Transcribed by Susan Bergeron. Geo. Carlisle Journal Friday, December 8th, 1899 The Situation in Natal The Broken Bridges. The Morning Post's correspondent at Estcourt, telegraphing on November 28th, says: The railway bridge at Colenso was hopelessly destroyed yesterday afternoon. It has been decided not to repair Frere Bridge, but to make a deviation. Major GIROUARD, director of railways, has arrived. All has been quiet at Frere today, but heavy artillery fire has been heard from Ladysmith. ..... Boer Discouragement. The Press Association's correspondent at Frere camp, telegraphing on Monday, says: Reports from Weenen show that when the Boers passed through there on Saturday and Sunday last week, they were not so loud of speech as when they entered the Colony going southwards, and bound for Durban, as they boasted. Their boastful spirit is now gone, and all appeared anxious to hurry back as rapidly as possible. They were evidently at a loss to know how they were situated in the absence of intelligence as to what the British force is doing on the Little Tugela. Looting is still being carried on, principally by the low Colonial Dutch. A disloyal native, who was know to have been carting pianos away from several farmers' homesteads at the instance of the Dutch, was caught to-day. He is alleged, more over, to have given the Boers information which led to the armoured train disaster. Three Cape boys from Colenso were also caught to-day, and will be charged with acting as spies from the enemy's camp. ..... Preparing for the Advance. The Central News special correspondent at Frere telegraphed on Monday: The troops destined for the relief of Ladysmith are still resting. The Boers have abandoned the country south of the Tugela. Ladysmith continues to hold its own, and General BULLER has leisure in which to complete his plans. His preparations are steady and continuous; nothing is being overlooked or left to chance. The R. E. are making splendid progress with the work of restoring the bridge and culverts of the railway. At this place the line is being diverted for sufficient reasons. There is good ground for the belief that the Natal Boers hereabouts are in secret communication with the enemy. A number of suspects are at present under observation. One local farmer has already been arrested on a charge of treason, and other arrests are imminent. The naval contingent has managed to get a gun into a good position near Cheveley. On Saturday the Bluejackets opened fire on a Boer entrenchment. Two Boers were killed. ..... The Siege of Ladysmith Relief Urgently Needed The Times on Wednesday contained a telegram dated Ladysmith, November 20th (by runner to Frere Camp December 4th), which says: The garrison has been brown into a state of great excitement by news which came in this morning of the movement of the relief column and of British successes on the southern frontier of the Free State. It is quite time that relief came. The enemy has succeeded in bringing a third heavy caliber gun into action with 5,000 yards of the western defences. This is a very different matter to the 8,000 yards of the other 6 inch guns. The enemy has now ascertained our most vulnerable points, and the shelling has become disagreeably effective. Rations are reduced, and a certain amount of sickness is prevalent, but the whole atmosphere has changed since this morning's news, and all are prepared for the last effort which it is anticipated the enemy will make before completing the withdrawal of their own forces, evidences of which withdrawal are now being observed from our posts. There is no indication that the enemy are prepared to dismantle their gun positions. Shells from the new 6 inch battery are falling into the town as I write. Our Guides occupied an empty farm house to the north yesterday and found the Boers had erected a hospital flag above it. This is another example of their misuse of the Geneva flag. Shell fire has caused an increase of casualties during the last few days, but their number is not serious as yet. .....