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" I - THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

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I THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA. FRIDAY. According to the latest news received last night, the Boers were actively engaged shelling our camp at Modder River, with only brief intervals, throughout the whole of Wednesday. When Mr Winston Churchill arrived at Durban he had a most enthusiastic reception, the whole town turn- ing out to cheer him. A Dutch native, who has escaped from the Boer lines, states that at the battle of Colenso the enemy lost 800 men. General Sir George White reports that in the en- gagement at Ladysmith on December 18th, seven of our men were killed and fourteen wounded. This is a considerable increase on the figures given in the first report. There are several supplementary accounts of the battle of Tugela. The latest speaks in the highest terms of the bravery and devotion of the British troops. The writer declares, however, that when General Buller commenced to fall back his army was evidently panic-stricken," and but for the naval guns covering the retreat, the whole of the English would have been cut off. A belated despatch from Mafeking states that the firing of the enemy had become more destructive, and it was thought that they had got improved ammunition. The second contingent for South Africa from Can da will consist of four squadrons of mounted rifles and three battalions of field artillery-in all 1,247 men. Colonel Baden-Powellreports "all well" at Mafe- king on December 12th. Reinforcements and guns have been hurried up to Buller, and Sir Charles Warren has also been reported on the way to Chieveley. The greater portion of General Warren's division is known to have been des. patched to Buller, so that his presence in Chieveley was to be expected. The greater part of the Fifth Division is also in Natal, and when the further reinforcements expected arrive General Buller's force will be increased to well over 30,000. The diversion of Sir Charles Warren's division shows there are no longer any very serious apprehension of the rebellion spreading in Cape Colony. It is clear that, with all the cheeriness of Ladrsmith.   nm1nO' rnl'U'ø_.J.r:G"'d"t1 f ??????r?fa??l.n'?.t:?'?'' '"?"?*'r=M?  "'? -? reduce the garrison to sub. jection. ™l^lSsSSl«, *S 1 Si'1.l,oU'e- On the 20th another reconnaissance was made into ''V™ Stale territory. The Boers wer encourtered, and some art"- lery firing ensued, the K.mbe?X?' T ulu?ateIy re- tiring. These reconnaissances ??I ?'??ely ,e. at a respectful di8tance. ?P ? ?emy SATURDAY Ulere is BOrne interesting news from the front to-day, increased activity being reported both *« «• &  Lord Methuen. At Modder River, On Wednesday night, the naval 8Ma '-gorously ehehed° t!? ?? °'ght,the naval -b consternation .n th??S???'?.  BoArA .J  ut3l n- 1'b( Fr?Chi?y?'?? ?eScient riSen?- '? ??ledthe?rX??? that the naval r trenches on Wednesday A of Boers was exam;i°nil'n f a L^jato shell W dofe FO?T ;,I lie, wben it ei"oaedi w»h duastrous results to the investigators. P'°"?. ?th diaaetrous resu l ts ¡ At Ladysmith the nemy have ot late strength?,ned their ?"" Report^™ °' htestrength(-ned ro^^h rri- Son continue favourable. Details to hand oft fencounter on Surpnse =.?& ? the R™ -6 the darkness, attempted to pass themselves off' '° darkn^ thereby causing no little confusfon to th^f £ Cg party, According toa telegram from Lorenzo Marquez, the I Boer Commandant vfs rep^ts^o he captured two British forts on fl^Rruman tb*t KA;A north-wegt s1issss^- The Dunottar Castle, with Lord Roberts and Lord Keener Kitchener on bo4rd, lett Madeira on Thursdav fo? -1 IILUj Lord Methuen is givinR the Boers a taste of the kind of life the Boers fgfvI g the R r Ladysmith and E?berley and MaS?n? ??'? ?. Ladysmith a? the two armies are, aafE pare^fS l TJappBeod er inches. na?Ig-unbdches forth in "leep, a InatanUy miles of Boers a e?? ?' Boer trenches tremendous energy and Mr.'