The true Democrat., 1900-01-06

alton Of the reported sortle lTonl A"ay-
smith, that story is discredited. No
such hopeful view can Ee taken, as the
iBoer account Of ths Mafeking sortle
seems designed to convey. No word
regarding any such movements has
I vet arrived from British sources, and
! the feeling of suspense is deepening a'
! IL is feared Colonel Baden Powells
silence indicates that his position is be-
coming desperate. The dispatches
from the front breathe 3 conadenl
spirit, which is by no means echoeo
here. The latest Ladysmith adviceS
show that the Boer shelllng sis be
coming deadly, while sickness anc
ennui must also be telling strongly
upon the garrison. The news OF tn'
spread Of q rebellion among theDutcE
colonists, and Of the attempts Of
Boers to cut the railway at widely
different points, is very disquietlni
as bsaring upon the safety Of the ex
tended lines Of communication.
All the correspondents are begin
ming to hint Of a forward movement OF
the part CT General Butler, the danger
of which is indicated in dlspatct
to the Daily Telegraph, from Frere
recording the unfortunate failure oil
two reoonnoissances. In one case th'
Boer lines at Colenso were to have beer
bombarded By night. Mounted mel
drew the Boer FIRE, and it was intended
that the naval guns should lombard
This. however, the latter failed to do
owing to soma misunderstanding, and
the reConnoitering party was compel
cd to founder back to camp through
wet AMI stormy night. marching IL
mud and water with the greatest dis
comfort
According to ths same correspondent
a similar fate awaited another recon
noisanc, IN the opposite direction.
"Two detachments, says the dis
patch, ''lost their way in the darkness:
They were unable to affect q junctul
for attack; they stumbled into wat'
holes sad were out all night, only
return drenched and disappointed
/ the morning."
It is roughly estimated that the:
are 25, 0O0 Beers between Ladysmls
and Colenso, some 400 belonging
I the south 81 le Of the Tugela river. /
all points the enemy shows oessele
activity.
A large number Of Americans a
aid to bo finding their way into &
Transvaal volunteer regiments bell
II raised in Cape Colony. It is assert
that many Americans are arriving
Delagoa, having been expelled from t
I Band becsuae they had refused to wo
/ the johannesburg mines for the &c
Il tr1ment.
The proofs of co1trsband traffic
crease daily. 1t is alleged that Eur
pesn officers arrive at Delagoa b
every week, aad proceed to the Bo
lines. The Cape Argus asserts that t
latest importations by way Of Louren
Msruuet are SIX large AmrStrong gu
and six tons of ammunition, viii
have all arrived at Pretoria.
The imperial authorities at the Ca
have seized at Adelaide an immer
consignment OF arms and ammuuiti
marked "biscuits," sent to the DuI
farmers in that neiyhborhooa.
.
1t is feared that the British recc
uoisaace north of Dorreoht, descEil
In dispatch to the war Office, n
turn cut to have been rather ssri
affair.
A correspondent Of the AFsocis
Il Press at sterkstroom, telegraph
u Dec. 81, says:
Captain Mont M rency, OF
N Twenty first Lsncers, with patrol
1910 men, was recounoitering OIL
miles north Of Dordretcht. he
n the Bo,rs at L,busohsgaes Mex. II
II opened fire, aud the British repli
The fghti7g continued for six ho'
Il when the Beers received strong re
forcemsnts, including cavalry. {
tain Montmorency retained and toe
defensive position at Dordrscht.
Beers did not pursue him. 1t Is bel
ed that they retired on their m
body. Their losses are not knowo.
81 The queens message to the Bri
81 troops IN South Africa was SAINT
every general. 1t ran thus:
II wish y1u and all my brave
diers a happy Christmas. GCd pre-
and bless you all. y"
The morning papers are incline
refrain from commenting upon
Bundaaath Incident pending fur