Evening journal., 1901-01-03
In Heart Of DiSaffcCtOd POr-
ton Of Cape Colony
SITUATION NOW is SERIOUS
For The British Army in South Africa.
Dutch Are Favorable TO The
Beers

cape Town, Jan. 3.--The British bat
tleship Monarch viii land guns today
as precautionary measure. The SIT
uation Is undoubtedly serious.
II is true that the Dutch have not
Joined the invaders IN any consider
able numbers. but a lack of arms Is be-
lieved TO be true reason for absentation.
In many places horses are freely Of
fered and information readily supplied
to the Beers.
The early proclamation of martial
law in Cape Town division is expected.
This division does not include Cape
Town itself
The latest reports show the situation
to be generally as follows:
Kuruman, if still uninves,od, prob
ably soon will be.
Griuualand West is filled with small
parties of Beers who are working south
toward Priesl for the purpose of CO.
operating wiA - supporting Com
mandant Hertzog, whose advance par
ties are in the neighborhood of Frazer
burg
The Beers have reached Glenharry,
few miles north of Graaf Reinet, in
the heart of the disahected portion of
the colony.
In the eastern part Of the colony the
advance guard of the Beers is close to
harrisburg, about 25 miles northeast
of Cradock.
The general opinion here is that the
position is not properly appreciated in
England. The Worcester conference
excited the Dutch throughout the col
ony. Many old residents, who are by
no means alarmists regard a general
uprising of the Dutch as quite likely.
Martial law has been proclaimed in
the Worcestershire. Ceres, Prince Al
bsIt. FrhserbuTg and Sutherland d.
visions The enlistment of volunteers
Is active, and the best authorities an
ticipate favorable developments soon.
The great trouble is the scarcity OF
horses. Seven hundred Boors have
broken through the Gordon at Suurbere
and are advancing upon Richmond
The magistrate there reports tnat they
are burning and loOting a few miles
from the town.
Lord Methuen is concentrating a
force at Vryburg whittier a thousand
troops have been sent from Kimberley,
and others from more northern towns,
TO deal with q commando that is raid
ing around Kuruman.
Ine Beers nave reOccupled Jagers-
fontein, which. together with Faure-
smith, the British evacuated on Christ
mas day The convoy Of retiring in
habitants, with hundreds Of wagons.
extended for seven miles It was a
mournful spectacle. Camp was pitched
at Edinburg. The motive for the
evacuation was the difficulty of main
tanning food supplies so far from the
railway.
The Beers commanded by Hertzog,
Vessels, Preterius and Nieuwenhaut
are continuing their march on Frazer
burg 1t is reported that they have
arrived at SpiOnberg.
Looting continues. The Boer horses
are footsore, anu there is great want
of fodder, as the country is barren.
Communication with Fraserburg is
suspended, and it is doubtful when this
will be restored, inasmuch as the Beers
are travelling along the line. Col.
Thorneycroft and Col. De Lisle are
continuing the chase, but their horses
and mules are very tired.
Many Dutch residents attended the
funeral of a Boer killed in action and
placed wreaths upon his offin.
The Beers captured and destroyed
the mills due Dec. 30.