The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-01-03
English Not Happy
Ca New Years Dawn.
The Condition Of Ladysm,th
Causes Serious Apprehen.
sion.
COLONIAL DUTCH RISING.

London, Jan in the absence Of
confirmation of the reported sortie
from Ladysmith, that ssosy is dis
credited No such hopeful view can
be taken as the Boer account Of the
Mafeking sor.ie seems to convey
No word regarding any such move
ment has yet arrived from British
sources an6 the feeling of Suspense
is deepening. as it is feared Col
Baden Powell's silence indicates that
his position is becoming desperate.
The dispatches from the front
breathe confident spirit which ie by
no means echoed here
The latest Ladysmith advices show
shat the Boer shelliug is becoming
deadly, while sickness and ennu'
must also be telling strongly upon
the garrison. The news of the spread
of a rebellion among the Dutch col
onists and futile attempts of Beers to
cut the railway at widely different
points is very disquietlDg as bearing
upon the safety of the extended lines
of communication
All of the correspondents are be
ginning to hint at forward move
ment on the part of Gen Butler, the
DANCER of which is indicated IN a
dispatch to the Daily Telegraph from
Frere recording the unfortunate fail
pre of two reconnoissances. In 2re
case the Boer lines at Co'enso were
20 have been bombarded hy night
Mounted men drew the Boer fire.
and it was intended that the naval
guns should lombard This. how
ever, the latter failed to do, owing 20
some misunderstanding, and the re
connoitering party was compelled to
founder back to camp through the
wet and storny night, marching in
mud and water and with the greatest
discomfort
According to the same correspond
ent a similar fate awaited another
reconnaissance in the opposite dlrec-
ton.
Two detacbments," says the dis
patch, "!ost their way in the dark
ness. They were unable to effect
function for attack they stumbled
into water holes and were out all
night, only to return drenched and
disappointed 10 the morning +"
1t is roughly estimated that there
are 5000 Beers between Ladysmlth
and Co!enso, some 400 beng on the
south size of the TugeIa river At
all points the enemy shows ceaseless
activity
a large ounber of Americas are
said to Be Gcding theis way 'Dso tbs
various volunteer regiments being rails
ed 10 Cape Colony L is also reported
that macy Afr;ca2s are arriving s.
Deisgoa Bag. aaviog been expelled
from the rsnc because they bad refused
to work ;he johannesburg nioes for ,be
government.
is feared that the British secoo
nossance north Of Dovdrechs. described
in dispa:ca to the var ot1ce. may turs
on, TO have bsen rather serious afsl:
a correspondents Of ne Associated
Press at S,e,lsroom. te.esrapoicg Dec
3lst. says: sCap, MootmoreGcy. Of
the Twenty 6rss Laocers. with a patrol
OF 12o. was seconnoitering eight Diles
uor,b of rorkrech. He met the Beers
at Labu-caagoe's Mex They opposed
ERE and the British replied. fae fight
ing cocticued for SIX hours, when the
Beers received strong relafoycemeots,
including artillery. Capt Montmer
reocy retired aod took defensive posi-
ton a: Dordrech, T5e Beers did net
pursue him l. Is believed they re
tired 90 their % ain body. The'r losses
are not known.
TIE GENERAL UNREST OF
CAPE COLONY DITCH