Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-01
Now In Most Serious Straits
In South Africa.
BULLER'S MOVEMENTS
Two Attempts to Draw Out Enemy'S
Fire Failed-The British Had Some
Severe Engagements With the
Alert Enemy.

London, Jan. lin the absence Of con-
hrmation of the reported sortie from
Ladysmith, that story is d~iscredited, Nc
such hopeful view can be taken, as the
Boer report of the Mafeking sortie seems
designed to convey No word hats yet
arrived from British sources, and the feel
ing of suspense is deepening. as it is
feared Colonel Baden-Powelrs silence in
dicates that his position is becoming des-
Iperate.
The dispatches from the front breathe
a confident spirit which is by no means
echoed here.
Inc latest L~adysmith advices show thai
the Beers Smelling is becoming deadly,
while sickness must also be telling
strongly upon the garrison. The news OF
the spread of a rebellion anon the
Dutch colonists and of the attempts OF
ferent points is very disquieting, as
lines Of communication.
All the correspondents are beginning to
hint OF a forward movement on the part
of General Butler, the danger of which
is indicated in a dispatch to the Daily Tel
egraph from Frere, recording the unfor-
tunate failure of two reconnoisances.- In
one case the Boe lines at Colenso were
to have been Fbombarded by night. Mount
ed men drew the Boer fire, and it was in
tended that the naval guns should bonn
bard. This, however, the latter failed
to do, owing to some misunderstanding,
and the accommodating party was COM
PEELED to fiounde back to camp. through
the wei and stormy night, marching in
mud and water and with the greatest dis
comfort.
According to the same correspondent, a
similar fate awaited another reconnois-
isance in the opposite direction.
Two attachments say the dispatch,
"lost their way in the darkness. They
were unable ITO effect a junction for at
tack; they stumbled into water holes
and We're outfought, only to return
drenched and disappointed in the morn
ing"
1t is roughly estimated tina there are
$4,000 Beers between Ladysmith and Co.
lenso, some 400 being on the south side
of the Tugela river.
At all points the enemy shows ceaseless
activity. A large number of Americans
are said to be finding their way into the
, various volunteer regiments being raised
in Cape Colony. 1t is also reported that
many Africans are arriving at Delagoa
bay, having been expelled from the rand
because they had refused to work the
johannesburg mines for the government.
| The proofs of ~cOntraband traffic in
crease daily. It is alleged that Euro
pear office RS arrive at Dalagoa bay every
week and proceed to the Boer lines. The
Cape Argus asserts that the latest i'm
portaHtons by way of Lorenzo Marques
are SIX large Armstrong n and 1G
cases of ammunition, all Of which have
arrived at Pretoria.
The imperial authorities at the Cape
have seized at Adelaide an immense con-
signment of arms and ammunition mark
ed biscuits" intended for the Boer Dutch
in that neighborhood.
1t is feared that the British %reconnois-
dispatch to the war office, may turn Out
to aave been a rather serious affair.
A correspondent of the Associted Press
at stcrkstrom, telegraphing Dec. 81, says:
Captain Montgomery of the Twenty-frst
lancers, with a patrol of 12O men, was re-
connoitering eight miles north of Dord-
recht. He met the Beers at Labuschag-
mes Mex. They opened fire and the
British replied. The fighting continued
for six hours, when the Beers received
strong reinforcements, including artil-
lery.. Captain Montn1orency retired and
took a defensive position at Dordrecht.
The Beers did not pursue him. 1t is be-
l.eved that they retired IN their main
body. Their losses are not known
Montmorency, on Dec. 80, met a super
ior force using artillery. operated to rear
of Beers. In course OF. the day he was
to withdraw to Dordrecht in
good order, assisted by 60 men sent from
Dordrecht, before which w are in posi-
ton for defense. One man was seriously
wounded.
The queens message to the British
troops in South Africa was sent to every
general. 1t ran thus: IT wish you and
God protect and bless you ALL"
The morning papers are inclined to re-
frain from commenting upon the Bun
desrath incident pending further informa-
tion.
The Daily Chronicle says: 'The incident
was unfortunate, but the Germans may
await the result of the inquiry with con-
! fdence In our fairness"
The Standard says: I'VE feel sure that
.'GeunanywiN recognize the unimpeacheble
validity of our position. We shall en-
force such claims as We shall also en-
deavor to avoid improper acts"