The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-01-05

the Situation.
London, Dec. 20.-Winston Church.
/ Ills arrival at Chieveley Camp is per.
haps responsible for some over-color.
ing of the gravity of the situation, but
all to4lay's news conveys the impress.
sion that Gen. Butler my be contem-
plating an attack upon the Boer posi-
ton. Certainly the Beers are not in
active. At both Motlder River and the
Tugela they are said to be strengthen.
ing their ferces and extending defense
works, which in both cases are seem
ingly almost impregnable. An illustln-
ton of the difficulty of obtaining ac-
curate information, Il correspondent of
the Daily News at Cape Town, under
date Of Dec. q. announces that Gen.
Butler is coming to Cape Town to meet
Sir Charles Warren, and then both so
to Modder River" AS five battalions
of Gen. Warren's Fifth division are
said to have gone to Natal. his arrival
mt Pietermaritzburg seemed natural.
A dispatch from Chieveley indicates
that Gen. Buffers forces will reno
billie at Frere before he attempts a
further advance. Doubtless he would
be glad to redeem the Colenso reverse
before the arrival of Lord Roberts,
yet he ia hardly likely to attempt an
other frontal attack. 1t is more like
~ that he is preparing to strike. should
the Beers make any offensive move.
Mr. Churchill's reference to I.adysmith
may imply that the situation Of the
garrison is more desperate than has
been supposed.
Beers Improving Their Works.
Chiveley Camp, Natal, Dec. 90. -
Although the two armies were In sight
of each other with the temperature 1O2
degrees III the shade, the British SOL
diers enjoyed characteristic Christmas
cheer. Glenfcll and kirkwocd, of the
South African light horse, left here to
inspect the patrols along the eastern
hills. Their horses returned at night
alone. Our scouts reported Beers in
force on this side Of the Iugela river,
three regiments of regulars, supported
by artillery and all the available
mounted volunteers under the COM
mand of LORD Dundonald. advanced.
The Beers retired across the river.
The British captured 800 cattle. The
naval guns began Smelling the Boer po-
sition ut o'clock in the morning. us
ing lyddite. The shelfing continued
about two hours. Ever since the en-
gagement at Colenso the enemy has
been cnergetically improving their in
trcnchmcnts. They can be seen gal
Looping freely from hill to hill. Lady
smith also had busy morning, she'll
ing the Bocr position OH Unbulwana
mountain. The bursting shells were
plainly. visible ut Chieyaley.
=, = Churchill Oh the Situation.
London. Dec. 29.-rhe Morning Post
has receiTed the following from MIR.
Churchill, under date of Dec. 26. tele-
glapked from Chiveley Camp. where
he has arrived: ''All ranks have com.
plete confidence in Cen. Butler and
there is a stern determination to Sue
coed next time at all costs. \ pain
full impression was caused by the an
nouicement of the change of COM
mander-in- chief. and the soldiers here
are determined to vindicate their
trusted leader. The situation. never.
thcieSs. is difficult. the lsoer position
being one Of extraordinary strength,
with high hills lined tier OIL tier. with
trenches and batteries covering an al
most unforiab'e river and Il smooth
plain in front The enemy has Il great
supply of artillery and manly powerful
guns cover the river. while the drifts
are covered with converging musketry
of 10000 Beers. There are sixteen
miles of wild. broken country before
reaching I.adysmith which demands
early relief"
To Check Hostile Feeling.
London. Dec. %. \ special CORE
spondent of the Daily Chronicle. tele-
graphing from Stcrkstroom Dec. 81.
says: "Strong measures are necessary
to check tho hostile feeling among the
Dutch colonists. whose sympathy is
shown by the removal of railway bolts,
switches. bridges and culverts and at
tacks upon loyal men. DisaffcctiOii is
bound to break out unless reinforce.
ments soon arrive. The loyal Dutch
and British settlers are becoming
alarmingly impatient"
Beers Strongly Intrenched.
Kimberley, Dec. %. = Mounted de-
tachments under Col. Peakman. with
three Maxims and several three-pound-
ers under Maj. May. reconnoitercd.
Leaving the intrenchments the British
advanced to Tollpan. The Boer pick
cts fired and our Maxims replied. the
Beers disappearing over the ridge.
Our guns then began to shell Tollpan
at range of $500 yards. A Boer gun
dropped four shells near our men. but
did no damage. AS the Beers were
strongly intrencled we withdrew.
Their guns arc we'll handled.
India's 06er Accepted.
London, Dec. 29.-The imperial gov
eminent, according to dispatch from
Calcutta to the Times. has accepted IN
offer OF two batteries made by the
Indian government.
Warren Mt PIetcrmarftzburg.
Pietermaritzburg, Dec 29.-Gen. Sir
Charles Warren. commanding the
Eifth division, has arrived h"r. witt,
his staff ana Immediately pr..vs.~..
for the front.
Reef for "Tomnay ,Atisins."
| ChicnpO. Dec. 20.-The Record saws: