Evening Express

TO-DAY'S WEATHER. The forecast of the weather throughout the Wes- of i'.n?]biid and SoutLi Wales for to-day (Weduesday) is &3 follows :—A tt". win da, light; fair gtneraHy,

WEETf'H TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL. The following table gives the temperature and rainfall at Cwrt-y-Vii, Demuth. for 24 hour., as read at 9.0 a.m.. and entered to the preceding dRY:

Tempeeaturk. Date. Rainfall. 3Iax. Mm. Mcau Wednesday 3 £ 0 42 44-5 *20 Thursday 4 43 43 4Ivi "28 Priday 5 AS 34 38'5 CO Saturday 6 ^6 36 41*0 1*40 Sunday 7 50 37 43*5 "10 Monday 8 52 39 *5'o '18 Monday I 8 52 39 45.5 '18 Tuesday 9 43 38 43*0 CO

By the Way. 9 The death of Mr. P. P. Pryse. heir to the Gogerddan Estate, is one of the saddest events which has occurred in Cardigan- shire for r. long time. and has cast a gloom ever the whole county, where the ancient familv of Pryse is held in the highest e,teem, Mr. was a M.F.H., and was very popular. Like his ancestors, he was a Welshman to the core, and had a I knowledge of the language in which the Welsh bards, down to the time of EdAvard Richard, the founder of Tfstradmeurig Richard, the founder of Ystradmeurig School, sang the praises of the lordly pos- sessors of Gogerddan. The very name of the mansion is dear to Wehh musicians, ) for is not o-ne of the most touching of Welsh airs—I Bias Gogerddaii "-based i on a pathetic tradiition connected with the Pryse family i' There are, some people who are still labouring under the delusion that the harp is the national instrument of Wales. At one time it was so, or, perhaps, it would" be more correct to say that the harp and the crwth divided between them the honour of being at one time the two musi- I cal instruments most in vogue in the Prin- cipality. But they have been driven out by German, Italian, and American impor- tations in the form of pianos, harmoniums, American organs, and what not. ¥t fact, the piano is well-nigh omnipresent. It is calculated that it is found in every seventh house in the United Kingdom, Wales included. While admitting it is—when sound in wind and limb—a splendid house- hold companion, there is no reason that I Welshmen should give up their national instruments in favour of it. It is time the I crwth and the telyn were reinstated in their ancient position, and' found a more I honourable place on the eisteddfv" form than is the case at present. Dean Davey. of Llandaff, apparently, has mightily pleased the Nonconformist element in Cardiff and elsewhere by his I remarks at the meeting convened to dis- cuss the des'rahilil v of holding a Wel-h service at Llandaff Cathedral on tit. David's Day. A writer in a contemporary is jubilant at the thought that the dean is going to give Nonconformists a service after their own hearts. This is how the scribe puts it:—"Let us have a memorial service to the Patron saint, at which Welshmen of all thoughts and persuasions can assemble." The Dean of Llandaff, in sympathy with the suggestion, strikes the light note, for the cathedrals are national buildings, in which all are interested. One do?s not know what arrangements the dean proposes to make in connection with the service on St. David's Day, but. in order to please "Welshmen of all thoughts and persuasions." he should ask Father Hayde to read the first part of the service, the Rev. John Morgan Jones to read the' first lesson, ths Rev. Tyssul Davies (the Unitarian minister) the second lesson, the Welsh Wesleyan minister to i-ead the second part of the service, and a Welsh Baptist and a Welsh Congregationalist minister to preach a sermon each, the dean retaining to himself the duty of giviug out the hymns and pronouncing the bl essing. Such a service, perhaps, might please some people, but it is scarcely credible Dean Davey himself would be of their number. • Certain London journals have recently expressed a great deal (too much) of sym- pathy with those pupil teachers who sat for the Queen's Scholarship at the end of last year. The examination, it is stated, has been in advance of all previous exami- nations of the same nature, inasmuch as the scope has been more extended and its duration longer than hitherto. One paper gives a list of the subjects in which they were examined; aTtd makes this astounding statement The object of this examination is to permit the pupil teacher to enter a training college by means of a "Queen's Scholarship." This scholarship brines no money into the student's purse, but. on the contrary, he will liava to pay an entrance foe of fifteen to twenty guineas in most case3. It is only in recent years that the entrance fee has been paid, and! the object of its introduction was to place a check upon the great number of candidates who sought entrance to normal colleges. Another check has been placed upon them by making the examination strictly competi- tive, only those who pass in the first and second divisions being admitted to colleges. But what astonishes oneis the grumbling tone which the writer of the paragraph iust quoted assumes, and, more, especially, his statement that "the Queen's Scholar- ship brings no moiiey into the student's pürse," Why, if it is a scholarship, it must bring money, or what is equivalent to money, into the student's purse. Now, what does the Queen's Scholarship mean? It means this: that a pupil teacher gets his board, lodging, washing, attendance, and tuition free, gratis, and for nothing for the space of two years at the public expense. Now, this is equivalent to at least JSoO a year, and, perhaps, more. The fact is, no class in the community get more out of the Governmentór tKe commu- nity, if you like to look at it in that way— than elementary teachers from the first d'ay they set foot in the infants' school to that in which they find themselves fully- fledged and qualified teachers and masters of the situation. Thanks to Lord Salisbury, their educa- tion costs them nothing. They go to school, and are kept there without paying any school fees during their pupillage. After passing the requisite standard they are articled as pupil teachers, when they get a small salary, which increases year by year during their apprenticeship. All that their parents or friends are expected to do is to feed and clothe them, find them in books, pocket-money, and travelling ex- penses. At the end of their collegiate career they are invariably appointed to schools with salaries attached ranging from, say. £130 to £2.30. Now, in what other profession do young men get such advantages as theseP Lawyers, clergy- men, Nonconformist ministers, military men, doctors, dentists, veterinary sur- geons—all these have to pay, and pay dearly, for their training and education out of their own pockets. And, at the end of their educational .career, after having spent scores, and even hundreds, of pounds, many of them do not earn the wages of a mechanic. Surely pupil teachers and schoolmasters have less cause to grumble at their lcrt than any class in the community.

DOWAGER LADY HICKS- BEACH. SERIOUS ILLNESS AT PEN- LLERGAliR. — ■ The Dowager Lady Hicks-Beach (mother of Lady Llewelyn) is reported to be somewhat seriously ill at Penllergaer. The dowagsr has been spending Christmas with her daughter, and on Christmas Day attended service at Penllergaer Church. The next day she de- veloped an attack of bronchitis, which subse- quently became ao gerious that Dr. Griffiths, of Swansea, spent the whole of last Sunday night at Penllergaer in attendance on her lady- ship. who is an octogenarian. There was a slight change for the better on Monday, but the patient was not considered out of danger. gir Michael Hicks-Bsach left Pc-nllergaer on Wednesday last. but Mr. Willie Hicks-Beach, another sen, is still at Penllergaer. On Tuesday afternoon Lady Hicks-Beach was reported to be better so far as the bronchial condition is concerned, but what has to be contended with is her subsequent weakness.

LEICESTER GUARDIANS AND VACCINATION. The Leicester GuuÜians on Tuesday night received a letter from the Local Government Board approving the appointment recently made by the guardians of Mr. Keyte ps vaccination officer for the borough, that gentle- man having given a. written undertaking to carry out, not only the Vaccination Acts, but the orders of the Local Government Board. This practically closes the controversy, and guardians are now at liberty to ask the High Court to withdraw its writ of attachment recently issued against them.

lR. PULITZEtrs RESIDENCE GUTTED. HOUSEKEEPER AND GOVERNESS PERISH. Xew York. Tuesday.—The residence of Mr. Joseph Pulitzer, the proprietor of the "Xew York World," was discovered to be on fire about eight o'c'ock this morning, and in the end was entirely guttd. Mrs. Pulitzer heroically rushed to the nursery and saved her three children, who otherwise would havo been burned to death. The honeekeeper and gover- ness both lost their lives in tli2 fire. Mr. Pulitzer was absent in the country at the time.—Dalziel.

FOOTBALL. CARDIFF FOOTBALL CLUB.-Cardiff Arms Park.—Blaekheatli v. Cardiff. Saturdav. .Tanuarv 13th, 1900. Gates op?n at 1.30. kick off 2.45 punctually. Reserved seats inside ropes Is. as usual, on application. e8006

After the Influenza, take Gwilym Evara, <}n!nine Bitters. It will drivo away that feel- ing: of Misery and Weakness which follows an nttack. Bottles 2s. 9d. and 4s. 6d. Avoid Imita- tions, e4919-1 A FAIR. BEAUTIFUL SKIN.-Sulplioiine S,mp irives the natural tint and peach-like b'.oom of a perfect complexion, makes the skin smooth, supple, healthy, comfortable. Tablets everywhere RICH and DELICATE in FLAVOUR. Ci;'l>AHY'S REX" OX TONGUES and LUNCH TONrtUES. Try tbem and vou vill he dalirVed ¡ Ask your Grocer for REX" Brand. e727.

General Position to-day [BY THE PRESS ASSOCIATION MILITARY CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, Tuesday Night. As I anticipated last night, there is some ground for believing that the Boers, cr. at least, a large number of them, are retreat- ing; from Colenso. To those who have care- fully studied the progress of the campaign in Natal it must have been obvious for some time that General Joubert's plan was to seriously interrupt our military orga- nisation south of Ladysmith. Wil h this object in view, he pushed a very large force down as far as the Tugela River, and partially depleted the commandos invest- ing Ladj-smith. Finding that General Buller did not advance to the attack as soon as he had anticipated, the Boer com- mander withdrew a large number of his guns and a considerable force of his mounted infantry in order o make a despe- rate assault upon Ladysmith. No doubt. General Joubert had been furnished with information as to our position at Frere Camp by local farmers and Kaifirs, and by last Friday he was probably aware that we were not intending an immediate general frontal attack upon Colenso. With the use of the railway, therefore, he .vas able to convey large bodies of troops and quantities of munitions of war to augment the strength of the investing army at Ladysmith. It is possible that General Joubert argued that in the event of Sir Redvers Buller making a suc-cassful attack upon Colenso and the Boer position north of the Tugela it would throw the Transvaal troops into disorder and generally derange the plan of defence, on account of the opposition which Sir George White wouldi be able to bring to bear upon the retreating fore?. The enemy, situated a it was, and, probably, is still, between Colenso and Ladysmith. occupied a most dangerous position. It was not only liable to be attacked in front and rear, but turning movements upon the flanks would have practically hemmed it in and brought an overwhelming defeat. The Boers have extended their entrenchments on the banks of the Tugela to a very great distance, with the object of preventing a turning movement, but it is difficult at all times for a commanding officer to know where to finish the extension of his lines. The entrenchments may be extended to six or eight or even ten miles, but there always appear to be some little hillock or undu- lating ground which it would be as wall to guard, and so the lines are carried out so far that they become weak and unfit to resist an attack concentrated upon any one point. It is probable that this is the case with the Boer defences near Colenso. We know that they have been most elaborately prepared, but unless there are sufficient men to guard every inch of the ground, with adequate supports for emergencies, there is always a weak spot which trained vedettes will ascertain-

