The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-12
WAR NEWS SUPPRESSED.
ALL PRESS DISPATCHES PROHIBITED
SINCE LAST SUNDAY.
REVOLUTION IN B0ER TACTICS
illustrated in Their Determined AS
sault on Ladysmith Outposts-Great
Surprise to the British Little Cause
Attacks Ladysmith Not Bombarded
Sunday British Casualties to Date.
Government sharply Criticised.

London, January 9.-Further news of
General Whites victory rs a~nxiously
awaited, as il is generally realized to
day that there was little warrant for
the exuitation which followed the an
nouncement OF his repulSe of the Beers.
This remarkable revolution in Beer
tactics has been anothe complete sur
prise to the British, who had not reck-
oned on the weakened garrison of La
| dysnnith being subjected TO such a
ageous assault, and it is realized that
General Whites troops cannot be ex-
pecued TO greatly prolong such an ar
duous defense.
In some quarters it is considered I'M
accountable that General Buller did not
press his attempt to effect q passage
OF the Tugela river while the Beers
were engaged northwards, and the COM
ment on his apparent supineneSs are
nowlSe complimentary.
From the Boer headquarters 1t is
| reported that General Butler is con-
~Structing a subsidiary railroad from
the main line to CoQenso, w~estwardly,
in the direction of Potgieters drift.
AdviceS from the Modder river say
the Beers continue to extend their
| works and it is estimated THAT 1000
men are required to defend them.
TO BE TRIED AS REBELS.
The prisoners captured by the Cana
| dians and Q~ueenSlanders at SunnySide
are going to Cape Town for trial as
rebels. The Canadians expressed in
tense indignation on learning that the
prisoners were British subjects. The
colonial troops continue to earn warm
praise on all sides.
The casualties of the Suffolks near
Colesberg were: Killed: Colonel Wat
son and Uieutenants Wilkins, Carey
and White and twenty-three men.
Missing: Captains Brett, Thompson and
Brown, and Lieutenants Allen, Wood,
Marten N Butler and 1O7 men.
Wounded: Twenty-one men.
General French further reports that
the casualties of the other regiments
to January 4th were II men killed and
A wounded.
The queen has autographed her con-
| gratLlationS and thanks to General
! White and his troops of LadySmith.
A dispatch from Frere Camp, last
Sunday night. said all was quiet there.
thus diSpelling the widespread hopes
/ that Genera Butler had followed up his
demonstrations before Colenso with an
| effective move elsewhere.
/ The London Times correspondent at
| LourenZo Marques cables that although
| there is no guarantee that Transvaal
gold is of standard value, the Portu-
guese government compels the local
banks to accept it as legal tender, at
the same rate ais British sovereigns,
thus giving the republic every facili-
ty for extensive transactions here and
remitting money Ito Europe"
Continuing the correspondent says:
1T is questioned whether the Portu-
gueSe order is not a breach of neutral
ity."
The latest news from Bloemfontein
| a the officials there recognize that
they must evacualte the town ait an
\ 100 u x1ofn op6 ora rxantnnor hn11cnS OF
Pretoria. 1t is also announced that the
hospitals ait Bloemfontefn and else
where are packed with wounded men.
NO WAR NEWS.
London, January 10.-4:3O a. m.-The
war office mas neither contributed any
light on the situation in Natal since
Sunday nor allowed the dispatches of
correspondents to get through. Con
~sequently the public Impotence finds
vent in a discussion of the Conduct of
the war.
The Morning Post demands that the
forces afield. ,afioat and in preparation
shall be increased by IS, 900 men. To
this end it urges hat all the trained
men the country possesses, militia
and volunteers, shall be called out, as
sorting incidentally that, although the
latitude of other powers is correct in
the diplomatic sense of the word an
invasion, if attempted would be sud-
den, and that now is the time to ap-
prehend contingencies.
The Daily Mail says it understands
the supersession of another general
commanding South Africa will shortly
be announced. This may have relation
to General Buffers hasty summons
from Davenport. 1t is reported hat he
came by special train to Londo yester-
day and held a long consultation with
the headquarters stan This seems to
indicate that his advice, which only re-
Gently was in extreme d%isfavor, is about
to be utilized.
SHARP CRITICISM.
The critics range up and down the
entire field of var transactions, finding
fault especially with the lack of trans
ports for the troops who are ready to
depart, and with the concealment Of
news, averring that the censorship in
ISouth Africa embraces the mails; that
the reports of correspondents are being
mutilated and entire letters suppressed.
The admiralty is seeking transports
and is reported to have chartered the
american Liner ST. Paul, which was
inspected previous to chartering, and
three Liverpool steamers.
iBALFOUR'S UNSATISFACTORY EX-
PLANTATION.
The governments defense as put
forth by Mr.. Balfour at Manchester has
produced a disagreeable impression
upon the country. The Standard,
Times and st. James Gazette join in
the almost unanimous metropolitan and
provincial disapproval of the govern
lment'S explanations.
Great Britain's losses since the war
began are fast approaching 5000. A
war office compilation of casualties,
issued last evening, shows a total of
7,213-1,027 killed, 3.675 wounded, and
l2,511 missing. These do not include
I140 who have succumbed to disease nor
the casualties at Ladysmith last Sat
urday.
The Daily Mail says: With charac-
~teristic bad manners, the Transvaal
have refused to allow Mr.. Hollis, the
American representative at Pretoria, 10
care for British interests. This is un-
l~precedented in modern diplomatic his
tory"
A dispatch to the Daily Chronicle,
dated at Frere Camp, Sunday afternoon
at 3 o'clock says: There has been nc
ibombardment of Ladysmith today, mol
l nv -l-1ls-- - - n-s~