed only little loss.
Among the Beers killed at Stormberg
We're 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
JOUBERT RETURNS TO THE
FRONT.
Pretoria, Monday. Dec. 1S.-General
JOubert has recovered and returned to
the front today.
There We're special services yesterday
in the different Laagers as ThanksgiV-
ing for the victories OF COlensO, Storm
berg and MOdder river.
London, Dec. 26.-The most serious
report from the seat of war is that
horse sickness has broken out in both
British and BOer camps in Natal
Four hundred British cavalry horses,
it is said, have already been shot, ow-
ing to the occurrence of glanders-
The disease is likely to spread with
much greater rapidity among the Brit
1sh horses than among the hardy Boer
ponies and this may mean considera-
Bile prOlOngatiOn of the campaign.
A dispatch from CheVely dated De-
cember p, says:
The British naval guns have de
Stroyed the COlenSO fOOtbridge thus
preventing the Beers holding any posi-
tion south of the TugeIa river The en-
eUy are taking up fresh positions on
camp.
The British camp at Frere is
being strengthened. The Tugela river
is rising and there is prospect Of
According to reliable native reports
the Beers had 200 killed in the fight at
ColensO.
The news that the Colenso bridge has
been destroyed seems to indicate that
Gen Butler is more anxious to keep the
enemy at bay than to attempt a fur
ther advance.
Despite the severity of the censorship
hints are being continually received of
the serious spread of Dutch disaffection
in both the Queenstown district of Cape
Colony and Natal
a correspondent of the Daily Mail at
Pietermaritzburg, says:
should make the imperial authorities
realize the magnitude Of the task be-
fore them"
There are unconfrmed reports from
Cape Town that General Sir Charles
Warren, commanding the Filth divis-
Ion. has returned there.
COmmandant DeAIilHOn, who was ia
ken prisoner at Elandslaagte and
brought to Simonstown where he was
confined on the British cruiser Penelope
has succeeded in making his escape.
h7 IL. A.
following announcement:
We are informed that the govern
ment has decided that it is not desir-
able to make further demands upon the
European garrison in India unless un-
fOreseen difficulties arise"
An undated heiOgraph message from
I1adysmtth. by way of Pietermaritz-
burg represents the garrison as in no
way daunted by General Buffers re-
verse at COlensO. and as confident of
being able to hold out indefinitely.
The mails are just arriving from
Ladysmith- All the correspondents
comment bitterly upon the superiority
of the Boer artillery. The Times CORE
spondent says:
that if British gunners We're in the
BOer positions the loss of life and dam
age to property in Ladysmith would be
ten times greater"
The holidays have brought no sur
cease of recruiting activity. Lord Al
win Frederick Compton. uniOnist mem
Der OF Parliament for the Biggleswade
DIVISION OF Bedfordshlre, will raise a
corps of mounted men, Lord Salisbury s
private secretary. SchOmburg McDOn-
nell, who Is a volunteer officer, has vol
unJeered for service.
The action of the United States gov
ernment causes considerable discussion
regarding the cOntraband question as
affecting DelagOa Bay and POrtu gal.
Widely divergent opinions are express
ed The Daily Graphic. in an editorial
on the subject, says:
We believe that every provision has
been made in British treaties with the
United States for dealing with this
matter In the special circumstances
of the present war the government is
bound to regard food as contraband.
No doubt the question can be satisfac-
torlly settled by paying compensation
for the seizures of American flour.
The question of neutrality, however
is more serious and Great Britain s
duty is to have the LOurenzO Marquee
TransVaal railway watched by capable
agent and to warn Portugal that she
viii be held liable in damages for as
sistance to the Beers by means of the
railway"
The Morning Post. on the contrary
argues that the government would be
made to treat food as contra band, as
such action would play into the hands
of all possible future enemies of Great
Britain"
1t admits. however. that steps should
be taken and money expended to search
entering the Transvaal by way of POr-
tuguese territory.
The Standard saws.
we do not doubt that this matter is
receiving the governments serious at
tention. As action develops, it may be
come necessary to seize the railway al
SomitapoOrt."