The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-01-04

regarding the strength of the Boer pc
sition ut ColensO. Thanks to the ser
vices of continental officers, the char
acter OF the campaign has changed
we are no longer fighting a foe VINO
relies upon guerrilla tactics, but we
have TO deal with what is rapidly be.
coming Il disciplined army, enjoying
the advantage of knowing the coun-
Try ard selecting the scene of con-
test without the burdens of cumber-
some commsSariat The Beers have
converted the hills near Colenso into
fortresses OF immense strength. Ey-
erywhere they have splendid trenches.
many OF immense strength and many
or them bomb proof. Tramway lines
permit the shifting of guns with as
tonishing rapidity. The main posi-
lions are connected with the outlying
positions Iy underground passages,
ana the forts proper bristle with ma
chine guns that command the an.
| PfoacheS. Probably mines are laid.
] One hears less now-a-d days about Boer
shells not bursting. Observers of the
| Colenso fight say the Boer shell fire
was very effective. This is due large
( ~ to the fact that distances are
! marked OF with white paint The en-
emy's discipline Is improving. The
| trenches represent great manual labor
Ter which the Beers have keen dis
/ IKE. The manner in which they have
restrained their fire while our troops
are advancing is another proof of i'm
proved soldering"
Dcingoa BAY for England.
New York, Dec 30.-The Herald and
IrlDCne both have special dispatches
announcing that PortugaTs colonies,
III part at least, are TO be divided be-
tween Germany and England. The
dispatches are both based on n reDort
In the Berlin Lokalanzeiger, which is
said to be unofficial The Tribune
says:
lhe announcement OF the Berlin
LokalanZeiger that under the secret
stlplations Of the treaty Germany will
take Portugafs Asiatic colonies and
the territory north OF Zambesi and
England Delagoa bay, is the most
starting news of the day. The au-
thorl'y is not official, and the state
ment or concerted action by the two
powers against French and Russian
occupation must be accepted with re-
serve until the foreign offices confirm
IT. Inc alleged payment of % o00, 900 I
marks FOR Germany's share I'm this ter
fltollal trade also seems doubtful.
some disclosure Of this kind has been
expected III diplomatic circles for sew
eral Weeks-slnce the necessity for +.
shutting off supplies of arms and am I
hiunltion from the Transvaal has be-
come apparent.
Inc RUSSIAN press forecasts the &C. /
cupatloh OF ierat rs the first conse-
queLce CT the occupation. of Delagoa
pay Dy the British. Russian and
frehch rCm9rs That al neutral pow
crs VIII intervene il England takes eff
receive measures for closing the back
,toor against the entrance of contra
pinu or war into the Transvaal are
ccl2ieh by the general belief that there
II II secret agreement with Germany
eating 10 any emergency which may
arise on the east coast"
Londcn, Dee. 30.-Tha Standard SAYS
nat no credit should be given to the
Eumof from Berlin Of q secret Anglo
,ernan- Portuguese treaty for the por-
LltiCh cf the colonies Of Portugal
government severely Criticised.
ltoEcon. Dee. 3O.-During the contin-
lea lull in The military operations in
,outh Africa the papers are filed with
etters and articles criticising the gov
'rnment and the campaign. and suv-
,estihg Tmedies, improvements alter
ltlons in the plans and the like.
Inc llTes complains Of censorship
Inu concealment. 1t says nothing has
rahsplred to show how Gen. Gatacre
,ame to lose 600 men ut Stormher1
me dispatches from the front all rem.
esent the Beers as i'm a nervous con
ltion and constant dread OF the BRIT.
sh advance. but this is probably nm
xaggeration. The TransvaaI govern. .
lent, according to information SIM
'hed by Boer sympathizers, threatens
Q reduce the rations Of British pris- ,
ners II Great Britain stops the entry ,,
FOOD by Delagoa bay. The British ,
overnment now evinces n marked
mango from Its attitude i'm the early :
,ages or the war and shows n disno- :
i,ion 10 accept assistance from anv
uarter. The imperial yeomanry com. q
iisslOh has issued statement TO the =
Hect that the government considers ,
he formation and dispatch of woman.
= as one or the most pressing needs
I tne situation. and has intimated /,
i nn IL is now prepared to accept from !,
wy 10 10000 yeonapry. Instead of
he 5,OOO originally asked for.
Talk of n Compromise.
DurOan, Natal, Dec 3O.-Mr Wins g
VI Church'l on arriving here ofter
y escape from the Beers received q
ehiehuous ovation. He saws from
'hVersation with members of tha g
rahsvaai executive at Pretorjo ba y
armed that the Beers began tho war =
TN uepidation. but that President i