The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-01
ENEMIES IN CAMP
BRITONs ARE CONFRONTED WITH
THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM
OF THE WAR
.DISlFFEClIoI OF THE DUTCH
BECHUANA FARMERS, IN yRYBURG 4
DISTRICT, JOIN THE BOERs "a
ALMOST TO A MAN
TREASON IN CAPE COLONY

Colonial Authorities Using Every
Precaution to Prevent an Insure
rection There and Risings Else
where - A1ertness of the British
Has Rendered Concerted Pro-Boer
Action Difficult.
LONDON, Jan. 1.-The Daily Mail pub
fishes u, following dispatch from Cape
Town:
"Ninety-hs DER cent of the Bechuana
farmers, in tn Vryburg district, joined
the Beers, helping them to loot the
Orange river. They also undertook to
invest Mafeking, while Gen. Cronje's-
men went south to meet Methuen. The
government of Bechuanaland is being adj
ministered as If the Dutch had been In
possession ages"
ERITONS DISCOURAGED.
LONDON, Jan. LIN the absence OF
confirmation of the reported sortie from
Ladysmith that story is discredited. No
such hopeful view can be taken as the
Boer account of the Mafeking sortie
seems designed to convey. No word re-
garding any such movement has yet ar
rived from British sources, and the feel
Ing CT suspense is deepening, as 1t Is
feared Col Baden-Powells silence indi-
Gates that his position is becoming des-
perate. Tho dispatches from the front
breathe a confident spirit which is by no
means echoed here. The latest Lady
=, o1,-io hat hill
Is becoming deadly, while sickness and
,nnui must also be telling strongly upon
the garrison. The news of the spread of a
rebellion among the Dutch colonists and
Of the attempts Of Beers to cut the rail-
way at widely different points IS very dis
quieting as bearing upon the safety Of the
extended lines of communication.
GEN. BULLER'S DANGER.
All the correspondents arc beginning to
hint of forward movement on the part
of Gen. Butler, the danger Of which Is
indicated In dispatch to the Daily Tele-
graph from Frere, recording the unfortu-
nate failure of two "Reminiscences. In
ono case the Boer lines at Coienso were
to have been bombarded by night Mounts
ed men drew the Bocr fire, and 1t was
intended that the naval guns should bonn
bard. This, hoy ever the latter failed to
do, owing to some misunderstanding, and
the accommodating party was compelled
to founder back to camp, through the
wet and stormy light, marching In mud
and water, with the greatest discomfort.
According to the same correspondent,
similar fate awaited another reconnois-
sance in the opposite direction.
1t Is roughly estimated that there are
25,0e0 Beers between Ladysmith and Co.
lepso, some AGO being on the south side
of the Tugela river. At all points the
enemy shows ceaseless activity
A large number of Americans are said
to be finding their way into the various
volunteer regiments being raised in Cape
Colony. 1t is also reported that many
Africans are arriving at Delagoa bay,
having been expelled from the Rand be-
cause that they had refused to work the
johannesburg mines for the government
PLUM PUDDING IN SHELLS.
The following Telegraph message has
been received by way of Weenen from
Ladysmi;h, dated Wednesday, Dec. 81:
The Beers are actively lombard ng the
town. One shell struck the Devonshire
mess tent, killing Capt. Dalso and wound
ing seven lieutenants, Dent, Twiss, Tring-
ham, Cerrafin, Byrns, sacafe and Kane
A later dispatch from Ladysmith by
way of Weenen, dater Friday, Dec %,
says:
"All we'll The Beers have been firing
plugged shells, containing plum pudding
and the compliments of the season. They
are still fortifying their position, and ara
evidently determined to make a firm
stand
NEWS FROM FRONT.
The war office publishes the following
dispatch, dated yesterday. from the gen.
eral officer commanding at Cape Town:
"Methuen's position is unchanged.
French reports that the Beers, fear.
ing their communications would be cut
by our cavalry, have retired to Coles
burg.
Hear unoff1cially from Ste-kstrom that
British reconnaissance, seven miles north
of Dordrecht, engaged superior forces and
was obliged to retire ON Dordrecnt."
TO MAKE A FINAL SORTIE.
dispatch to the Daily Mail from Lou
reno Marques, dated Dec. 20, says:
ut is reported from Ladysmith, by way
Of Pretoria, that the British are destroy
sortie. The Transvaal agents here have
bought up ali the available milk, sugar
and Coffee
FIGHTING INSURRECTION.
CAPE TOWN, Dec 2s.-The colonial
authorities are using every precaution
to prevent an instruction on the part
of disloyal Dutch in Cape Colony and
to prevent a rising elsewhere. Every
f-f.- Hatv or
ganized into home guards, drilled and
made ready to act in their respective To-
calities should armed Dutch colonials
gather The theory is that the British
demonstrating colonials should be fully
prepared to cope with the Dutch col
onials without the aid Of regulars.
The alertness of the British renders
action on the part of the pro-Boer resi-
dents difficult. Unable to act openly,
they slip away singly or in small groups
to join the enemy's forces. The author
tiles have been informed Of many CEN
tiers of agitation where 1t is considered
undesirable to particularize. but there Is
nothing like concerted action apparent
over wide districts.
The case of Mr.. Mihican, solicitor TO
the De Beers company, who is accused
of treason, acquires increased Importance.
as he has been transferred from the Gus
tody of the other authorities here to the
military authority at De Aar His high
position causes the Dutch to watch his
case keenly.
BRUSHES ARE FREQUENT.
Parties of Beers have been operating
some seventy miles south Of Lord: Me-
Continued ON Third Page.