Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-07
NO CHANGE AT LADYSMITH
Beers Continue to Attack the Town, but Do
Not Take It.
DELAYED DISPATCHES TELL THE STORY
Expert Opinion on the situation In
dicntes that Mcthuen VIII HIVE
Hard Job Getting to
Kimberley.


Kimberley.
! Copyright, 1899, by Press Publishing Co.
BRITISH CAMP AT FRERE. Twenty
! Miles from Ladysmith, Dec. 5.-11 a. M
! tNew York World Cablegram-Special rel
! egram.)-Advices smugged through the Boer
| lines from the British beseged in Lady
smith report that they could read the flash
light messages which have been flashed from
| this point Dissension is said to be rife in
the Boer camp and the Beers are said to be
short of provisions. The situation at Lady
smith is unchanged. ROBERT STUART.
ESTCOURT, Dec. 4.-3:4O p. m.-(New
York World Cablegram-Spccial Telegram.)
Tho British at Frere station report every
thing quiet. The troops at Ladysmith sig
| nailed on Sunday: "Als we'll"
ESTCOURT,l Dec. 81 p m.-(New York
World Cablegram-Specia Telegram. 1T is
reported that the Beers are still occupying
strongly fortified positions round Colenso.
II is also rumcred that the bridge carrying
the roadway over the Tugela river at Co
lenso, which is still intact has been under
mined by the Beers.
Pocrs Make Determined Attack.
Copyright, 1899, by Press Publishing Coz
lINl' 1Nll II, ANuldl, ltC. I'--NANtN lOi N
World Cabegram-Special Telegram. -
(Message sent through the Boer lines by
native runner, but delayed by British cen
sors and evidently edited. 1.-THE Beers
made determined attack on this place yes
terday. Their heavy artillery mounted on
the surrounding hills opened fire early in
the morning and kept it up without inter-
mission until noon At o'clock an attack
in force was made from the north. The
British naval artillery prevented the Nig
Boer guns from doing damage, while the
British field artillery did effective work. as
was shown by the finding of 140 dead Boer
horses in one spot. The Beers developed
strong rifle attack from the north, from the
east and from the south, but never came
closer than 900 yards. The British cavalry
had no chance. Judging from the activ
ity of the Boer ambulances today their loss
must have been heavy. The British loss
was slight.
At noon the naval battery fired a royal
salute and the troops drank the princes
health, after which they resumed the fight
with increased ardor. II yesterdays attack
was the best the Beers can do Ladysmith is
utterly safe The Boer artillery practice
yesterday was erratic, showing that many
Of the gool gunners must be dead
JOHN STUART.
Beers still Plugging Away.
Copyright, 1899, by Press Publishing Coz
LADYSMITH, Nov. 2S.-(New York World
Cablegram-Special Telegram-Message sent
through the Boer lines by native runner, but
detained by British censors. )-The Beers are
plugging away at town and camp indus
triously but fruitlessiy with their artillery,
especially active being new gun planted
in the middle of hill. The English reply
only occasionally and are generally effec-
tive. The shelling has been far brisker in
the last two days, the whcle camp and town
being now open to the Boer artillery, the
range of the most vulnerable points having
been found.
General Joubert's force appears to be re-
treating, probably to concentrate somewhere
about here, though the wagons visible from
the camp seem to be retiring toward the
Orange Free State.
News of British victories to the south has
been received here with the utmost satisfac-
tion. All the besieged troops hope the Beers
will give General Cleary's division a chance !
here to smash the force which nothing but
the resistance of General Whites men has
from devastating Natal. The
British are in excellent health. The Beers, |
it is reported, have been decimated by |
dysentery. JOHN STUART.
Military Experts Opinion.
Copyright, 1899, by Press Publishing Coz |
LONDON, Dec. 6.-(New York World |
Cablegram-Special Telegram. 1.-The Post |
military expert says: |
1T seems clear that our successes at Mod |
der river were due entirely to artillery fire. |
The infantry could see nothing to shoot at, |
for the enemy lay close in sheltered |
trenches, behind sand bags, tree trunks and ,
riyetments of corrugated iron. Indesd |
there is reason to doubt that the Beers
were much shaken by the battle. News of
their intention to hold the lines for a week
sources. Modder river bridge is reported an
utter wreck. If that means the piers are
destroyed ii is a very serious matter, for no
repairs could be effected sufficient to carry
a railway line for some weeks and it is a
line which is most important to Kimberley.
II the railway bridge cannot be depended on
advance must be delayed by need
Of reinforcements. OF those reported as
dispatched from the Cape we can only verify
1ne field, one horse battery and one bat
alion of infantry. After unexpected op-
position along the Modder river Methuen
will doubtless not risk defeat this side of
His report speaks of the ar
'ival on the evening OF the river battle of a
arge force of the enemy from Jacobsdal.
which finding the Free Staters in retreat
'etired with them Therefore this new and
perhaps unbeaten body is to be accounted
or, The sortie from Kimberley seems to
nave been costly affair. A suggestive
silence hangs over Natal. The delay in
3Wlers advance is unavoidable and may
wen be extended some days further.
,hanges in his plans may have caused
hanges in the arrangement Of the commits
ariat and transportation"
American Has Complaint.
LONDON, Dec. 6.-The Times prints
etter from an American citizen who left
johannesburg because he was liable to be
and who had learned that the
United States consul was unable to protect
i'm, He complains bitterly that the Amer
can flag was not respected in Pretoria; that |
is passport was not respected and that his ]
osition was practically unbearable. u
6AFEKING IN SORE STRAITS