The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-02
Beers CHANGE OF WARFARE.
BY Aid of Europeans They Conduct OPP
erations on Scientific Principles.
Their Strong F~ortifeations at Co
1enso The Boer Agency at Delasoa
Bay-GrumbIing of the British Public
and Press-Ffring on Ladysmlth-A
Report from Genera Methuen.

who is consul general for the rams
yaaI and consul for the Netherlands.
Pott is the principal medium between
Pretoria and DR.. Leyds in Europa. He
controls the Netherland railway
Through the Transvaal and is the head
of the Transvaal customs. He is also
mead of the Dutch East Africa Compa-
ny and has the ear Of the Portuguese
governor. as we'll as the chief of each
department. 1t is openly asserted that
POtt has a private wire TO the frontier
and knows t~wenty-four hours before
others what is happening. About him
gather all the other ~consuls. the Portu-
guese officials and the German for |
warding agents"
4:4O a. m.-During the continued lull
in the military operations in South At
RIGA the papers are filled with letters
and articles criticising the government
and the campaign and suggesting rem
edies, improvements, alterations in the
plans and the like.
The Times complains Of needless
censorship and concealment." 1t cites
the fact that nothing has yet trans
"a NN ~ AAC
came to lose 600 men at Stormberg.
A MILITARY DICTATOR.
MI. Henry Spencer Wilkinson, The
Morning Posts military expert, in his
review of the situation today, says:
THE time has apparently arrived
for the nation to insist, if not upon d
military dictatorship, at least upon the
admission into the abine of a military
minister empowered to veto any pro-
-1-1l- 11trr-1nnrn1 r. tho cr1nnocCTT.
prosecution of the war, and also that
the administration of the army should
be placed wholly in the hands of a tried
military administrator.
The T~ransvaal government, accord
ing to information supplied by Boer
sympathizers, threatens to reduce the
rations of British prisoners if Great
Britain stops the entry of food by Del
agoa Bay"
1t is now estimated that the war Will
cost at least $780, 900, 900 ($S00, 900, 00O)
n it is suggested that the sinking
fund of the national debt should be
suspended for five. or six years in or
der to defray the cost.
London, December 2S.-The war Of
flee has received the following report
from Methuen by Cape Town, dated
Wednesday, December 9th:
"At $3.50 o'clock yesterday evening
the Beers on the south side of Mayors
fontein opened a very heavy fire for
some time. morning the naval
brigade fired at the enemy at the west
part OF MagersfOntein. The cavalry
brigade is accommodating in a north
easterly direction. Lieutenant Masters
has made an extended reconnaissance
westward and northward of Enslein,
and reports all well. The farmers were
glad to see our men. They were sur
fering from want of food. l have es-
tabIished a market here, where L can
purchase fresh mild and vegetables,
selling to the farmers tea and other
articles which they cannot otherwise
purchase. Heavy rain fell last night.
Gatacre and French report no change
in the situation. Baden Powell re-
ports all we'll December 18th"
The latest independent news from
Jadysmith says:
The field Notifications would now
withstand any organized attack the en-
envy is likely to deliver. There are suf-
fcient food stuffs for two months. The
question OF forage might be trouble
some, but since the rains there has
been some grazing within the British
lines. There is no horse sickness
The casualties by our shell fire are
increasing and the Beers are reported
to be becoming nervous. They fear
night sorties and constantly open a
heavy fusillade on imaginary attacks.
THE German officials have promptly
stopped the Beers from recruiting in
DamaraIand. Neither men nor horses
are permitted to cross the border.
FIRING ON LADYSMITH.
ChiveIey Camp, Natal, Wednesday,
December IA heavy Boer gun on
Budwhana hill fired steadily upo
Ladysmith throughout the morning.
Ladysmith did not respond
The enemy having been again de-
tected attempting to improve their
trenches facing General Butler, the
British heavy guns opened upon them
the Beers scampered back into the
hills. The British patrols sighted the
enemy in force on the extreme left.
Nine Beers were killed in a skirmish
that followed. and six Boer wagons
were captured
IMPROVEMENT IN BOER WAR
FARE.
London, December 2S.-A dispatch to
the Daily Mail from PietermarEtZburg,
dated Saturday, December 2Srd. says:
Every day reveal some new facts
regarding the strength of the Boer pU-
sition at Colenso. Thanks TO the SER
vices OF continental officers, the char
acter Of the campaign has change.
We are no longer fighting a foe who
relies upon guerilla tactics, but. We
have to deal with what is rapidly be-
coming a disciplined army, enjoying
the advantages of knowing the country
and Of selecting the scene OF contest.
without the burdens Of a cumbersome
commissariat-
THE Beers have converted the hills
near Colenso into fortresses Of i'm
mense strength. Everywhere they have
splendid trenches, many Of them bomb
proof. Tramway lines permit the shift
ing of uns with astonishing rapidity.
The main positions are connected with
the outlying positions by underground
passages and the forts proper bristle
with machine guns that command the
approaches. Probably mines are laid.
lone hears less nowadays. about
Boer shells not bursting. Observers OF
the Colenso fight say the Boer shell fire
xeas very effective. This is due largely
10 the fact that the distances are
marked off with white paint.
1.-The enemy's discipline is improV-
ing. The trenches represent great man