The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-05
TRAITORS In CAMP
THEY BETRAY EVERY MOVEMENT
BY LADYsMITH GARRISON.
Pests Of Flies Divide Time with Shells
in Making Life Miserable for the
BeIengucred Forces.
WATCHING THE SHELL FIRE
JULIAN RALPH's NOTES OF THE
DAILY GUN PRACTICE.
Christmas ut Lndysmith Had but Lit
tie in 1t Remind the Troops
of Holiday Festivities.
WATCHING THE SHE'LL FIRE
JULIAN RALPH'S NOTES OF THE
DAILY GUN PRACTICE.


respondent at Ladysmith devotes the
greater part of a two-coumn letter to the
subject of spies. He writes: THAT there
are traitors and spies, white as we'll as
black. in the garrison at Ladysmith, is
certain. The enemy never fails to receive
notice of our movements. General Joubert,
cause on one occasion he had not heard of
the order countermanding night attack.
He complained Of General Whites want of
consideration in keeping the burghers out
of bed on Mournful Monday-the name
given by common consent to the day of
Nicholsen's Mex. The Beers have disas-
trous proof of acquaintance with our plans
by withdrawing their main body from the
center of our attack and by preparing an
ambush for the Gloucesters and Irish Flu
siliers. The reconnaissance under Colonel
Brocklehurst also showed that they had
been warned in time to change their posi-
ton. In short. it is impossible to avoid
the reflection that we are in an enemy's
nists Is beyond suspicion, but the Dutch
element in Natal is very strong. Several
farmers have been caught redhanded, and
many civilians and volunteers have broth
ers and cousins fighting on the other side.
Every project is known and discussed in
the volunteer lines long before the regu-
lars have any idea of it, and of course
have received countermands of orders that
have never reached them.
"Our horses and oxen have suffered, the
supply of fodder being exhausted, and the
limited area of grazing grounds having
been cropped to the last blade. Groceries
have run out; pure water is scarce; whisky
sells at IS cents a drink, and mich cows
are commandered for beef. These are real
and trying discomfOrts, but more oppres-
sive than all the hardships we endure is
the dreadful monotony of the siege. We
have ceased to take any interest in the
shells and even the most timid no longer
walk up the street to see the damage done
by one of Long Toms best efforts. The
opportunities for active exercise are re-
stricted, and a gallop on horseback is
possible only under shrapnel common
shell. There might appear to be one re-
source left, and that is to sleep the time
peacefully away. Even this consolation is
denied, for Ladysmith is afflicted with
plague of the flies more terrible than any
that oppressed the Egyptians. They de-
scend upon us in clouds-noisy, voracious,
singing pests. attacking every exposed
of no wit
holiness and unfinching determination.
Every dish on the table is black with
these torments, so that it is often literally
impossible to see the food or to carry it to
the mouth without risk of swallowing
scores of the poisonous insects
RALPH SEES THE SHELLS.
Julian Ralph, the American correspond
ent. writes from Modder River to the
Daily Mail under date of Dec. 30:
Did you ever see any Boers?' officer
calls to u.s.
.very few" says /. "Just the prisoners
we have taken. For we fighting an
invisible foe, as everybody knows by this
time.
well, have look through this He
taps the guns telescope he speaks, and
look through it.
"'Heavens, are those Beers? We see
them all over the hills in numbers like
plant lice on leaf. They are all over the
hills-riding. walking. sitting in groups.
looking over redoubts, digging trenches,
passing water up the slope-the little range
of purple breast is alive with Beers. Then
peacefulness of this place. Peace where
oil hoe haar
peace in Africa since the Beers came here;
no peace for the British since they became
the Boers's neighbors.
I'VE are to lunch with the guards. Wei
coined. and places made for us, we seat
ourselves and are served with soup. Boom,
soof, soof, soof, soof, soof soof, oogh.
1.-THE boom is the noise of a big gun, the
soof, soof is the shell tearing through the
air, the oogh, precisely like a cough, is the
bursting of the she'll
That's our Joey, says the colonel; let
us where the shell strikes. BY jove,
pretty shot-plump where they have their
4O-pounder' F."
Boom from the Boer gun on the right;
'Oogh,' from its shell, which sends up
fountain spray of sand near the CANCERS
hut.
=" Didn't burst says a captain.
Devilish good range, though says an
other. And now we are all out of the tent
sending for glasses. forgetting our lunch,
intent upon this gigantic duel.
How frequently does this Happen? How
often Is this vale of pastoral peace startled
by such sounds and actions? Oh. as a rule
every morning with shot or two; every
afternoon with from half hour to two
hours firing, and then again at odd and
unexpected hours on odd and unlocked for
days"
The Ladysmith correspondent of the
Standard thus describes Christmas day in
the beleagured camp: "Cannons instead
of carols greeted Christmas morn
ing. The roar of Long Tom and the crash
OF shells babe us awake and salute the
happy morn. We had hoped the Boer.
would extend to this anniversary OF peace
midnight an enemy crept 10 the foot of
Caesars Camp, and, having fred live shots,
shouted to the indignant Manohastnrs com
pliments OF the season. a merry Christ
mas
IF shraprel and shell could make a
merry Christmas. had no cause for
complaint. The Beers were determined that
tone OF solemnity should blend with our
convfviality. and that the thunder of their
gums should accompany the anthem sung
In the little stone church with the shat
tered porch. Nothing is more characteris-
tic of our race than the tenacity with
which We cling TO old customs Neither
the place nor the circumstances could con-
tribute TO the gayety and good cheer that
are associated with Christmas at home
We are a sick and beieaciered garrison