The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-11
SPIES AT LADYSMITH.
PROTECTION FURNISHED BY 4
BOGUS RED CROSS FLAG.
The Hnrdships of the Siege-FIies
That lombard the Food and At
tack the Fccders-HOrscs Suffering
for FoOd-Mater at II Premium,
and whisky Dear.

|
South African Correspondence London
Standard
Ladysmith, Dec. 12.-That there are trail
tors and spies, white as well as black, in
the garrison of Ladysmith, is certain. The
enemy never fails to receive notice of our
movements. Gen. Joubert indeed is said
to have been very angry because on one
| occasion he had not heard of the order
| countefmandng a night attack He COM
planned of Gen. Whites want of consid-
Grafton in keeping the burghers out Of
bed. The loyalty of the British colonists
is beyond suspicion, but the Dutch ele-
ment in Natal is very strong. Several
| farmers have been caught red-handed,
aud many civilians and volunteers have
brothers and cousins lighting on the other
side. Every prophet is known and discuss
ed in the volunteer lines long before the
regulars have any idea of it, and officers
have received countermauds of orders that
| have never reached them.
Dangerous MoIesI.in Breeches.
The conditions are favorable 10 the spy
mania. AT an early period of the siege
any one who wore a beard or moleskin
breeches was in peril of arrest as a Boer
Men whose standing in the colony ought
to have been a guarantee against treason
We're denounced. and reports that may
have had no other foundation than per
sonal malice or prejudice were carried to
| the intelligence department Mr. Bester
| a justice of the peace and great land
| owner, was an especial object of distrust
| Ills case was undoubtedly peculiar! One
| OF his sons is in the Boer ranks another
| is IN Saoi here as a spy, while he him
| self IS in the neutral camp at Intombi.
| His house, moreover is one of the few
| that have escaped the ravages of the in
| vaders. While the homesteads of loyal
farmers have been looted and destroyed,
| Bestef has been protected by Red
| Cross flag. Under cover of night, a small
| party went out 20 ascertain whether this
| was not an abuse of the Geneva conven-
| ton. The flag was found to be "a sheet
ana the cross red flannel petticoat There
| was no sign of the house having been
| occupied except by the enemys pickles
| The flag vas accordingly sent to Gen.
| Joubert with note calling his attention
TO this deception. Many natives have been
takeh INTO custody for communicating
| with the enemy Some are accused of
| signaling during the day the most likely
| place for a shell.
Turns mt sentry-Go.
Although the Beers have never manifest
| ed any keen desire to take the town bv
assault, or even to draw nearer under
cover OF darkness, a strict watch has of
course been set on hills and plains. AT
exposed points like Wagon hill and OBJ
serVatlon NH, on the southwest ana the
| north, which brave and active enemy
might attempt to rush, the officers take
turns at sentry-gO. The men lie in
trenches, protected by breastworks. WITH
| connecting sentries and pickets in ad-
vance, so that 1t would seem impossible to
approach our lines unobserved. Neverthe-
less, people have passed unchallenged. and
some amusing stories are told of sentries
The most popular Is that of the man who
When told, in answer to his challenge that
the countersign was "Barheur," replied
with disdain Its nothing of the sort;
II > IerrlDle.' Kaffrs have naturally
been most successful in evading the pick
cts on both sides, and once through the
lines they are able TO mingle unnoticed
among the natives in their kraals. The
Beers, anxious to keep on good terms
with the Kaffirs until the issue is decid-
ed, have left their kraals and cattle I'M
moiested, though natives who have been
caught carrying dispatches are said ia
have been shot or ill-treated.
Lies in the Papers.
In six weeks only three newspapers
n. I
was from them mat we learned the des-
perate straits to which we had been re-
duced. We were Informed, on the authori-
ty of our besiegers, that we passed our
days and nights in a great tunnel! and
dared not venture out to bury the decom-
posed horses and cattle that filled the
streets. We Were also assured that the
garrison was exhausted by the necessity
of spending the night in burylng the bodies
of men slain by their shells, and that to
a man we were clamorous 20 surrender
only Gen. White Col. Rhodes. DR.. Jane
son and Sir John Wiloughby being op-
posed to immediate and unconditional ca
pitulation.
Sir George White had already made the
Boer commander acquainted with the in.
significant effect of his bombardment bv
requesting him 10 forward list of our
casualties. Gen. Schalk Burger. who re-
ceiVed this message, is reported to have
replied that he would send ii to Gen. Jou-
bert, though he could not be expected TO
believe such tissue Of falsehoods." Tn re
was some truth, however, i'm the state
ment that enteric is rife In the garrison
This terrible camp follower Of an army in
the field has claimed many victims. and
continues to rage unchecked among the
soldiers, who endure with admirable forth
tude extremes of heat and cold diet
which, though plentiful, is often wanting
in nutriment and always in variety. and
long hours of watching In exposed posi-
tons
Hardships of the Siege
Our horses and oxen have suffered. the
supply Of fodder being exhausted, and the
limited area of grazing ground having b. en-
cropped to the last blade. Groceries have
run out; pure water Is scarce; whisky sells
at 35s. a bottle; and mich COWS are com
Wandered for beef. These are real and
trying dscomforts, but more Cypress We
than all the hardships we endure is the
dreadful monotony of the siege. We have
ceased to take any interest in shells, and
even the most tinid no longer walk up the
street to see the damage done by one of
Long Tom s best efforts. The opportuni-
ties for active exercise are restricted. and
a gallop on horseback is possible only IN
der shrapnel or common shell. There mi2ht
appear to be one resource left, and that Is
to sleep the time peacefully away Even
this consolation Is denied. for Ladysmlih
is afflicted with plague Of flies more ter
rible than any that oppressed the Egyp-
tians. They descend upon us in clouds
noisy, voracious, singing pests, attack
Lac -