The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1899-12-27
A DASH FOR LIBERTY.
Situation at Ladysmith and Kim
berley Growing Desperate.
PORTUGUESE AID Beers
Young Churchill Arrives Safely at
De1agoa Bay-Cape Dutch
Astouished.

London, Dec 22.-The position of
Ladysmith and Kimberley is growing
more desperate daily. Already there is
much talk in London of the possibility of
White making last desperate effort to
cut his way through with the best men
in his force, leaving all the unfit behind.
Lord Roberts sails on Sunday. Lord
Kitchener is travelling by special train
from Omdurman to Alexandria. The
cruiser Isis is waiting there to take him
to Malta, where the cruiser Dido, one OF
the fastest in the feet, will meet him
and rush him to Madeira to join Roberts
on the mail steamers.
The British army in South Africa will
be increased so per cent. within six
weeks Three full divisions of regulars
are now Ell route to the Cape or under
sailing orders. Large drafts of men to
fill vacancies in the ranks are being sent
out. The volunteers and yeomanry will
be on the way in a month.
The British available regulars now IN
Africa are 10000 colonial troops %
600. The reinforcements provided are:
Volunteers, 1000; yeomanry, 5000; fifth
division, 1900; sixth division, 11,000;
seventh division, 1000; new regular
cavalry, 1900; drafts to fill vacancies.
10000; Canadians and Australians,
1000. These are maximum figures.
Portuguese Help the Beers.
England is at present directing very
keen and critical eye upon Delagoa Bay
more SO than is generally thought
Many side lights, which bear directly
upon the present war, explain how we'll
the Beers. who, having no lack of money,
arc able to continue their persistent and
ever-increaslng resistance. n Delagoa
Bay merchant said:
'rThe Portuguese officials at the Della
goa portland / know them welfare the
most corrupt lot in the world. When the
war commenced the Portuguese at Della
goa bay, like everybody else in the world,
considered a victory dead certain for
the English. Thereupon they at first
put a certain curb upon the Boer impor
tation of arms, recruits. etc, but since
the English reyerseS all that has changed.
They have turned entirely around and
are now against us. Instead of helping
the English at Delagoa bay, they have
made that port base OF supplies for the
Beers.
London, Dec. 22.-The only items Of
jmpor ance which have passed the censor
in the last two days is Il message from
Naauwpoort to the effect that the Brit
ish finding their outpost at VaalkooD I'M
tenable, have abandoned it. They shelled
the Beers when they attempted to occu
ply the town. And word from Sir
George White that Ladysmith is we'll
supplied with ammunition and food. The
long message received at the war office
early yesterday morning proved to be the
list of Colenso casualties. Gen. Butler
reports that 145 were killed and 146
wounded. Two hundred and twenty
seven are described as missing, and of
these about forty are known to be prls-
oners in the hands of the Beers. This
makes total larger than Gen. Buffers
original estimate.
Cape Dutch Astonished.
Cape Town Dec. 22.-This community
is dumfounded by the check administered
to Gen. Buffers forces by the Beers at
Tugela river. Leaders of the Afrikander
bund say that the Boer successes thus
far, and the remarkable prolongation of
the campaign likely to result from them,
were wholly unexpected by the Cape
Dutch.
1t is reported here that orders have
been issued from London prohibiting the
sending to the front of further naval de-
Iachments, it being thought bad policy to
injure the fighting effectiveness of the
British warships By drawing from them
men and guns for hazardous land service.
Mourning or All Sides.
Cape Town is full Of officers wives
whose husbands are at the front. To
them the details of the recent battles
have been OF terrible import. In single
hotel in this city are sixteen officers
wives who have been widowed during the
last few days.
Dingaan's day, Dec. JIG, the anniver-
sary of the great victory won by the Boer
pioneers over the Savages, was commence
rated in the Boer camps with prayers
and hymns.