■I. —. SPECIAL WAR CABLES WILL BE FOUND ON 4th PAGE

WITH BULLER [KEUTEK'S TELEGRAM] FRERE CAMP, Sunday. All is quiet here to-day. The enemy evidently have a large number of wounded, as several Red Cross flags were hoisted by them close to Fort Wylie during the night. [EXCHANGE TELEGRAM.] CAPE TOWN, Sunday. News has reached here of the complete News has reached here of the complete repulse of the Boers in their last attack on Ladysmith. Their losses are stated to have been very heavy. Large bodies of the enemy have been rstreating from the banks of the Tugela in the direction of Ladysmith. [PRESS ASSOCIATION SPECIAL TELEGRAM] FRERE CAMP, Saturday (11.15 a.m.). Since ten o'clock this morning continuous artillery fire has been heard in the direction of"Ladysmith, and flashes from the Boer cannon on the distant hills have been seen from Chieveley. The artillery duel lasted till nine o'clock. As it is improbable that the Boers would start shelling the town at such an early hour, we presume that a sortie was made from Lady- smith. Our naval guns meanwhile put a number of common shell into the enemy's trcrches on the flat ridge to the left of Groblers Kloof. The first shell went over the ridge, and sur- prised the Boers, who thought themselves out of range. We also shelled the trenches at Groblers Kloof. BU LLER'S "PARAFFIN GUNS The "Morning Post" correspondent sent word on January 2: -It is reported that the Boers are withdrawing their wagons behind the Big- garsberg. The Boers are utterly disconcertcd. They get bread once a week, and coffee is very short. All the Boers are extremely frightened at what the Kaffirs call Buller's "paraffin guns." and intend to give one battle and then retreat, to Majuba. But I fancy that they will attempt to defend the Biggarsberg line. The Boers have stretched wires across the roads, which ring electric bells near th? picVets when they are touched. THE BRITISH ARTILLERY FIRE. FRERE CAMP, Sunday. One of our shells yesterday afternoon was seen to land right in the midst of a cliistcr of bushes.inwhicha party of the enemy had taken 81pltr. The work of naval msn and field artillerists ha^ been excellent-—Reuter. REJOICINGS AT DURBAN. [CENTRAL NEWS TELKORAM ] DURBAN. Monday. We have just heard of General White's highly successful repulse of the Boer attacks upon Ladysmith, and it has greatly relieved the universal anxiety. Pessimists had pointed out that three o'clock in the morning was a very unusual hour for the commencement of the Boer bombardment of the besieged town. while the firing, as reported from Frere Camp, was too long and too general to be explained by a sortie of the garrison. Later on Sunday we hea.rd that the fight had been at close quarters, and that the cannonade was quite unlike anything that had been heard at any previous moment of the siege. A good many people in Durban went to bed last night depressed by a feeling of certainty that Ladysmith had at last fallen. MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN The Quean, it is understood, has telegraphed to Sir George White and his troops. Lady White, who was at the War Office when the dispatch arrived recording the repulse of the Boers at Ladysmith, r5ceived the hearty congratulations of the h'3:Hlquarter staff on her husband's signal Victory. The Duke of Con- naught sent his congratulations. OPINION IN ITALY. [CENTRAL NEWfi TELEGRAM ] ROME, Tussday Afternoon. Commenting upon General White's victory at Ladysmith, the Ita:i.an military newspapers agree that it cannot fail to have an important influence upon the issue of the war. because it demonstrates that the Boers, clever as thy "re in defensive tactics, are compara- tively incapable of the successful conduct of offensive operations. COLONIAL LOYALTY. [ REUTEIt'S TELEGRAMS.] MELBOURNE, Wednesday. The Victorian Parliament has enthusiasts- cally sanctioned the expenditure necessary to defray the exp9n&eB vf the second contingent for South Africa. BRISBANE, Tuesday. The Queensland Government has decidcd to continue the camp after the departure of the' second (jontingent. and is prepared to send mere troops if required. CALCUTTA. Tuesday. The Home Government have accepted the off?r of a mounted Volunteer force from India. not exceeding 250 men. Their decision has caused the utmost enthusiasm-

