The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-06

walls Of the Hcskens buildings. were a.
tracted by the hollow sound. Investigation
showed false walls and floors that were
packed with silverware, amalgam. and
valuable goods
In spite OF the excitement at the R.ud
martial law is well maintained and there
is little looting. In the hotels Boer women
are baking bread for the army. All stores
and banks are close English re idents
are protected. Bank CLERKS are playing
tennis Between the Chains the space in
johannesburg that corresponds 10 Wall
Street. Some OF the mines are being
worked by Kruger for the Government
mint.
AS an instance Of the service rendered
by balloons in this war an eyewitness OF
the fight at Ladysmith told the writer that
General White was enabled thereby to save
an entire column. The latter had been
sent out over night to attempt an out
f1anking movement in the morning. The
balioonists discovered. however. that the
enemy's guns were stationed so as 70 com
mand the position and surround the British
force. Whereupon the English hastily re-
treated The narrator was close enough to
hear messages being sent from above. as
for example: "Ous shells are falling short
OF Pepworth Ridge"
Upon this information naval guns were
moved up and siienced the Beers Long
Tom. Again, word came down: Move to
the left. Let her come this way and you
can hit a general" "our attack on Pep
worth Ridge seems to be successful" Our
troops are retiring from Almeta HILL" etc
The balloons are cpple-shaped affairs, large
as a cottage. They are attached to armored
trains and worked easily by two men. The
messages are sent by telephone.
The greatest difficulty Is being eSperi-
enced In securing horses and mules. Every
decent animal In South Africa has now
been bought up and shiploads OF mules
land weekly from America and Italy. The
Beers shoot so many OF the officers
mounts that 1t is impossible to keep them
supplied with fresh horses. All sorts OF
animals are pressed into service and at each
camp corps OF rough riders has been
organized to break in mounts for the Off
GERS. The mules from Italy are mostly
used FOR pack service. and they object to
harness. When a couple OF hundred OF
these are corralled for work the scene Is
more lively than a battle. Cape boys are
tossed in the air. soldiers are walked on
and the tenting demoralized The air Is
heavy with dust and the Oaths heard are
something amazing When a tsetse fly
lights on a mule a lyddite shell will not
stop him.
Cape Town is being taxed to its utmost
capacity to take care OF the refugees.
among whom there is great suffering. The
price OF food stuffs is very high, and 1t is
almost impossible to get lodging. Strange
to say, one hears very little vituperation
against the Beers. and probably the loudest
condemnation comes from certain Of the
clergy. Two Wesleyan ministers in par
ticular take every occasion TO infiame their
audiences against Kruger and his nation.
The Rev. Hugh Price Hughes last Sunday
night devoted a sermon to Kruger's cru
city, asserting amO-s other things that the
Transvaal Presiden, aad been accustomed
in early days TO hitc. up women in his OK
team. There is strong Boer sympathy in
the city. however. and racial hatred does
not prevent the Dutch prisoners from re-
ceiving good treatment.
There is loud complaint from the press
on account OF the censorship, which. at
times, seems needlessly strict. Every local
despatch. public or private, is subject to
this censorship. A resident OF Cape Town
handed this message in at the head Office;
"Aliwai North hands Beers. Burghers-
dorp, Stormbcrg also occupied. Mail
papers show that portion Steyn's latest
dispatches were suppressed by High Com
missioner. Did not reach Colonial Office.
Rhodes on 18th Of October cabled War Of
flee for re-enforcements Kimberley"
When 1t reached the recipient In a VIII
lage several hundred miles away It read
simply: "Aliwai North hands OF the
Beers"
The, only way to transmit information,
therefore, is by mail or native runners.
The latter are very reliable. Zulu boys
being preferable for this service because
they can run for DAYS and maintain the
same rate OF speed. They can also .remem-
Der to the word a long message and will
repeat 1t verbatim a week afterward. One
who had been entrusted with a written
despatch was captured near Bloemfontein,
but fooled the Beers by eating the note.
The Kaffirs also render efficient service in
messenger work by calling from hill to
hill They carry despatch for hundred !
niles in this way without dropping syl |