Hutchinson gazette., 1900-01-11

Tho BrltlNh Troops Cannot Be Expected 10
Greatly prOl0ug Sach nn Arduous De-
foUsr of LAdysmlth nm They Have Been
30 HsrU,Cally Making For the ast
Several Week"
London, Jan. l0,-Further news VI
Gen. Whites victory is anXiously
awaited, az IL Is generally realized to-
day that there was little warrant for
the eXultation which followed the am
nounccment OF his repulse of the
Beers. The remarkable revolution in
Boer tactics has been another com
plete surprise 10 the British, who had
not reckoned on the weakened gurri-
son Of Ladysmith being subjected TO
Such Il courageous assault and 1t Is
realized thnt Gen. Whites troops can
not be expected to greatly prolong
such an arduOus defence, In some
quarters il ~ considered unaccount-
able thai Gen, Butler did moi press his
attempt TO effect II passage OF the Tu-
gela river while the Beers were en-
gagged northwards, and the comment
on his apparent supineness are no.
wise complimentary, From the Boer
headquarters ii Is learned that Gen.
Buller Is constructing subsidiary
railroad from the main line to Colen-
so, ,westwardly, in the direction Of
Potgeter's drift, Advices from the
Modder river say the Beers continue
to extend their works and it is esti-
mated that 10000 men are required
to defend them.
The prisoners captured by the Cam
adams aud Queensnnders at sunny
side are going to Cape Town for trial
as rebels. The Canadians expressed
intense Indignation ON learning that
the prisoners were British snbjects
The colonial troops continue to
earn warm praise on all sides, the
latest example of their effective work
being recorded in the dispatch TO the
London Times dated January q, from
the Modder river, cables to the AS
sociated Press last night which said
that news from Belmont showed that
the Canadians and Queenslpnders had
been so energetic in that vicinity that
the Beers had been compelled to de-
seIt large belt of the Orange Free
State territory across tho border,
Little change is apparent in the po-
sition at Colesberg, Gen, irench re-
ported to the war Office SUNDAY morn
ing, January Z, that he had recon-
noitered with a squadron of the
Household cavalry on the Beers east
flank, two miles from Achtertang and
drew considerable force oE the
burghcrs, who, being anxious for
their communications with Noryal's
pont, Withdrew,
The casualties of the Suifolks near
Colesberg We're:
Killed-Col. Watson and Lieuts.
wilkins, Carey and White, and 23
men.
Missing-Capts. Brett, Thomson
aid Brown, and Lieuts. Rants, Allen,
Wood-Martin and Butter and iO7 men.
Wounded-2l men,
Gen. French further reports that the
casualties of the other regiments to
January 4, were 12 men killed and "A
wounded.
A dispatch from Frere camp, last
night said all was quiet there, thus
dispelling the widespread hopes that
Gen. Butler had followed up his dem
onstration before Colenso with an
effective move elsewhere.
The London Times correspondent at
Lorenzo Marques cables that although
there is no guarantee that Transyaal
gold is of standard value the Portu-
guese government compels the local
banks to accept it as legal tender, the
same rate as British sovereigns, "thus
giving the republics every facility for
extensive transactions here and re-
mitting money to Europe"
Continuing, the correspondent says:
att is q question whether the Portu-
guese order is not breach Of neu-
VI uiuys
The latest news from Bloemfontein
says the officials there recognize that
they must evacuate the town at an
early date and are securing houses at
Pretoria.
1t is also announced that the hospi-
tails at Bloemfontein and elsewhere
are packed with wounded men.
Gatacre shot Guide.
London, Jan. 1O.--A private of the
Irish rifles, who fought at Stromberg,
in letter to his home, says that when
Gen. Gatacre saw the position the
guide had led the troops into he shot
the guide dead with his own revolver.
Captain and Crew Massacred.
London, Jan. 10.-Mail advices from
New Britain report the massacre Of
the captain and crew of 15 men be-
longing to the British schooner Nu-
kumania, of South Wales, while trad
ing among the Admiralty islands.
Only three boys escaped. The natives
after numbering the sailors inuag-
urated feast ashore and ate their
victims.