IN CAPE COLONY. CAVALRY RECONNAISSANCE BY GENERAL FRENCH. THE ENEMY RETIRE. The War Office on Tuesday afternoon poster the subjoined dispatch, received from the gene- ral at Cap Town, dated illon(lay:- "French reports 7th of January "This morning I made a reconnaissance to- wards the enemy's cast Hank, with a squadron of Household Cavalry. "Two miles from the railway and road to Achtertang I drew a considerable force of the enemy, who, anxious aboa;, their com- munications with Norvals, withdrew their t THE COLESBERG MSASTER iUAJ /IELS TELEGRAM.; RENSBIIRG, Sunday 112.15 The movement carried out on Saturday against the Boer position resulted in Colonel Porter, with a portion of cavalry and artillery, occupying the plain to the extreme right, in- fantry and artillery holding the centre, while the remainder of the British were on the ex- treme left. I Colonel Porter's artillery opened a heavy fire on the kopjes and laager, but there was little response from the Boers. The artillery on the left shelled the enemy effectively. The Suffolk* during the night occupied a kopje a mile to the east of their camp upon a wagon road. Colonel Watson had just shouted the order wagon road. Colonel Watson had just shouted the order to charge when he was wounded. The cry "Retire" was raised, it is believed, by the enemy, and this caused a panic amongst the force, three-fourths of whom retired to camp. The remainder. with all the officers, attempted to retain their position, but were compel^ to surrender, to the number, it is reported, of seven officers and 70 men. The total killed and wounded is variously estimated. The position of affairs is now much as it wa3 before the engagement. The Snffolks' loss is severe. SIR JOHN MILBANK WOUNDED. Ll'RESS ASSOCIATION SPECIAL TELEGRAM.] RENSBURO, Friday. (Detained by the Censor.) Sir John Milbank to-day went out with a patrol, five men in all, on the plain to the rorth of Colesbsrg. They were fired on by the enemy's outposts and retired. The Boers galloped to inlercspt them, and slightly wounded Sir John Milbank in the thigh. THE BRITISH CASUALTIES OFFICIAL LIST. The General Commanding at Cape Town tele graphs to the War Office as follows: CAPE TOWN. Monday. The following casualties occurred at Rens- burg on January 1:- KILLED. Lieutenant A. V. West (2nd Battalion Berk- shire Regiment), Private J. Lawrence (6th Dragoons). Private T. H. Allen (10th Hussars), Bombardier J. G. Cowlang (Royal Horse Artillery Battery), and Private' G. Townsend (2nd Battalion Berkshire Begiment). WOUNDED. F. Polhill (di-ed January 2) and Private C. Jones (died January 3) (both belonging to the 2nd Battalion Berkshire Regiment), Private Gardner (6th Dragoons), Sergeant H. Endle- hurst and Private C. Smith (10th Hussars), Gunners S. Carr, P. Bristow, and G. Wickens, Driver P. Flood, and Bombardier A. Williams (0 Battery Royal Horse Artillery). Driver J. Belsey and Gunner J. Handley (R Battery Royal Horse Artillery). Privates L. Green, G. Wise. A. Look-en, F. Brooker, H. Stanley, H. Earle, M. Loveridge, C. Vaughan, W. Bridcutt, and C. Ayres (2nd Battalion Berkshire Regi- ment), Privates A. Cooper and S. Winkworth and Lance-corporal M. Metcalfe (South African Reserve), and Private W. Raines (6th Dragoons) slightly. MISSING. Privates A. Barker (10th Hussars). CASUALTIES AT RENSBURG ON JANUARY 2. WOUNDED. Sergeant L. Stanborough, 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers), Private T. Evans (1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers), Private A. Middleton, J. Quelch, and H. Lovett (2nd Hat- talion Berkshire Regiment). CASUALTIES AT EENSBURG ON JANUARY 4. KILLED. Lance-corporal R. D. Paterson, Lance-ser- geant W. D. Sales, Privates T. G. Barnes. H. Jones, and J. Waeed (all of the 6th Dragoons), and Shoeing-smith A. Greenhill (10th Hussars). > WOUNDED. Privates T. Sharpies. T. Horiisev, and A. Kent (10th Hussars) (all three dangerously). Sergeant J H Fowenes, Corporal W. Brisley (10th Hussars) (both severely), Saddler-corporal J. Jones. Lance-corporal T. Tobin, Privates R. Gardner, W. G eorge, H. Nicks, C. Ward roper, and R. Yacimini (all of the 6th Dragoons), and Gunner L. J. Wells (R Battery Royal Horse Artillery). THE LOSSES OF THE SUFFOLK REGI- MENT. The War Office on Wednesday afternoon issued the following list of casualties in the 1st Suffolk Regiment on the 6th of January at Rensburg:— KILLED. Colonel A. J. Watson, Lieutenants F. A. P. Wilkins, S. J. Carey, and C. A. White, Sergeant E. Morgan, Lance-sergeant H. Arrowsmith, Lance-corporals H. Nixon, J. Attwell; and W. Andsley, Privates W. Fulcher, S. Ranson, A. Bridge, A. Cooper, C. Kidl, J. Murton, G. Greenwood. G. Prigg, T. Seamons, W. Stock, W. Cuthbert, S. Barns, A. Sillitoe, S. Pryce, F. Thompson. W. Baltzer, and J. Robinson. DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED. Sergeant H. Palmer. SEVERELY WOUNDED. Major V. W. H. Graham, Corporal W. Gard- ner. Privates C. Murling, W. Laflin (?), J. Miller, W. Watson, H. Goodwin, and R. Carter. SLIGHTLY WOUNDED. Sergeant West. Privates A. Arbon, T. Cordon, H. Phipps, C. Lowe, C. Clarke. S. Racher. P. Ireland. G. Cooks, F. Wawsey (? Watson), S. Stearns, and C. Ward. MISSING. Captains C. A. H. Brett, W. G. Thomson, and R. W. Brown, Second-lieutenants L. Allen. P. W. Wood-Martin, and C. W. Butler, Colour-ser- geant J. Handscombe, Sergeants G. Claridge, T. Ruddock, H. Briton, J. Fooks, H. Frost, and M. Hayward. Corporals W. Lazzell, W. Dowe. and F. Coleman. Lancc-corporals J. Cawley, R. Morriston, and A. Clarke, Drummer J. Carter, Privates A. Sparkes, T. Arnull, C. Baker. R. Crick, H. Larke, W. Hawkins, R. Ifnott, A. Smith, C. Smith, J. Wayman, H. Wallace, C. Willbyr, G. Risby. A. Inger, E. Griffiths, C. Hackett, A. Lees, E. Martin. P. M'Carthy, J. Norfolk. W. Sparrow, H. Russell, J. Clive, W. Croft, H. J. Atkin, H. Farrow, C. Mactje, G. Pears, A. Smith, W. Radley. C.. Bedford, R. Hester, C. Humphries. C. Kirby, J. Skipping, A. Lucas, W. Watling. G. E. Adams, R. Doggett, P. Green, W. Goymer, W. Hall, J. Harrold, T. Webb, T. Everett. W. Reynolds, W. J. Cawley, R. Laws, A. Newman, S. Edwards. W. Hall, J. Matthews, F. Newson, W. Reade, W. Rogers, T. Taylor, S. Woodford, A. Goslin, T. Collins, J. Clarke, R. Ranner, J. J. Gardner. G. Goulding, A. Osborne, S. Baldwin. W. Heriot, Corporal J. Jude, Lance-corporals W. Purdy, T. Parker, C. W. Barber, J. Lazzell Powell, and A. Goddard, Privates J. Slean, J. Darley, H. Hodson, E. Audley, A. Case, C. Childs, W. Stollery, A. Southgate, A. Beattie, J. Vaughan, R. Newson, R. Holland, H. Harper, F. Bonner. J. Skiet, J. Brown, F. Goose, J. Rayment, F. Miles, and J. A. Alexander. WOUNDED. Fourth Battery Royal Field Artillery.— Bom- bardier Collarmaker and J Bateman, slightly. CASUALTIES on JANUARY 4. KILLED. Sergeant J. Baker, 1st Suffolk Regiment. SEVERELY WOUNDED. Private F. Forge, 1st Suffolk Regiment. WOUNDED. Privates G. Garwood, and W. Clarke, and Lance-corporal Pettltt. all of the 5th Suffolk. SLIGHTLY WOUNDED. Sergeant G. M'Naghten, 6th Dragoons. THE TOTAL. The total losses in the Suffolks were as follow: Officers killed 4 OMeers wounded 3 Officers missing. 4 Rank and file killed 23 Rank and file wounded 21 Rank and file missing. 107 OTHER CASUALTIES. Killed. 13 Wounded. 42 Missing 1 THANSVAALERS FIRE ON FREE STATERS. TALE OF BOER PRISONERS. [l'RESS ASSOCIATION SPECIAL TELEGRAM ] CAPE TOWN, Sunday. The twenty Free Staters who surrendered at Arundel were fired upon by the Boers on yield- ing, and one of their number was kilied. The remaining nineteen, who were brought here to-day, state that of late the only food which they received was a pound of biscuits and half a pound of bully beef, to last three days They declare that all the Boers in the district werp greatly iii want of foqdl They also corroborate the statement already made as to the bitter feeling hetween Trans- vaa'.era and Free Staters, and as to Crorije's threat to shoot all malcontents.