°? ?Ut ? n?e 6re with t(? b,eeP away the imaginary night ?ta?. Thus ? ?.?"P aw?h, -a substantial waste of Boer ammn on' and the not much less substantial IoBs<?°°'?°' ?d tho nS of this kind indict ? ?"' ??, which wo  Sir George White ha had a slight attack of fever, and theBoerrhave?mol unt d another big gun on Surprise Hill in place 0f the one captured by the garri. I 'on three weeks ?'" M,t.d tyth   Mr Winston's Churchill's enforced visit to as enabled him t,? i. ? -v.a;a  t"ma ,e5n8 information The Boers have nV^? T n7k ? the British L,znp,r but Mr Kruger, it « ppeara> firmly believes that Britain will shortly sue for n The Boers are confident that they can ^rTve the The Boe« a7e but will spare our troops that mto the 8ea, twenty millions be paid and w« f 1*° ^mnityof the Republics NataI.Kimb??'? ???? cede" to Colony now in their hands ? ?. ??'? parts ? Cape now in ^eir hands They will also ?m?d =e independence. On ii, ""?-? Situation, Mr Churchill, who hasoughtin nf campaigns, think.' a?stof U8 do> that the task thinks, the field is a formidable one FT J j™ generals in the field is a   °? ?'?e to declare that, unless we can fi»h? tbe D in t?'? own ?y an?d by means of trooips^r f th l• r own stamp, we shall require an araiy a Kan? ? .lion strong to, conquer them. The plain w b' 8ays, that a Boer, h« Bay/ 18 that a Boer, mounted, in suitable c?ntr? fa ? ? ?at  to 8ve Regular soldiers, and W? L from ??<' to  Regul- soldiers, and ?he n ? ?? ? of ?sating -hem is either to get men S equali1n°rfcb,aract" and intellif 'ence 88 riflemen, or, faS  ?teUi. "?868 of troops. There !??' ???dual huge uarter of a million men and « 11 Trk ??s ?or a ? ??"'? is well ,orth the cost of blood and mnn« In connection v [1t,h this statement it ?ayb? ?' ??°°? ?th?at t'ho°e ?coh mment is sending out 10 nnfvied out that the 2 iDUWeo. not 3 '000 suggested. Besides thn«,I *6 ?"hjaM Me mounted infantry and m°'c?'"?"' Colonials are pre. pan? to Mt to the front l ??'.?s'????.??????. ?-or?.T, d.??. to ensure due representation of oi0 in tbe "Perial Yeomanry Corps, and his efforts hid fair to be crowned w th SUccess. A large contingent of Reservists of the South Wales Bofdotefs loftBercontJ?.Soulb 2X!nemmt" mobilising as a unit o1'?hTS a"! ion. MONDAY- I P.P.?' el.'???'PPe.? in Monday's Papers came through Boer channels, but ctill thero appeared little reason for ??° °' ?t.t,B th?. Mafekfng      which has beld Out 80 gallantly binoa the beginini g  ,bo.Zk" b^°° Colonel Baden-Powell tbrtatened cffen8ive move-   be addr'SBud S? barghers. His meD have attacked ODe of tbe enemy's f, rts. Accord"]g to the Boer refort, the British Buffered  fort. Another Boer report says the British losses were 109- killed and wounded, that Captains Vernon and Sand- ford were killed, and Lords Bentinok and Edward Cecil were wounded. The latter is a son of Lord isalis- bury. Too. much importance must not be attached to the Boer account of the British losses. A hundred and nine men placed out of action is a large proportion when we remember tho numbers engaged. The Boer reports hav& often emulated the example of the Spaniards at Matanzas. The siege train has gone to the front. As it left Cape- Town, it is to be assumed it is intended for Lord Methuen. The reports from Modder River and Kimberley have little effoct on the general situation. The artillery seems to ba doing good work, but the Boer position is so, well concealed that they have a very poor. Lance. A panic in the ranks of the enemy was serviceable in rs. vealing their position to a certain extent, and good use seems to have been made of the information. The situation in Cape Colony is practically unaltered. That it cannot so remain for a very lengthy ptriod is evident from the fact that the outposts of the two armies are only two miles apart, and that it has been resolved to shell the Boers if they approach nearer. The retake ing of Dordrecht is a fortunate move, the importance ot which can hardly be estimated. The Tugela is now in full flood, and it is reported that a party