The Somerset reporter., 1900-01-04
The south African War.

A despatch from Durham predicts thai
Ladysmith will be relieved on or abou,
Jan s. While there Is nothing to beat
out this forecast, there 10 some disposip
ton to believe that Gen. Butler Ia pre-.
pairing another attempt to advance, thia
time an attack on the Boer position or
Inlawn mountain.
A train of % cars loaded with corr
beef left Hammond, Ind, Sunday night,
bound for the British soldiers in South
Africa. 1t is said that other large orr
ders from the same source will soon be
filled.
Learning that the French and German
and perhaps other nations had military
officers accompanying the Boer armies
as observers, the War department felV
that 1t would like the same privilege for
an expert Of its own. Mr.. Hollis, u. 81
consul at Pretoria, was accordingly dill
rected to ask Pres't. Kruger If he would
allow an American officer to ACCOMPANY
the troops. cablegram has just be ID
received from the consul saying that the
Boer government has conrteously as
sented to the request. The War depart-
ment will at once hurry suitable man
to the scene of hostilities.
The seizures of cargoes of American
-four off Delagoa Bay fail to excite much
popular interest in England. 1t is gem
orally looked upon as fine point of in
ternational law that will be amicably
settled. so far no official steps in the
matter have been taken owing to the
non-arrival of the necessary papers from
Washington. The military and interna-
tional law authorities. are almost unani-
nous in declaring that Great Britain
should not declare food stuffs contra
band of war. 1t cannot afford to do 30
es in case of a war between England and
any European power England could not
get along without Americas food sup
ply. Indeed it cannot in time of peace.
Advices received here from Pretoria,
under date of Wednesday, Dec. 27, say
that an official despatch from Mafeking,
announces that in the sortie which the
British made from that place Dec. Is,
attacking one of the Boer forts with
cannon, Maxims and an armored train,
the British lost 100 men killed and
wounded, while the Beers lost only two
men killed and seven wounded. The
despatch adds that Captains Kirk wood
and Grenfell we're captured by Boer
scouts near Coenso and were being sent
to Pretoria. Ten unloaded shells, In.
scribed, "rhe Seasons Greetings have
been fred at Ladysmith
A despatch from Benstburg states
January 1, big force of cavalry an in
fantry with 10 guns under the personal
command of Gen. French moving by
detour occupied some hills three miles
from olesburg where the Beers were in
strength, confident in the natural aid &C
corded them by the hills around. 1.-THE
enemy's position extended six miles
around the entire village. at daybreak
British artillery opened the battle. The
Beers were taken by surprise but re.
piled vigorously. An artillery duel was
maintained for two hours. Then Boer
Hotchkiss collapsed and was abandoned.
A Boer big gun was silenced, but this
and the other Boer guns were with
drawn. Colesburg is in British hands
and the few remaining loyalists are jubi-
liant. Many wagons were captured and
a considerable quantity of stores 81
Ugly rumors are in circulation of a
Dutch rising with the object of seizing
I ape Town and the docks and caturing
the governor of Cape Colony, Sir Alfred
Miner. The center of the movement is
said to be Paarl village about thirty
miles from Cape Town. Although the
stories of rising are discredited the
police and military are taking ample
precautions.
Fighting going on at diff rent places
along the line Of occupation between the
British and Beers in South Africa. but
no heavy fighting has been report, Il of
late.