AT MAFEKING. BADEN-POWELL CAN HOLD OUT FGR SIX MONTHS. On Monday night (says the "Daily Chronicle") j a gentleman who left. Mafeking on October 5, just before the outbreak of the war, and travelled via Buluwayo. Salisbury, and Beira to England, arrived in -London.. Interviewed by one of our staff, he expressed the opinion that Colonel Baden-Powell could hold Mafeking for six month longer without suffering any great privations, and at the same time being In no danger of having his defences carried by RSE<lult. When our lWormant left Mafeking. he said. the town was .4\11 provisioned, and there was a good supply of ammunition. As for defences, the place was surrounded by earthworks, en- I trenchments. and barbed wire fences in such a way as to make itimposible to be carried with a rush. As to the sortie on Boxing Day. our informant thought it was entirely unnecessary, it had probably baen undertaken because the garrison were getting tired of their long period of inaction, and because their commander thought he should like to have a try at clear- ing away the Boers. But he scouted altogether the idea that Mafeking was in any danger of surrendering. As to the genera] position, our informant said that. in his opinion, the Government had made a great mistake in not calling for the services of Volunteers in Cape Colony. There were thousands of young men in Cane Colony who-weve g-oftd—shots.. could-ride. w,cll, knew the methods of Boer fighting, and could find their way about the veldt. In his opinion an army of this kind might have been raised. and would have done much better than ordi- nary infantry.

