Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-01

Capt. Nontm"repcy Rctircs After N
SiN-IIour Fight

LONDON. January IA correspondent Of
th., Associated Press al Sterkstroom. tcIe-
graphing December II. says: Capt Mont
u.ureHcy If the 21st Lancrrs. with a paIrOl
cf 12,,- WAS rocoEnoiterine eight miles north
Of DDrdrecht. He met the Beers at La
buschagu-S Mex. They opcncd fire and the
British replied The fighting continued fpr
SIX hours. when the Beers received strong
reiHf"rcemcnts. including artillery. Capt.
Moutm"rency retired and took Il defensive
position at Dordrecht. The Beers did not
pursue him 1t is believed that they retired
on their main body. Their losses are not
known.
The queens message to the British troops
In South Africa was sent 10 every general.
II ran thus:
Il wish you and all my brave soldiers
happy Christmas. God protect and bliss
you all
The morning papers are inclined /, re-
frain from commenting upon the Hundss-
Tdth incident pending further Information.
The Daily Chronicle says: The incident
was unfortunate. but the Germans may
await the result Of the inquiry with CoIti-
T. i'll fairnt -.
The Standard says: I'VE feel sure that
Germany will recognize the UnimpeaChab bic
validity nj our position. We shall enfrrc"
such claims possess. with every lie
SIRE to cstus,- the least possible iuconvrn-
l'NCe to trade among friendly states: hut
al tho same time shall act with FIRM
bellis"rent power
Preparing to Abandon Ladysmith.
dispatch % the Daily Mail from Lo-
renzo Marques. dated December ~. says
1T is reported from Ladysmith. by way
Of Pretoria. that the British are destroying
their heavy cannon. prior to final sortie.
The Transvaal agents here have bought
w all the available milk. sugar and coffee.
They have managed to get large orders sent
Tor shipment here by French and German
steamers. Prices have advanced - yer
cent in consequence, and the stocks are
very short. Something like famine is
threatened. the British government is
stopping all goods consigned here from
coast ports.
Several members Of the volksraad meet
every steamer. doubtless to give further
orders Portugal is doing her best to main
tain neutrality. but foreign opinion in Lo-
Tt NO Marques is generally in favor of &c
lively assisting the Beers to procure food
supplies
Herr Pott. the Transvaal consul general
here. is losing Lloy5Is' agency and the
agencies for the Castle. Union and Buck
nail steamship lines in consequence of The
position he holds.
The war Office publishes the following dis
patch. dated yesterday. from the general
officer commanding a Cape Town:
''Nethuen'S position is unchanged.
French reports that the Beers. fearing
their communications would b. cut by our
=
Hear uuufficiaIIy from Sterkstroom that
a British reconnaissance, seven miles north
OF podrecht. engaged superior forces and
obliged 10 retire on Dprdrecht-"
Later Montmprcncy. on December 30.
net superior force using artillery. operated
I" rear of Beers In course Of the day he
was compelled To withdraw to Dordrecht
il good order. assisted by sixty men sent
from p,rdrecht. before which we are in
position, for defense The following casual
II reported: one seriously wounded
shell Struck n Mess Tent.
The following Telegraph message has
been received by way of Weenen from Lady
smith dated Wednesday. December -:
The Beers are actively bombarding the
town One shell struck the Devonshire
Iress tent killing Capt. DaIzel. and wound
ing seven Heutenants. Dent, Twiss, Tring-
ham. Cafyn Byrne. Scafe and Kane
A later dispatch from Ladysmith by vay-
Of Weenen. dated Friday, December 29.
says
plugged shells containing plum pudding and
the compliments Of the season. They are
sriu terrifying their positions and are evil
IDENTIFY determined t. make firm stand"
The Daily Mail publishes the following
dispatch from Cape Town: ''Ninety-five uer
cent Of the Bechuana farmers in the VT
burg district Joined the Beers. helping them
u loot the stores throughout the country
north OF Orange river They also undertook
to invest Mafekiug while Gen. Crouje's mal
went south to meet Lord Nethuen. Govern
rent Of B"Chuanaland is being administer
ed a. If the Dutch had been in possession