of Boers, numbering 300, on the south side of the river, are cut off, and their capture certain. The enemy have abandoned a strong position held by them on the occasion of General Boiler's repulse. No sign of life is discernible in trenches along their line of defenoe, the fire of the naval guns failing to elicit a response. In another column we publish the news respecting the captufe of a German steamer by H. M.S." Magicienne." It was said that on board this vessel were found some. German officers and men in khaki, who were on their way to fight for the Boers. The neutrality of Delagoa Bay can hardly be interfered with at present, and there- is nothing to prevent a steamer trading with that port, so long as it can be proved that she is not carrying contraband of war. In this case it seems that the Bundesrath was carrying contraband of war, and if that is so the captain of the .1 Magicienne was quite. within his rights in stopping her. TUESDAY. General French has celebrated New Year's Day with a complete little British victory. Little" only in respect of the numbers engaged in every other respect it is important, for he has captured and occupied Coles- berg, a result brought about by excellent tactics. Recently the Boers, finding their communications were threatened by our cavalry, left their entrenched positions at Rensburg, and withdrew to Colesberg. Thither General French followed them with cavalry and artillery. On Saturday there was a very sharp affair with a superior force, and it was not until after six hours' sharp fighting that Captain Montmorency assumed the defensive. He retired to Dordreoht. General French continued to harass the enemy. All through Saturday night and Sunday he pressed them closely, and on Sunday night the cavalry, artillery, and infantry started upon a march with the object of turn- ing the enemy's right flank. When day broke they were within striking distance, when the whole programme, to use the words of a correspondent, passed of without a hitch. The Boers, taken completely by surprise, fled in dis- order, leaving Oolesberg in the hands of the British. The value of French's operation cannot be over- estimated. To an extent it retrieves Gatacre's blunder at Stormberg, but apart from this it ia of great value, Colesberg is a Boer township some twelve miles from the Orange River, and the object of the Boer commando in coming south was to seise Naauwpoort Junction, and subsequently Rosmead Junction, so as to break the con- nection between the eastern and western railway sys- tems. This move on the part of French will also have a great tfft-ct upon the Cape Dutch, who have been sorely tempted by recent Boer successes. How Colesberg was Occupied. STEBKSTROOM, Saturday Night. A patrol, under Captain De Montmorenoy, numbering 120 men, left Dordrecht this morning to reconnoitre the position and ascertain the strength of the Boers lying to the north. They were sighted about mid-day. The enemy were occupying a good position upon a precipitous ridge about three miles outside the town. A detachment was sent to work around the Boers' flank, while the rest sought cover in a donga in front. The Boers nullified the latter movement by occupying another ridge, which overlooked the donga. They poured a hot fire into the donga, but did no barm. Meanwhile, the detachment sent to outflank the enemy had worked round to the rear, and they drove the Boers back from thtir pofcition. At this moment a strong body of Boers arrived to reinforce the others, and we were compelled to fall. back. Raly'??'HDhgtM?  A P?t.? ?-tbp.,?'? gun ?ic!, ?  brought up f6il near the town 6 Boer3 had It had artillery.*4 the enemy numbered quite 1 500 and had artillerv. order? '°rC9' «»•<«, retired, keeping g0J order. The Boers kep up a per6istent fire at long rangee daring the retirement l ut our casualties are very' "??t,,?f,,?'.S? .??. ?? ;? m, .? .tt,„ J The enemy had several killed and wounded. The whole force have now taktn up a good defensive? S-X.r??'