THE BOXING DAY SORTIE. [PRESS ASSOCIATION SPECIAL TELEGRAM.] MAFEKING. December 26. (Via Lonrcnco Marques. Saturday.) Frequent reconnaissances had disclosed the fact that the enemy's position, while strongly defended in front, was accessible to attack the east, where the advance was made this morning undejf fire of the guns. It was still dark when the squadrons, all on foot. moved into position and opsned fire, and as the grey dawn turned ruddy the long, irre- gular lines of khaki-clad skirmishers could be seen advancing. Then poor Vernon, anxious to get at the enemy, signalled a little too soon, before the guns had done their work. The advance developed swiftly, and we coull plainly hear the men cheering, and see them waving their hats, each officer making eager efforts to be the first among the enemy. Bayonets glittered amongst the scrub and bullets began to whistle unpleasantly close. Then a British cheer, borne upon the morn- ing breeze, caught, our cars. Someone said. "The place is ours; our men are in the ditch." And so they were, but they found that the enemy had made the nosition practically im- pregnable for any but heavy battering guns. Their parapet was loop-holed in triple tiers and roofed with a bomb-proof protection. There was only ont: entrance <1 t the front. which was for the most part underground, and was only large enough to admit one man at a time. Our men swarmed round, trying to effect an entrance, and our losses were terrible. It was here Captain Vernon was killed, and Lieutenant Paton was mortally wounded while actually firing his revolyer into one of the loop-holes. Captain Sandford was killed, and then, with Captain FitzCIarence wounded, and most of their officers dead. our gallant men fell back, halting at intervals and firing at the Boers' works as they retired. Out of the storming party of 80, 21 were killed, and 33 wounded. Major Godley reported to headquarters that it was not worth the inevitable loss of life to make a second attack. Colonel Baden-Powell ordered out the ambu- lance, and one of the most gallant fights ever fought in South Africa was over. The Boer3 behaved well, respecting the Red Cross, and their officers restrained them from robbing the dead. Some things which were taken from the body of one of our officers were returned. The enemy are borrowing our stretchers, and we conclude, therefore, that their losses are by no means slight. Details of our killed and wounded are as follow: The total loss on our side was three officers killed and one wounded. Eighteen men were killed, 32 wounded, and thirteen missing. It is practically certain that the enemy were treacherously informed of our intended attack.

BLOEMFONTEIN. FREE STATERS PREPARING FOR EVACUATION. HOUSES TAKEN AT PRETORIA [• TIMES" TELEGRAM.] LOURENCO MARQUES, Saturday. The latest news from Blcemfontein b to the offcet that the Government officials recognise that it will be necessary to evacuate the town at an early date. They are securing houses at Pretoria. A sensational story conies from the Free State, which I have refrained from using until I had obtained confirmation of it placing its authen- ticity beyond question. A Bloemfonteiu chemist, of German nationality, Hochafel by name, yolllnteered for servic wIth the Fre State Artillery. On the battlefield of Grivspan he placed an ambulance badge on bis arm and distributed a dozen more among his fellow-artiilerists. Hochafel and some of his comrades were taken prisoners for tiie treacherous use of the Red Cross, and several of their prominent acquaintances who escaped openly pre- dicted they would bs": summarily shot, as it was recognised that the British had a right to exact this penalty and that they deserved it. Hochafel probably owes his sub- sequent release to the fact that a number of bona fide ambulance men were arrested at the same time. The worst feature of the affair is the failure of the responsible leader, who wit- nessed it, to intervene. The Government now refuse to allow him to return to the front. The Free State authorities have disbanded the ambulance organised at Bloemfonteiu. which was composed mainly of doctors and others who are of British descent. It is being replaced by a German corps, with Kaffir stretcher-bearers. The probable reason for this drastic step is that the Boers are afraid the men of British sympathies might disclose information of the extent of the Boer casual- tie?. Notwithstanding the secrecy observed, it has become known that several hospitals at Bloemfontein and elsewhere are packed with the wounded.' Mr. Reitz says that the Trans- vaal does not desire any assistance fram Sir James Sivewright, and will reimburse him all his expenses up to the present date in connec. tion with the ambulance corps which he sent.

BRITISH PRISONERS AT PRETORIA. OFFICrAL DTSPATCFT. The War Office received on Tuesday after- noon the following telegram from the Genera) of Communications in Natal: — PIETERMATtITZBUPIG, Monday. (By letter from Pretoria, dated December 20). The following Royal,Irish Fusiliers are well — Sergeant W. Rayhill, Corporal G. Coomber, Privates D. O'Regan, P. Loughlin, T. Watson, T. Montgpmery, J. Bryan, G. Longbottoin, J. W. Dunbar. W. Halkisey, J. Gamble, and J. Somers. (ThiR accoilnts for the missing pre. viously reported, except Private R. 1). Marney.) The following from the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, also reported missing, are quite wellCaptains D. H. A. Dick and H. H. Northey. Lieutenants E. Christian, C. F. H. Rumbold, and M. E. M'Conaghey, and Second- lieutenant G. C. Biggs. 8a.tisfiJctory reports have ben received as to treatment. The General of Communications telegraphs to the War Office:- CAPE TOWX. Sunday. Corporal E. G. Scott (1st North Lancashire Regiment) died from enteric fever at Orange River. January 7; Private W. Cunningham (2nd Dragoons), killed by a bull at Stellenbosch on January 8; Private D, Carstairs (ht Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders), wounded at Modder on November 28. and since reported as having died of wounds. /This man embarked for home Oil December 15.)

BOERS REFUSE BRITISH REPRESENTATION. AN INSULT TO THE UNITED STATES. New York, Tuesday.—A letter has been received at Washington from Mr. Macrum, former United States Consul at Pretoria, reporting the final refusal of the Boers to permit him to represent England. According to a dispatch from Washington, a cable mes- sage has been received from Mr. Holiis, the acting consul, dated Monday, stating that the Boers have again refused to receive him as acting on behalf of England. It is added that Mr. Hay. Secretary of State, regards this as casting a doubt on the neutrality of the United States.—Dalziel. Washington. Tuesday.—Mr. Macrnm, in his dispatches. gives a detailed account of his conduct in respect of his action as represen- tative of British interests. It appears that the Transvaal Government placed Mr. Macrum under a technieal limitation in the exercise of his functions, and. while he was permitted to disburse funds entrusted to him by Great Britain for the relief of the British prisoners, it was under the distinct stipulation that he should regard himself as acting unofficially and simplý [t<; Mr Macrum. Mr. Hoilis COil- tinued his work of mercy without molesta- tion.—Reuter.

