The record-union., 1899-12-06
Bat Little News Allowed to Pass which
DeaIs With War Movements.
A Dispatch From Modder River Re-
ports the Beers Occupying .
Strong Ridge Six Miles North Of
That Point, the British Lancers
Having Come in Contact With
Them.

LONDON, Dec. b. 4:oU a. m.-Ine
censorship continues to be OF the strict
est character. Virtually no news is
allowed to pass except diaries of events
within the beleaguered garrisons and
positions.
According to the latest accounts
from the battle Of Modder River. the
Boer fire was the hottest ON record,
and will revolutionizs existing theories
1t was effective up to LOGO yards, but
the casualties among the prone troops
was trif1ing. 1t was found Impossible
to bring the British ammunition re-
serves to the firing line. Many Beers
wearing red cross badges were actually
employed in serving out ammunition.
In connection with the many accu-
sations against the Boer indifference
to the laws of war, a letter published
in Cape Town asserts that before the
Transvaal ultimatum was sent the
Boer leaders resorted to the policy OF
using the white flag, when driven into
a corner. In order to deceive the Brit
ish commanders, and this policy was
generally approved.
A Modder River special dated Thurs
day, November Both, says: 1.-The
miles north of this point. To-day the
Lancers came in contact with them
1t is reported that the mobilization Of
a seventh division will be ordered at
Aldershot, as a preparation for emer-
gencies.
The Morning Post" complains that
there are plenty Of cavalrymen avail
able at home, but that parsimony pre-
vents their being sent to South Africa,
where they are urgently needed.
NO LATE WAR NEWS FROM
LADYSMITH.
LONDON, Dec. 5.-Although the re-
pairing of the cable between Alden and
Zanzibar has restored the route via
Alden to South Africa, and thereby re-
lieving quite a. budget of belated dis
patches, there is nothing on hand
throwing light on General Buffers
preparations for the relief of Lady
smith or the movements of the other
British columns.
News from Ladysmith has been re-
ceived up to the night of Wednesday,
November 18th, when all was well, pro-
visions were plentiful and the bonn
bardment was ineffective. Dispatches
of the same date from the Boer head
quarters refer to the renewal of
heavy bombardment, with a fourth
siege gun christened Franchise"
which had just arrived from Pretoria,
and a ifeless response from the gar
Tison.
A special dispatch from Durham says
the Beers lost 1,SO0 men at what has
been popularity known as the battle Of
Glencoe. 1t also says that scurvy and
dysentery are rampant among the
Burghers who are beleaguering Lady
smith.
A dispatch from Pretoria mentions
an immense sortie from Kimberley No
vember oath, and says: THE British
prisoners are well. The Government
has permitted them to subscribe to the
State Library, and also allows them to
purchase beer and newspapers
The reports of the abandonment Of
the siege of Mafeking, although coming
from various quarters, are not con-
firmed. Apparently General Cronje left
there a force sufficient to hold the gar
rison in check.
The War Office to-day received the
following dispatch from General For
estier- Walker, under date of Decem-
Der 9th:
General Methuen reported that at
MOdder River he found twenty-three
bodies, and that twenty-seven bodies
have since f1oated to the surface of the
river. The people say that some bodies
were buried, and that others were
taken on mules to Jacobsdal. where the
Enslin wounded were also taken. Com
mandant Albrecht's wagon, perfectly
fitted up as pharmacy and surgery,
was captured. The enemys loss was
more than ours and their morale has
been much shaken.
The following is a Boer version of the
battle of Modder River:
Pretoria, Wednesday. Nov. 29.-De-
1ary's official report states that large
force of British yesterday morning at
tackled his commando at Modder River.
Heavy fighting lasted for hours.
Cronje and Delary took up strong po-
sitions, the Free Staters being REIN
forced Delary had seventeen killed and
wounded, including his eldest son. The
Free Staters' losses are unknown. At
dark the Beers retired slowly tc their
positions, having prevented the British
from forcing their way to Kimberley"