The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-01-04

Churchill Gives His Opinion of
The Situation.
London, Dec. 29.-Winston Church.
Ills arrival at Chieveley Camp is per-
haps responsible for some over-color-
ing OF the gravity Of the situation, but
all to-day's news conveys the impress
sion that Gen. Butler nay be contem-
plating an attack upon the Boer posi-
ton. Certainly the Beers are not in
active. At both Modder River and the
Tugela they are said to be strengthen
ing their forces and extending defense
works, which in both cases are SEEM
ingiy almost impregnable. An illustra-
ton OF the difficulty of obtaining ac-
curate information, a correspondent OF
the Daily News ut Cape Town, under
date of Dec. y, announces that Gen.
Butler Is coming to Cape Town to meet
Sir Charles Warren. and then both go
to Modder River" AS five battalions
Of Gen. Warren's Fifth division are
said to have gone to Natal, his arrival
ut Pietermaritzburg seemed natural.
A dispatch from Chieveley indicates
that Gen. Buffers forces will reno
bilZe at Frere before he attempts
| further advance. Doubtless he would
! be glad to redeem the Colenso reverse
before the arrival Of Lord Roberts,
yet he is 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.. Churchilrs reference to Ladysmith
may imply that the situation Of the
! garrison is more desperate than has
/ been supposed.
Beers Improving Their Works.
Chiveley Camp, Natal, Dec. % =
! Although the two armies were In sight
of each other with the temperature 1O2
degrees in the shade, the British sol
diers enjoyed characteristic Christmas
cheer. Glenfell and KirkwoOd, 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 Tugela river,
three regiments of regulars, supported
Inv 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 POI
sition Mt : o'clock in the morning, us
ing lydlite. The Smelling continued
about two hours. Ever since the en-
gagement at Colenso the enemy has
been energetically improving their in
treuchmpnts. They can be seen gal
Looping freely from hill to hill. Lady
smith also had busy morning, shell
ing the Boer position on UmDuiWaha
maintain. The bursting shells were
plainly visible NJ Chieveley,
Churchill on the situation.
JonIon. Dee. 29.-The Morning Post
hes received the following from MI.
Churchill. under date CT Dec. ~, teie-
granhed from Chiv5ley Camp, where
he has arrived: "All ranks nave com.
plete confidence in Gen. Buller ana
tbare is n stern determination to sue
coed next time at all costs. A pam
ful innressicn was caused by the an
noupcement of the change or COM
marGer-.n. chief. and the soldiers mere
,ra determined to vindicate their
trusted leader. The situation, never
theless. is difficult. the Boer position
beinr ono of extraordinary strength,
with high hills lined tier on tlef, win
trenches and batteries covering an al
most urfCrlaDle river ana slnooth
plain In front. The enemy has sreat
supply of artillery ard many powerful
: rurs cover the river. while the drifts
are covered with converging musKetFy
of 12.CGO Beers There are sixteen
niles of wild broken country before
reaching I.adysmith which demands
early relief"
To Check Hostile Feeling.
London, Dee. 20. A speclai CORE
spondent of the Daily Chronicle, tele-
graphing from SserSstroom Dec. Il,
saws. .StroIg measures are necessary
TO check the hostile feeling among the
Dutch colonists, whose sympathy is
shawn ny the removal of railway bolts
switches bridges and culverts and at,
tacks upon loyal men. DisaHectlon Is
hound to break out unless reinforce
ments soon arrive. The loyal Dutcn
and British settlers are becoming
alarmingly impatient
Beers strongly Intrenchcd.
Kimberley. Dec. 20. Mounted de-
tachments under Col. Peakman, with
three Maxims and several three-pound.
ers under Mai. May. reconnoltered
Leaving the intrerchments the British
advanced to Tollpan. The Bcer pick
cts fired and our Maxims replied. the
Beers disappearing over the ridge
Our guns then began 10 shell Ioiipan
Mt a range of $500 yards. Boer gun
dropped four shells near our men, ou'
did no damage. AS the Beers We're
strongly intrenched we Withdrew
Their guns are well handled.
midas Oner Accepted.
London. Dec. 29.-The imperlai gov
erunent. according TO dispatch from