Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-27
Beers CAPTURE
MEN AND SUPPLIES
Corral British YeOmanry and Meth
uen's Christmas Presents,
THE WEATHER Is VERY BAD

kitchener TIA work Ahead, and Has
the Men Rewards Tor south
African Fighters,
London, Dec. q, $3.50 a. m.,--The pau
city and obscurity Of the dispatches
from South Africa give rise 10 renewed
anxiety, Apparently the disturbed area
OF Cape Colony extends further south
than It did last December. and Lord
Kitchener does not appear to have had
much success as yet in driving back the
invaders
A dispatch from Capetown stated that
a squadron Of yoemaHry which had
been following the Beers from Brits.
town Is reported TO have been en-
trapped. There were several casualties
II Is said and the remainder Of the
force was captured. The war office,
however. had received Nc news last
evening OF the reported capture.
A Burghersdorp dispatch has a mys-
terious reference to an unfortunate
horse which resulted In the sounding
Of cease fire and enabled the Beers TO
occupy all the commanding positions,
the British retiring from a difficult pre-
dicamentP
DOUBTFUL SUCCESS.
Gen. Clementss success against the
Beers In the Gagalesberg region is also
doubtful, the last dispatch reporting
that 1t was considered advisable not
10 force the Beers from their position"
The British pres scontinues In the
main optimistic, but the condition Of
affairs brings home the enormous diff
cultles that will face Lord Kitchener
in patr0lling and policing such immense
tracts Of country. even when the Beers
shall be finally subdued.
The Daily Mail which makes a strong
appeal TO the government TO face the
facts and send Lord Kitchener more
troops" says There Is a real risk IN
being lulled to sleep by carefully CEN
sored messages"
Beers TAKE XMAS PRESENTS.
A Zeerust dispatch says the Beers
captured two wagons containing Christ
mas luXuries destined for the camp Of
Lord Methuen.
Lord Kitchener, according 10 a dis
patch from johannesburg. has issued a
proclamation, dated Pretoria, Deem
Der 2Oth. announcing that burghers who
voluntarily surrender will be allowed 20
live with their families In the Govern
ment laagers until such time as guerHl-
la warfare has sufficiently abated to
admit Of their returning I'm safety 20
their homes. The proclamation also
promises that all property and stock
brought In at the time OF surrender will
be respected and paid for II requisl-
toned by the military authorizes.
WEATHER Is BAD.
New York, Dec PA dispatch to the
Tribune from London says
Little light is thrown on the military
situation I'm Cape Colony by che official
and press dispatches. The system Of
railway and wire communications has
evidently been thrown out Of gear by
the Boer invasion, but no important
town or station has been occupied and
the raiders are not in suticieII force 10
accomplish any useful result. There is
the worst possible weather not only for
military operations. but also for ordin-
airy railway traffic. for the rains are in
AlrNAllAt lllf lANflN hlf a. hRga NAlAA
drifts are impossible.
one body Of raiders Ia reported In
Zuurberg. and another is moving to-
ward Prieska, after cutting a wide cir
cult. but there Is no evidence that all
these rough riders in the east and west
number more than 1000 II they are so
many The pursuit Of them IS difficult
when they are ready 20 break up into
small squads whenever they are mem
aCed with attack.
Lord Kitchener needs snews Of iron
and nerves OF steel IN order 10 endure
the lncessant strain Of campaigning Of
this kind, but the force OF his will and
energy is felt wherever he goes What
ever alarm there was IN Cape Colony
was dispelled when It was known that
he was personally directing the opera
lions at De Aar and Naauwpoort.
TOOK THE YEOMANRY.
There Is a tendency to credit the
Capetown report that a squadron OF
yeomanry has been entrapped by the
Beers In Cape Colony. Lord Kitchener
IN reporting yesterday the re-occupa-
ton OF Britstown by Thorneycrofts
mounted infantry, mentioned that the
retreatlng commanders were being FOL
lowed up. From today's news II would
seem that the Glamorgan and Glouces-
ter yeomanry were detailed for that
purpose, and after "a smart action they
were captured.
Public interest here Is centered upon
the final stage OF Lord Roberts journey
from Madeira and Gibraltar and upon
the honors which viii await him when
he arrives In England.
HoNoRs FOR BRITlsHERs.
The rumors are revived that his name
viii head the New Years list Of honors,
but a dukedom seems out OF the ques-
ton. and an earldom is more probable
with possibly the blue ribbon OF IN"
Order of the Garter. The queen has a
ribbon 10 spare, since no successor mas
been appointed to the late duke OF
Argyll.
Buffers friends would be sorely dis
appointed n his name does not appear
IN the New Years list, and White, Hun
ter French, Ian Hamilton and Pole
Carew are regarded as probable winneri
IN the lottery OF decorations.
Needless confusion has been caused
by the exchange Of formalities between
Lord Hopetoun and the premier OF the
senior colony Of Australia. Barton by
virtue OF his leadership was the only
candidate for prime minister Of the new
commonwealth. and Sir w. Lyme was
the proper master Of ceremonies Tor
nominating him for the post Of honor
Barton Is an eminent colonial statesman
Of the same class as Sir WilfrId Laurier
The federation has been the dream OF
his political career As an ldealist anG
enthusiast he has not been interested
IN anything else, and he has lived 10 sec
his dream carried out as a new prinCl-
pie Of the empire. His name can hardlN