Over 7,000 Officers and Men. The Press Association says:—The following casualties to the Imperial British forces in South Africa had been reported up to six o'clock on Tuesday evening, at which hour the losses sustained by Sir George White's force at Ladysmith on Saturday were not known. The losses, however, include those sustained by General French's force. Included in the list of missing are a large number of wounded officers and men not scheduled as wounded. As occasion required, the list, which is unofficial, has been revised in. order to make it as complete as possible. Many casualties have had to be entered as regimental, and not battalion losses, as the battalion in some cases has not been indicated in dispatcher. The figures show our total casualties in killed, wounded, and missing to approximate to 7,228 officers and men, to which some 140 deaths from disease and causes other than those sus- tained in battle have to be added as having t, c I occurred since the end of November in the various camps, principally from enteric fever. The following are the regimental casualties as far as known:- Officers. Men. K. W. M. R. AV. M. Staff 5 9 1 0 0 0 Royal Keg:. Arty. 5 24 14 31 141 137 Roval Engineers. 0 3 0 4 9 2 18th Hus-ars 0 1 4 9 26 89 19th Hussars 0 2 0 4 12 1 4tb Hussars 0 0 0 1 0 0 10,h Hussars. 1 2 0 2 13 2 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 6 0 o 9 0 0 0 0 4 31 2 l?th Lancers 0 2 1 7 37 4 5th Drag. Guards 0 0 0 5 6 0 6th Drag. Guards 0 2 1 7 17 2 F.oyai Navy 3 1 0 392 4 góJal Marines 2 1 0 10 74 0 Royal Irish Fas. 2 5 17 30 94503 1 4 19 50 116 132 4 5 6 43 202 150 Kind's Ryl. Rifles 8 10 1 23 154 64 1st Gordon Highl. 3 3 0 6 33 0 2nd Gordon Highl. 4 10 0 22 87 3 Manchester R3gt.. 0 5 0 12 45 1 Devonshire Regt. 2 13 3 15 109 33 Leicester Regt 2 1 0 2 23 13 L. N. Lane. Regt. 1 4 0 9 45 0 Cameronians 0 1 0 4 0 4 R. A. lkf. C 1 2 0 2 3 0 3rd Grenadiers ••• 2 10 0 42 136 1 1-t 0 6 0 22 82 0 2nd Coldstreams 3 3 1 12 86 0 1st Scots Guards. 0 5 0 20 66 0 Northampton Rgt 0 3 0 2 28 1 Worcester Reg, G 0 0 0 2 0 Yorkshire L.I 1 6 0 18 100 5 East Surrey Regt. 0 0 0 3 43 0 West York, Hegt 0 2 1 10 46 8 Border Regiment.. 0 3 0 16 41 1 A. A S. H'landers 2 8 0 48 13 3 Mounted Infantry 3 5 0 2 15 0 Ammunition Col.. 0 0 0 0 3 0 N'th'berland Pus. 4 11 6 21 84 335 R. H. iBik. Watchl 7 11 0 70 204 64 I/pool R'ment 0 0 0 9 23 0 Highland L.I 2 7 0 12 69 6 R. Irish Rilles 0 8 3 13 67 306 Seaforth High. 4 7 1 45 136 22 Rifle Brigade 1 5 0 18 40 5 Suffolk Regiment 4 1 6 24 25 107 R. Inn i. Fusiliers 2 9 0 21 74 7 Con. Rangers 0 2 2 26 100 23 Essex Regiment 0 0 1 0 0 0 Royal Scots Fus 1 0 0 6 12 21 39 West Surrey Reg. Q 3 0 8 83 0 Boy'l AVelsl: Fus'l 0 0 0 0 4 0 Durham L't Inf'y 0 0 0 0 2 0 Army Serv e C'rps 0 1 0 0 0 0 Royal Fusil's (?).. 0 0 0 0 3 0 Lincolnshire Reg. 0 0 0 0 0 1 Royal Muns'r Fus. 0 0 0 0 1 2 Berkshire Regt. 1 0 0 3 13 0 S. Wales Bord. 0 0 0 0 1 0 Imp'l Lt. Horse. 1 9 0 17 46 1 Kimberley L. II. 2 6 0 20 38 0 Border M'd Rifles 0 0 1 2 15 0 Cape Mted. Police 1 1 0 9 26 23 Natal Carabin'rs 1 2 0 7 20 0 Natal Mtd. Rifles 1 0 0 0 9 4 Natal Police 0 0 0 2 3 0 Diam. Fields Art. 0 0 0 1 10 0 Diam. Fields Hrs. 0 2 0 3 12 6 British S. A. P. and Prot. Regt. 5 6 0 48 82 5 Armoured Trains 0 0 1 1 0 16 Cro'dile Poort F. 0 0 1 0 3 4 Rhodesian Regt. 2 0 3 4 7 18 Chart'd Co.'s Pic. 0 0 0 0 2 4 Durbar. L. Infan 0 1 0 4 14 23 Rimington's G'ds. 0 0 0 1 6 5 Thorn'croft's M.I. 1 3 0 4 32 0 South African Rve 0 0 0 1 9 0 S. African L. H. 0 2 3 4 19 10 Cape Volunteers.. 0 0 0 1 0 0 Col. Piumer's Fee. 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 3 0 Kimberley T. G. 0 0 0 0 0 1 New Zealand Cgt. 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Oueeusland M.1M. 0 1 0 2 0 0 M. 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 D. of York's M. 1. 0 0 0 0 0 1 Bech'land Rifle; 0 1 0 0 2 0 Total. 89 259 102 938 3416 2409 Total killed. 1.027 Total wounded 3,675 Total misaing. 2,511 Grand total 7,228

