The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-01-02
THROUGH GLOOM.
PreDch'S Victory Welcome
Ray Of Light.
An Example Of Sound
Tactics.
Important Points Of Campaign
Virtually Unchanged.
Beers Changing Lines
at Modder River.
Messages From Ladysmith Say
All Is Well.

London, January 2-4.45 q. m.--The
success of Gen. French in driving the
Beers from Colesberg has shot . welcome
ray of light through the gloom Of the
campaign In south Africa. Every where
ID L. commented upon a. an example OF
sound tactics and as an illustration Of
what may be done when the right meth
eds are employed with the Beers. The
government 10 urged to take the lesson
TO heart and to see that no stone 10 lsft
unturned In the endeavor to get the larR-
est possible forces Of cavalry and mount.
ed infantry to the front.
Now that Ger. French has the Beers
on the run, the hope IL expressed that
he will give them no rs ST, but will har-
rass them until they have found their
way across the Orange river. which ID
10 miles distant. The old wagon
rouse to the Free Stats traversed Coiss-
berg and crosses the river bye fipe
bridge, 1s40 fest long. II is bslieved that
the Beers rstrsated toward Norvals Peat,
further east, and the question is whsthsr
Gen. French will bs abls to secure these
two bridges before the Beers destroy
them.
One Important eject Of the success Of
Gen. French 10 that IL win probably have
Q deterrsut infiue upon Dutch dig
affection. There 10 some disposition hsre
to exaQgerate the importance OF small
skirmishss and engagements. 1t should
be borne in miud that Gen. French has
only 1000 men; and SO far ss the impor-
tant points Of campaign are concerned,
the situation is virtually unchanged.
At Moddsr river, the Beers appear 20
be modifying somewhat their line Of de-
fense. Gen. Buller's scouts have discov-
cred Boer camp established In the vi
cinisy of Spring deld, southwest Of Coien-
90, by . Free State oommando. A similar
movement has been made at Modder
river. A large force Of Beers, IL 10 said.
has formed Q new lAaeer about 10 miles
down the stream at Kames Eihoek.
Heilograph reports from Ladysmith
show that all was we'll on Decein ber 81.
The bonn ba rdment was being continued.
but its intensity had relaxed. An official
despatch from Lsdysmith confirms the
report oabled yesterday that several offic-
ers of the Dsvonshire regiment were &C.
verely wounded BY the explosion Of a
Bosr shell In the mess tent.
A new armored train has reached Gen.
Bullsr from Durham.
A Cape Town despat IN says that an ex-
change Of prisoners 10 under oonsidera-
tion.
The entire seventh division win have
sailed from England by January II.
Lord wolseley replying to oorrsspon-
dent who asked for information regard
ing the British artillery. wrote
"Our field artillery 10 at least as good
as any field artillery In Europe"
A British firm, according to the Daily
News after keen composition. with ssvsr-
al American firms, has secured the gov
ernment contract for the new seven span
bridge over the Tugela river at Colenso
The firm 10 working night and day to
complete the order. 1t 10 said that Mr.
John Churchill, younger brother OF
Winston Churchill, win accompany the
Duke of Marlborough to the seat Of war.