??.?.???? Position outsida the town in readiness to resist the Oaptain De Montmorõncy's brush witb tte Boers je^erday D^Onttn0r;n^'« brus h with tie'BE Ye??t,?rdaY, when a squadron of 20 C°loniaI Mounted Infantry, afterward^ reinforced by a similiar numbe^r .eSect.vdy checked the ? ?? ? sim.Jiar cumber superior force of Boors an immense they bad with them ° Dg tbe fa°t th1at they had with them bigsuns fleffecti,9o"s -sss "s oreocy ltd his men with character- istic da8h. By frequent demoDstratioDs towards both of th& ..Sy-?S??.? ?oers in a continual state of perplexitv. During tbe retirement of the little f°rCe n, party WThT4^0™a^nbody- They did not return on Saturday, and at da?break to-day3^aptai?GoldIiorthyw5th hffo' ur guns, d.? to bring th?m in. ?' ?"° ?ur guna, weat oaf; The expedition was successful nearly every man being reheved and b?rs?' —? -? "an C?ta.n Ooldsworthy°had a she v with the Boers, ??hich?elosf four mn?°'??? sd. the The Boera had eight killed. I WEDNESDAY rench s most useful triumnh »tS ni 6 u 00 Mcn*ay j~Dowofficially useful triumph at Oolesberg on Monday now o? clally confirmed-was lollow(,don Tuesday- Y another BritiLh victory further west and north Tbe"d 'Ing"g -ment (?oeurred off Lord Methuen'? li. of communication. A Boer laager at Sunny?o thirty miles north-west of ??? '?nt, was captured by UthoiJrotny ?ial P=ileher, ??S??? ????? under L.euteMn Colonel Pilcher, of ? Bedfordehire Regiment, who took forty prisoners, in addition to fl- loss S. Sy. the enemv, The Colonial iroop^ ZtT lpUa' Our casualties were very slight, acd the whole movement8eemato have been carried out with singalar ?v'otory. and success. A il?nkmg mo?ment onan? vi?ry The position of General French's force cuts th0 line, the Boer;etCrL?eFenC'S f°T CQts the «»»• 7boutath I ther French -ill go further north to -I,ure I Passage 0 v er the Orangf River-n '6W of ,Qture operations —or swing round to l- Gatacre on the east, remains to be seen eiti- ir movement thould be ot thegroa?t a?i?tancp. Buller and Methuen are still •  thing, to note on the Natal side are that fever ed ?JTntery are on the ?ease in Ladysmith InAthv at the foreign attaches who have Leon Vndin,, ??? ? theforofga Durban, have now gone back to Ladysmith was bombarded  anci at midnight heavy fhi.g w e JaaI» J i d»M y • 8 CUmP" In expectation 01 BUller's atta(.k, the enemy has tremendously s!rcfngthe^ ned h. P0 In front and tremendousl7y -usTt-nfg.t.he? n? ? ?- ?' In front Bnd' along the Tu"e"' "ill line extind, ??'' sixteen miles while two hiHs on the  '?s of the river have also been strongly fortified, 80 thatBuIIerprati? has the enemy on tbree aid J him. This mu9 .nereasetheacutene?of the Satioi ?  The crematrd rom^ r I The crematr-d ramOf Dahe "'?"?mt.r 29ih interred "M'?M ???& '??: ?? 29ih ult A memorial service was beld at Chester Cathedral, and also rlal ? w *^♦ /er Abbey, the lltt»Z being attended by repre?entatives cf Royaltv, many .?.?.?.???cy, and repro?ntativoa of ??. institutions. and representatives of nuhi; EACKINQ THE FAVOT"! HT J pleasure or profit FAYüt:RlTB does Eot always b"riSn?^ pleasure or p rqfit to those concerned m .t. F™UE the hore no one tbinks much about Wi°9' and »>M» Z^ gain anything are f "w and frtr T, ?eeo- This can- not be Said ,ih reference to B n and Oint- ulent, for they di?;app.int th.?, who P!ace  in their mrits \V;th reference to the Ointment, mf'dical men are so convinced of its merits that  medical me ? it to patients as the beat remedy w iin?  .!pM,,M,. The pi?, "L "°'?? "'thS Effect Upon the ¡¡]stem '???'?":3?? whatever the caue cf the trnnKi em the combined medicines wjJ] reBtGre the patient to hEalth. BOOK1HNDINO-M 'mY? --UJ l't'!dOns seem to be stilI unaware that every description of plain and fancy book. bmding is executed with nLf and fancy book Welshman Newspaper and s/1688 ^4 despatch at the offloe, at C.rmlXnWdT|:mf™'fa; Compui% (,t the lagp,st and most ml + ffife Possesses one appliances which can be s^rf ,6 8ets of bookbinding li.?hmer,t. Estimate6 On a.pfFcation.

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