Pay Stations. IMPORTANT TO WIVES AND FAMILIES, The Press Association adds that the follow- ing important announcement to the relatives and friends of the troops at the front WAS issued by the War Office oil Tuesday ijigiit:- Information may be obtained respecting allotments from the pay of soldiers serving -,1. the undermentioned branches of the Army, and the payment of separation allowance from the Government to the wives and families, from the following officers:- Cavalry.—District paymaster home district, 5, Craig s-court. Charing Cross, London, S.W. ROYAL AH TILL FRY. Royal Horse At tiilery.-Dittriet paymaster, Woolwich. Royal Field Artillery.—District paymaster, Woolwich. Royal Garrison Artillery.—Mountain Divi- sion: Station paymaster. Brecon. Eastern Division: District paymaster, Dover. Southern Division: District paymaster, Portsmouth. Western Division. District paymaster, Devon- port. Royal Engineers.—District paymaster, Chat- ham. Foot, Guards.—District paymaster home dis- trict, 5, Craig's-court, Charing Cross, London, S.W. INFANTRY OF THE LINE (INCLUDING EMBODIED MILITIA (INFANTRY). In each case from the paymaster at the town mentioned:—Argyll and Sutherland High- landers, station Stirling; Bedfordshire Regi- ment, Bedford; Berkshire Regiment, Reading: Border keginiont. Carlisle: Cameron High- landers. Inverness Cheshire Regiment, Chester; Connaught Rangers, Galway; Derby- shire Regiment, Derby; Devonshire Regiment, Exeter; Dorsetshire Regiment. Dorchester; .Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Naas; Duke of Corn- wall's Light Infantry. Bodmin; Durham Lignb Ipfantry. Newcastle; Essex Regiment. Warley, Gloucestershire Regiment. Bristol; Gordon Highlanders. Aberdeen: Hampshire Regiment. Winchester; Highland Light Infantry. Hamil- ton; Inniskilling Fusiliers, Omagh; Irish Fusi- liers, Armagh: Irish Regiment, Clonmel; Irish Rifles, Belfast; East Kent Regiment, Canter- bury: Royal West Kent Regiment, Maidstone: King's Own Scottish Bordere-rs. Berwick-on- Tweed; King's Royal Rifle Corps. Gosport; Lancashire Fusiliers, Bury, Lancashire; East Lancashire Regiment, Preston; Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Pres- ton. South Lancashire Regiment, Warring- ton; Royal Lancaster Regiment, Lancaster; Leicestershire Regiment. Leicester; Leinster Regiment, Birr; Lincolnshire Regiment. Lincoln; Liverpool Regiment, Warrington; Manchester Regiment. Ashton-under-Lyne: Middlesex Regiment. Hounslow; Munster Fusiliers, Tralee; Norfolk Regiment. Norwich; Northamptonshire Regiment, Northampton; Northumberland Fusiliers, Newcastle; Oxford- shire Light Infantry, Oxford; Rifle Brigade. Rifle Depot. Gosport: Royal Fusiliers. Houns- low; Royal Highlanders, Perth; Royal Scots. Glencorsc; Royal ¡':cots Fusiliers. Ayr; Scot- tish Rifles. Hamilton; Seaforth Highlanders, Inverness; Shropshire Light Infantry. Shrews- bury; Somersetshire Light Infantry, Taunton; North Staffordshire Regiment, Lichfield; South Staffordshire Regiment, Lichfield; Suffolk Regiment, Bury St. Edmunds; East Surrey Regiment, Kingston; Royal West Surrey Regi- ment. Guildford; Royal Sussex Regiment, Chichester: South Wales Borderers. Brecon: Royal Warwickshire, Warwick; Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Wrexham: Welsh Regiment, Cardiff; West "Riding Regiment, Halifax; Wiltshire Regiment. Devizes; Worcester Regiment, Worcester; Yorkshire and Lancashire Regi- ment and Yorkshire Light Infantry. Ponte- fact; Yorkshire Regiment. Richmond (Yorks); East Yorkshire Regiment, Beverley; West Yorkshire Regiment, York; Army Service Corps, Woolwich; Royal Army Medical Corps, home district, 5, Craig's-court. Charing Cross, London, S.W. EMBODIED MILITIA MEDICAL STAFF CORPS. Hampshire Company, Net-ley; Middlesex Company, Woolwich; Surrey Company. Eastern Counties Company, and Kentish Company. Aldershot; Army Ordnance Corps, Woolwich; Military Police, Aldershot. ARMY PAY CORPS. Post Office Corps, 5, Craig's-court, Charing Cross, London. S.W. (Signed) FRANK T. MARZIALS, Accountant-general of the Aragb