Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-01-03
War I'm South Africa

tiers and articles critlcising the gov
eminent and campaign, and suggest
ing remedies, improvements, altera-
tions in the plans, and the like.
The London Times complains of
needless censorship and conceal
ment." 1t cites the fact that moth
ing has yet trsnspired to show how
General Gatacre came to lose 900 men
at Stromberg.
The dispatches from the front all
represent the Beers as in nervous con-
dltion, and constant dread of the
British advance, but this Is probably
an exaggeration.
The Modder river correspondent of
the London Daily Chronicle gives an
explanation of a sudden rifle fire in
explicably opened from the Boer
trenches He says:
The Beers have wires stretched
along the ground in front of the
trenches and connected with lamps.
If wire be touched lamp is extin-
guished, thus giving warning. One
night high wind extiuguished a
lamp, which resulted in a false warn.
ing. The fire ceased when the Beers
discovered that the alarm was false. ''
A correspondent of the London
Daily News at Frere Camp announces
that tramway is being constructed
from the railway to the hill com
msnding the Boer position, and that
along this the British will convex
heavy guns.
According to a dispatch from La
dysmith, dated Wednesday, Decem-
Der Goth, the heat was intense, being
lO4 degrees Fahrenheit, in the shade
There were many cases OF enteric
fever In the town at that time, but
not enough to cause alarm. On the
other hand, reports from Boer sources
on the contrary, assert that fever is
is epidemic in Ladysmith.
The Transvaal Government ac.
cording to information supplied by
Boer sympathizers, threatens to ere
duce the ratious of British prisoners,
if Great Britain stops the entry of
food by Delagoa Bay"
1t is now estimated that the war
will cost at least $50, 100000 $780,.
OOO,OOO), aud it is suggested that the
sinking fund of the national debt
should be suspended for five or six
years, in order to defray the cost.
Signs point to the probability that
the greatest pattle of the South Afri.
can War will occur in Natal soon.
perhaps this week, and in view of
the English re-infoacements, a victo
r. for Butler is expected and the re
lief of Ladysmith assured.
The Beers have been firing at La
dysmith plugged shells containing
plum pudding and the compliments
of the season.
A dispatch from Kimberley states
that the town has food enough for
three months. This is different from
previous advices. which reported the
town on short rations weeks ago.
Bands of Cape Colony Dutch are
dong guerrilla fighting along the
line of General Methuen's communi-
cations. The British authorities, in
order to cope with the revolt, are
drilling the loyal residents and or
ganizing them into home guords.
There is an cutlery in the German
press against the seizure of the Ger
man steamer Bundesrath in Delagoa
bay by a British cruiser on the ground
that the Bundesrath had recruits for
the Beers on board. A Cabinet meet
ing will be held in Berlin to consider
the seizure.
Senator Mason, Congressman Snl-
ger and Cummings and others ad
dressed great mass meeting in the
New York Academy of Music held
to denounce England for her course
in the war.
The record of British reverses in
the South African war has at last
been broken by Gen. j. d. P. French,
who has captured Colesburg, an i'm
portant town In Northern Cape Col
ony, IS miles south of the Orange
river by rail and u miles in a direct
line.
The loss of the British IS described
as slight, while the Beers, as is usual
in censored dispatches, Suffered
heavily"