The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-01
RATHER GLOOMY IN ENGLAND.
DISPATCHES HAVE NOT BUOYED UP
BRITISH SPIRITS.


coming Deadly and sickness Is
Telling ON the Men-RepOrts Indi-
cate That Butler Is Preparing for
n Forward MOvement-His Recon-
noitering Parties Have Accom-
pIishcd Little.
London, Jan. LIN the absence of con-
firmation of the reported sorte from
Ladysmith, that story is discredited.
No such hopeful view can be taken as
the Boer account of the Mafeking sortie
seems designed to convey. No word re-
garding any such movement has yet ar
rived from British sources; and the feel
ing of suspense is deepening, as it it fear
ed Col Baden-Powells silence indicates
that his position is becoming desperate.
The dispatches from the front breathe a
confident spirit, which is by no means
echoed here.
The latest Ladysmith advces show that
the Boer sheliing is becoming deadly, while
sickness and ennui must also be telling
strongly upon the garrison.
The news of the spread of a rebellion
among Inc Dutch colonists and OF the at
tempts of the Beers to cut the railway
at widely different points is very dis
quieting as bearing upon the safety of
the extended lines of communica ton.
Butler Expected to Move.
All the correspondents are beginning to
hint at forward movement on the part
of Gen. Butler, the danger of which is in
dicated in a dispatch to the Daily Tele-
graph from Frere, recording the unfortu-
nate failure of two "Reminiscences. In
one case the Boer lines at Colenso were
TO have been bombarded by night. Mount
ed men drew the Boer fire. and II was
intended that the naval guns should bonn
bard. This however, the latter failed to
do, owing to some misunderstanding ana
the reconnoitering party was compelled to
founder back to camp through the wet
and stormy night, marching in mud and
water and with the greatest discomfort.
According to the same correspondent
similar fate awaited another reconnais-
sance in the opposite direction.
Two detachments," says the d spatch,
lost their way in the darkness. They
were unable to effect a junction for at
tack; they stumbled into water holes and
were out all night, only to return drench-
ed and disappointed in the morning"
Beers Laying for Buiier.
It is roughly estimated that there are 25.-
900 Beers between Ladysmith and Cohen %,
some 400 being on the south side OF the
Tugela river. At all points the enemy
shows ceaselesst activity.
A large fidfnber 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 hav-
ing been expelled from the Rand because
they had refused to work the Johannes
burg mines for the government
IL May BE Serious.
II is feared that the British reconnais-
sance north of Dordrecht. described in a
dispatch to the war office, may turn out
TO have been a rather serious affair.
A correspondent of the Associated Press
at Sterkstroom, telegraphing Dee. 81
says:
Capt. Montmorency of The Twenty first
aucers, with patrol of 120, was recon-
noitering eight miles north of Dordrecht.
He met the Beers at Labuschagne's Mex
They opened fire, and The British replied.
The fighting continued for six hours, when
the Poers received strong reinforcements
including artillery. Capt Montmorency re
tired and took a defensive position at
DordIecht The Beers did not pursue him.
1t is believed they retired on their main
body. Their losses are not known"
Later Montmor5ncy, on Dec 80, met
superior force using artillery, operated to
rear of Beers In course of the day he
was compelled to withdraw to Dordrecht
In good order, assisted by sixty men sent
from Dnrdrecht, before which we are
in position fer defense.
THE following casualty reported-One
I seriously Wounded